Storm Damage

Here are some photos I took yesterday driving around town, being one of those "damned rubberneckers" of the tree damage from Friday's storm. Another thing to consider is the trees that may have been damaged but not broken, and therefore, unseen. Upcoming high winds/thunderstorms/heavy snows may continue to bring these weakened branches down and knocking out power again or damaging houses and vehicles.

This first one is at a church right across the street from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Notice how it just snapped in relation to the other pines next to it. These next few are at ElmwoodPark, adjacent to UNO. This park sustained heavy damage in 1997 from the ice storm. Though it's difficult to determine, these are large arteries of the trees; some are 12" in diameter.

This one is at the bottom of the block in the old neighborhood where Steve, Jenna, and I used to live. This is about 4 blocks from Elmwood Park.

This is at the intersection of Saddle Creek and Poppleton. These trees used to be cottonwood, and monsters at that. I'm wagering they're at least 30" in diameter and the better part of 60' tall.

This is at Joslyn Castle, very close to where i work. Steve and I were married here in 1997. These trees previously survived the 1913 Easter Sunday Tornado that hit the castle so many of these tree are over 100 years old. That's the sad thing about this storm; you can "replace" a historic building but not the history behind it. But with trees this old, it'll take another 100 years. These are monuments to the city and they can never be replaced.

This is at Memorial Park on my way into work.

Now I realize that most of you have no idea where these are taken (nor care) and there's no way you can appreciate the magnitude of the destruction and just how huge these tree were. There hasn't been a street yet I've seen that doesn't have some sort of tree debris piled on the curb. One of the drop-off sites (out of 11) for debris is Tranquility Park, a huge soccer/baseball complex in NW Omaha. There were over 7 THOUSAND trucks waiting to get in to dump debris.

Seven. Thousand.

Still around 6 thousand people without power.

I find it ironic for any severe storm that passes, beit tornado, blizzard, or hurricane. Ever noticed that after the storm has passed and people are surveying the damage that it's sunny with puffy clouds and singing birds? You almost wish it to be cloudy and gloomy for at least a day to match the moods of those affected.

Rarely is it; it's usually sunny and happy looking.

Is it a cruel joke, or a glimmer of hope?