Aftermath

We were hit by a fast-moving storm on Thursday afternoon and hit hard! I had just stepped back inside the house after letting Hannes outside when the wind picked up and the power went out. I looked up and saw leaves and limbs flying past the window with a speed and intensity I had never seen or experienced before. I grabbed Hannes and ran to the basement. There was rattling and trembling outside the house follwed by a short period of torrential rain. When I dared to lookside this is what I saw. Thankfully there was no injury or damage to our home. This 100 ft. oak passed within feet of the corner of our home.The driveway cracked beneath the weight of the tree.

This root ball stands ten ft. high.
The following photos show damage and destruction alongside our driveway:

The trees that were snapped and twisted off were done so twenty five feet off the ground.

Another uprooted Oak.

My husband's car could only pull in the driveway a short distance,
the driveway closer to our home was completely impassable.

The clean up begins. Our son and his chain saw arrived and helped too; we couldn't have done this without him. We worked late into Thursday night, not calling it quits until some headlight-aided raking was done.

It was all very scary, but nothing compares to the fear and worry associated with my husband being on his way home during the storm. I didn't know where he was or how bad the conditions were on the roads where he was. I later learned  that he had to cut his way home through downed trees with a borrowed saw; the road that leads into our neighborhood looks like a war zone.  I can't remember ever being happier or more relieved to see his car pull in (or as close as he could get) to the driveway. Through all of this we remain thankful to God for our many blessings and to family, friends and neighbors for their help and concern. We've got our work cut out for us, literally, for weeks to come.
Life is Good!