Breezee BarnsIt has been one year since we lived through the worst storm we have ever seen in our lifetime. On May 12, 2022, we witnessed and were shocked by a derecho. Storms are unpredictable, but this storm was different. We have been in terrible weather before, but nothing prepared us for what the aftermath of the derecho would be.
Just Another Day
The day started like any other day. It was nice spring day and had been doing our normal routine. The girls and I were at the farm with Papa while my husband was off working in town. We were expecting storms to creep into the area later in the day, so of course we kept checking our phones for the most recent update on the storm trajectory.
As the day went on, Papa was getting phone calls from another cousin, who lives about 10 minutes west of us, updating us on what he was being told about the storm. When we heard that the storm had hit about an hour southwest of us and had left quite a mess, we decided to move the vehicles to safer areas of the property. Papa and I spent some time outside just watching the southwest and he told me, the worst weather always comes from that direction. We talked about that there could be a chance that after the storm rolls through, we could walk out and find some of the buildings destroyed. Needless to say, we were a little nervous about what was coming our way.
Farm Perspective
About five minutes before the storm hit, Papa went to his garage, aka “man cave,” to be with his dog Mace, and I was in the house with the girls. I kept watching from the front window, and boy this storm came out of nowhere fast. The trees were blowing hard and as the storm approached, the darker everything got. So dark that our yard light came on.
Pretty soon our phones were going off with alerts and messages to seek shelter immediately. It got very scary quickly. I had gone to the back bedroom to look out the window and all of the sudden the girls were freaking out because they saw trees falling in the backyard. I gathered them in the hallway and closed the doors to all the rooms since that was the only place without windows in the interior of the house. As we were there, the wind was blowing so hard, I thought the roof was going to blow off, things were just shaking so badly. Everything was loud and dark as we waited for the storm to move through.
In Town Perspective
While all of that was going on, I was beginning to freak as well since my husband was at work, so I began texting him and telling him not to try to beat the storm. He was like, I think I can make it. Well, he tried and to his astonishment, he saw the storm wall rolling right towards him, so he headed back to the building he was at for safety. Unfortunately for him, he could not get back into the building because the power went out and the generator had not started up, so all the power doors were locked. He spent several minutes bracing himself outside of the building next to a vending machine, as the storm roared. He said it was so loud that it sounded like he was standing feet away from a freight train. He witnessed large branches, wood pallets, debris, and lots of dirt flying by him. Finally, a nurse found a manual door and got him inside. He had dirt everywhere. His hair, clothes and even his mouth. It was crazy.
Derecho Aftermath
After things settled down, we all ventured out to see what had just gone through our area. Wow… For us, it was bad but was not as bad as we thought it would be. We had a few trees that had snapped in the shelter belts and a huge pine tree next to the house was completely uprooted. We were lucky that it fell away from the house and not on the house. The buildings fared well, some shingles ripped off and a couple broken windows, that was it, so we were incredibly lucky.
My husband finally got home and was just in awe at all the things he saw driving to the farm. He was so concerned about getting home, he did not even notice the damage to his car.
We did lose power, but luckily for us we had a backup generator that kicked in immediately. After about 36 hours it quit and come to find out, the power company did not have it installed correctly. We made a few phone calls and the generator was fixed. For the rest of the area, the power was out for several days. We were very thankful that we had a generator and got it fixed after the storm.
Touring the Derecho Damage
Papa took a drive around after the storm to check on neighbors. He found our neighbor’s had buildings completely shredded. Our closest neighbor’s farm took the brunt of the storm for us. Sheet metal was all over the fields and trees were down everywhere. While driving his daily route the following morning, Papa came across an area where power poles were just snapped. It was an unbelievable sight to see.
We took a drive the morning after the storm, and there was just a bizarre feeling as we were driving around. It really felt like we were part of an apocalyptic movie set, the only difference was the was real. Witnessing the damage from an actual storm is something else. You had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and concern for neighbors and friends. The concern grew more after finding country roads blocked because of fallen trees or powerlines.
The country cemetery where we have lots of loved ones buried had several trees uprooted and that changed the appearance of the cemetery. Plus a few headstones were knocked over. This cemetery will never look like it did before. It takes time for trees to be replaced and the trees that were uprooted were old.
Just about 10 miles southwest of where we live, is our cousin’s property. On his property, the silo was destroyed, and his barn had wood ripped off. This storm created a long-lasting effect on the area. This farm is where I spent lots of vacation time growing up and it just hurts seeing how it was affected by the derecho. Even my cousin himself said it was a hard day to see all that was damaged there.
Days After the Storm
A few days after the storm, we took a drive about 35 minutes north of us to see the hardest hit area. This area actually had a tornado go through. The path of the tornado was visible from the road. The National Guard was present and helping out, which was wonderful how people were supporting each other. It was crazy to see in person how much damage one storm did in multiple areas.
Even driving around locally, people were busy cleaning up fallen trees and patching up building. This storm brought people together. It was so wonderful to see all the kindness that was being poured out during the days following the storm.
A Year Later At the Farm
So today, a year later, how are things out the farm? For us and the farm, things are pretty good. We still need to work on getting some trees cut down on the property. It just a matter of us setting the time aside and getting it done. All the others things are pretty minor, so it is good.
Personally, our vehicle was totaled. It had almost $12,000 worth of damage, so it went bye-bye. We went from 3 vehicles to 2 in one day. Since our income had decreased, we had to make things work with what we had. My husband began driving either the van or the girls car. A year later, the struggle has began. The kid car is now on its last leg and the van is sitting at the repair shop waiting for parts. Yes, it has taken that long to get parts. We are now searching for a different vehicle.
A Year Later For the Area
In general, the widespread area is still dealing with the aftermath. People are still cleaning up and waiting for repairs. The autobody shops are taking 6 months or longer to get vehicles repaired because so many vehicles were damaged by the storm. I have heard that the eastern side of the state is like this, so we know the area of damage is widespread. Then when you add just vehicle damaged from accidents, the wait list grows (we have been waiting since November to get our van fixed after hitting a deer).
Trying to get roof and siding repairs done has became a problem. Between supply chain problems and the weather, some homes went all winter without being fixed, with my great aunt was one of them. In March workers were finally getting siding and the roof fixed.
We will never know the extent that everyone suffered because of the storm, but we do know it has left a lasting impact. Several people my husband works with have told him in all the years they have been alive, they have never seen anything like it. We have all these memories and all we can do is prepare for another one.
Preparing for the Next Derecho
Prior to the derecho (click here to learn more), we knew very little about them. We knew Iowa had experienced them before, but never thought in our wildest dreams we would see a derecho. I can tell you one thing, after our experience, we never want to see one again.
How will we prepare? One way we prepare for any unexpected emergency is having 72 hour kits. We have had them for years, so now is a good time for us to check our 72 hour kits. Each person had their own 72 hour kit. As the girls have gotten older, their kits have gotten bigger. At least twice a year we reevaluate what we need and what we need to replace. I am sure we will need to change our the clothes, food and water, since it has been a while since we looked at them. If you have never had a 72 hour kit, look into creating one. They are not hard to make. We began with old backpacks and filled them with essential supplies.
We also have a weather radio. Like 72 hour kits, we have had a weather radio for years. We have even bought weather radios for Christmas presents because we want to help others be prepared. It’s just another source we get information from. It is usually our weather radio is what gets us up during the night as nasty storms roll through. If you do not have one, I highly recommend you purchase one. Our phones are great, but I like to have a backup.
Unpredictability
We never know what to expect, so it is better to just be prepared. It does not matter what time of the year it is, any storm can be disastrous. Even though there are unpredictable storms, spring is still a favorite season for me. With these spring storms creeping in, we are paying close attention. We do not want a repeat of last year. I do not think we want to live through that again so soon. We know that the chance of having another derecho is pretty good and that does not thrill us. Just like a winter storm, we need to always plan ahead. We need to be mindful of what is going on around us and keep our eyes to the sky. Those southwest storm are nasty and those are the ones we need to watch out for.
