We had a little storm the other night.....
Actually, Todd was out of town and my mother-in-law was here keeping me company and helping out with the kids. She and I were up most of the night- pacing the floors and waiting for the big tree in the front yard to come through the picture window. It really was the scariest, loudest storm in Pasadena. No rain, no lightening just fierce and howling winds. I have never seen ( in person) anything close to this kind of damage. Our street lost over 20 full grown trees- it was so sad walking out the door the next morning. The very first thing I heard in the early morning hours was the sound of chain saws. A neighbor was cutting the limbs off a huge branch that had fallen across the street and was preventing any cars from passing and trapping their cars in their driveway. We had no power from 10 pm until the late the next evening due to power lines that were down all over the city.
FROM the LA TIMES:
As morning broke Thursday in Pasadena, the entire city appears to have been affected by ferocious winds that knocked down trees and power lines -- posing hazards for motorists and city workers alike.
Fire and police officials reported "throughout the entire 26 square miles of the city, streets are littered with trees and tree limbs, downed power lines and wires," said Pasadena City Manager Michael Beck, in an interview in the basement of City Hall. "Pasadena seemed to be the epicenter" of the windstorm, he said.
Officials have declared a local state of emergency, called all employees into work, and asked for mutual aid assistance from Los Angeles County Public Works, Beck said. Pasadena public schools have been closed, as have city libraries.
About 6,000 customers remain without electricity from the city's utility, Pasadena Water and Power, he said.
A tree split an apartment complex, forcing the city to evacuate 37 residents. Colorado Boulevard through Old Town Pasadena was obstructed with at least two large tree limbs. In the southern part of town, a tree lay across all of Grand Avenue. A tree fell on a car outside a Denny’s restaurant, and the driver had to be extracted.
Talking with long-time employees, Beck said "no one can recollect when something so severe and encompassing has occurred" in Pasadena.
Now for the pictures.
The kids and I went on a little adventure walk around the few blocks in our neighborhood to document the damage. The kids loved climbing on all the downed trees and seeing the stop signs twisted and bent to the ground but it brought tears to my eyes to see these beautiful trees and yards demolished. I have neighbors who lost both cars when I tree fell on it and this week- that same tree that's laying across their yard has Christmas lights on it. Turning lemons into lemonade. I didn't mind the lack of power either- sometimes we all need to be unplugged! Candles, a fire, books, and flashlight games were entertaining enough. I also enjoyed the camaraderie and the conversations among my fellow neighbors as we all walked around outside and recounted our stories. Nothing like a storm to bring everyone out!
These are the hedges in my backyard
The trees outside my kitchen window that give such beautiful filtered sun each morning.
my neighbor's driveway
a deodar tree falls across an intersection
.....and takes out a stop sign.
this was the largest tree that we saw- it fell on the house, what house? I know!
same tree - different angle
our stoplight at the corner - bent in half by WIND.
