As many of you know, Hurricane Irene swept up the east coast on Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing lots of wind and rain along with it. Sadly, our neighborhood didn’t fare very well with high wind gusts slamming a bunch of giant trees down on power lines, roads, and even homes.
Thankfully, our house was spared. But many of our neighbors and friends weren’t so lucky. It broke our hearts to look out from our patio to see that a tree in our neighbor’s yard had fallen onto their home (it easily could have hit ours if it fell in the other direction).
Thankfully although they were both home with their two dogs at the time, no one was hurt. But parts of their house are flooded and shattered, and we’re so sad for them – and anyone else whose family or house has been affected.
When it came to what we did during the storm, we just hunkered down at home between 6pm to midnight when the winds were at their worst. And after hearing/seeing a few large trees come down on our block we decided to sleep in interior rooms, just to have a bit more protection in the event that something fell on our house (since our basement is below grade, we worried it could flood – which is why we opted for interior rooms over lower level spaces). Clara slept in the hallway in a pack and play (since it was insulated by rooms on all sides)…
… and John and I dragged the not-as-heavy-as-ours mattress from the guest room into the kitchen (which is also in the middle of our house).
Thankfully our basement didn’t flood and although we have a bunch of branches and debris to clean up on our yard (along with a few larger tree limbs in the back) we feel incredibly fortunate.
We’re still without power along with what we hear are around 800,000 other Richmonders (ours went out around 5pm on Saturday, so we’re on our third day without it). We’re hoping to have it restored soon, but realistically know that it could be a few more days or even one to two weeks (a statement that they just released alludes to the latter of those timelines). A number of trees on the power lines in our neighborhood means that it might be a while for us, so our blogging schedule may be a bit irregular until our area is back up and running. We also might not be able to keep up with comments, facebook, and twitter as much as we’d like (since you know we’re usually so chatty), but we do have plans to stop in with the afternoon giveaway as usual, and hope that everyone else who is dealing with any sort of storm repercussions is doing ok.
Oh and we felt compelled to check on our first house and were so relieved to see that it appeared to make it through. Although there was a huge tree on the house across the street. Scary stuff.
Between this and the earthquake on Tuesday, we’re ready to be done with natural disasters for a while – especially since it’s rare for either of them to affect Richmond so much (the last major storm in our area was Isabel in 2003, and most Richmonders were without power for about a week). Let’s hope we’re back up and running sooner than that. Luckily a few of our relatives do have power and enough food/water to go around. In fact here’s Clara on Sunday morning after the storm passed and we headed over to Grammy’s house, where there’s power, glorious power (which seems to be a rarity in our city). We joked that all of the chaos drove her into the arms of her cousin John…
… where they watched a video together and had a grand old time.
Thanks so much to everyone on twitter, facebook, and here in the comments who checked in on us this weekend. You have no idea how much we appreciate the love and send it right back atcha. And for anyone else who was affected, we’d love to hear from you about how you’re doing.
Joanne F says
Good to hear you are OK. I thought of you all when I was riding out the storm. Spent the day in my interior room too since I have no basement here in Va Beach. Luckily I do have power and just some leaves and branches to pick up. No major damage in the hood. My sympathies – after Isabelle I lost power for 10 days – not fun. Take advantage of having family in town!
Paige @ Final Clothes-Out says
Whew! Glad to hear you guys are okay! We had some serious storms here (Chicago) earlier in the summer, and there were some trees down in our neighborhood, too. No power for 2 days.
How is Clara coping with it? Does she even notice anything is different?
YoungHouseLove says
Clara seems to be mostly oblivious to it all. She’s just enjoying playing with the new toys at her grandparents’ house!
-John
Raquel says
So glad to hear you guys are alright! My husband and I live in Philadelphia and slept in out living room (center point of the house) with our pup right next us. There was a downed tree across the street from us that luckily fell onto the street and spared houses/cars. Hope you get power back on soon!
Jennifer says
Glad you guys are okay! At least all of that rain was a good check for earthquake damage. Some of my friends up here are finding leaks that went unnoticed before since this was the first major rainstorm since the quake.
L says
Glad to know y’all are okay. Isn’t it amazing how much we rely on electricity?? Storms and outages really make that clear. But I second KathyG: everything can be replaced except a life. Glad yours is unharmed.
Halley (Blunder Construction) says
Clara is just the cutest thing, it never stops! Glad to see your house is okay, but a DIY branch-removal post might benefit a lot of your readers!
schmei says
The picture of your neighbor’s house is just devastating. I’m so glad you (and your neighbors) are safe, though. And Clara persists in being too cute to handle: disaster, shmisaster. :-)
DeeJay Conley says
So glad all is well. When I was 8 my family was stationed on Guam when typhoon Pamela hit. Since we were on an island in the middle of the pacific ocean we had no choice but to hunker down. A week after the storm, base housing regained power. Took another week for the rest of the island to get theirs back. Ah. Good memories. lol
Karen C. says
So glad to hear that you all got through the storm unscathed! I hope that your neighbors can recover quickly with rebuilding. Thankfully none were hurt!
I went through the three big hurricanes that hit Florida in a span of eight weeks in 2004 and it was not fun. After the first hurricane, we were without power for well over a week. And since it was August, it was super hot! The last storm passed right over us, so we experienced the power of the eye wall. (Also, I grew up in So California, so earthquakes are no stranger to me either!)
Natural disasters are not fun at all but they do help remind us how how to be prepared. Your game plan was a great one. So glad you are able to go somewhere with power afterwards too!
Amy says
Oh my gosh, how scary!! I am so sorry for everyone who has flooding and/or tree damage; those pictures almost made me cry. Glad to hear you guys made it through safe and sound. My power went out yesterday, but I hear it might be back now; I hope yours is back soon too!
Tina says
so glad to hear you guys are safe and sound, phew! sounds like a scary weekend. don’t worry about us readers, maybe you guys should take a much needed vacation from the blog while you have no power. ;) you deserve it.
bridget b. says
glad you guys and your house are okay. LOVE those pics of Clara and her cousin. so sweet!
Dani says
Gosh, scary stuff! I am glad that you are ok, but I am sending lots of healing vibes to your neighbours and everyone else with damage. We were lucky here in Roanoke, we just had the very edge of it, so no damage here. I hope the power comes back on quickly for you!
alg says
So glad all is well!!!
I can’t imagine what that was like, considering the CRAZY storm we got here in Western PA — soooo much farther from the coast than y’all. It must have felt like a freight train bearing down on you. YIKES!!!!
And I agree with Kathy G — my parents used to say the same thing to me, “The only thing we can’t replace is you.” and now I say it to Sonia.
As terrifying as stuff like this can be, it certainly does help put what’s truly important in perspective, huh?
So just take care of yourselves & that precious, precious baby until things return to normal. We’ll wait :)
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
So glad you guys are ok and the house survived unscathed! We had about 5 inches of water in our basement yesterday which was super fun to deal with but thankfully we never lost power so the pump could work to get it all out.
Those pictures of Clara might be the cutest ones yet!
Sandy says
Glad to hear you guys are fine. As for Millburn, NJ … YES, definitely a mess there! It’s my route to work and totally could not make it. Flooding everywhere. Springfield next door is even worse. Here’s hoping that your grandma stays in the house and not try to leave for a loaf of bread or something!
Whitney Dupuis says
So glad to hear you guys are ok! I hope power gets up and running soon! Oh, the comforts we take for granted until they are taken away. Praying for your neighbors who were so affected.
Alisa says
Yikes! So glad your family and home are safe. My parents had a tree fall on their house a couple of winters ago, scary times. They used that excuse to redo their kitchen and living room though =).
Donna says
I’m glad y’all checked in – and that you’re all safe. My step brother lives in PA… He’s without power, too.
Debbie says
I’m soooo glad you guys are ok. It seems a lot of the blogs I follow are in the path of Irene so I’ve been worried lately. Isn’t it funny the feeling of community you can get from a blog and worry about people that you have never met before.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It’s so great to hear from everyone who reads (and other bloggers) that they’re ok too!
xo,
s
Heather W says
So glad to hear you all are OK. I wondered about you all Saturday night. I live in the mid-west and and in my town we suffered through a deadly tornado that killed many people several years ago and barely missed my neighborhood. Hope you get your power back soon.
Kelly says
So glad you’re all okay!
Heather with a C says
We live in Bon Air and we have power again! I can’t believe it since there are at least 4 power lines within a mile of our home (including our backyard) that were murdered and ripped to pieces by large fallen trees. The one in our backyard squished our new fence and there are power lines tangled up everywhere, touching the ground (which makes me a little nervous). Luckily our house and cars are fine, but like you guys, others in the neighborhood were not so lucky.
Also, insurance tip: Many insurance companies will reimburse you for lost food in fridge/freezer due to extended power failures.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh- love that tip! We lost everything. Poor Clara is missing her yogurt and cheese sticks! So glad you have power already- wow.
xo,
s
Wom-mom Ethne says
Glad to hear you all are ok. As a silver lining, did the storm rip up anything you wanted to clear out in the yard anyway?
YoungHouseLove says
Nah, it’s kind of crazy how still-the-same our yard is. It all seems so random. Some folks must have just caught stronger gusts or had weaker trees or something. Many homes have a lot more clean-up going on. Although we joke that our yard was already so messy looking and full of old bushes and liriope that it pretty much looks exactly the same since there’s less grass to be littered with branches and it was kind of a wreck to begin with.
xo,
s
Jessica says
So glad to hear you guys are ok! Living in S. Florida, we take hurricanes very seriously. Thankfully they have managed to avoid us the past few years. We always lose power for weeks at a time. We really learned during Hurricane Andrew when we lost power and telephone service for a month. My father has a generator that allows us to live pretty normally for the most part, but it still sucks to take a cold shower.
Hope the streets get cleaned up, power gets restored and everything gets back to normal soon!
Hillary says
First day of school was canceled here in MD, and I’m on my 30th hour without power. But, as you guys pointed out, it could be WAY WORSE. Glad you’re safe!
Ellen says
So glad you guys are ok!
Kelly.R says
Glad to hear everyone is safe!
Christine says
Poor neighbors! I feel so bad for them too. Glad you guys are okay and hope that you get power back soon.
Lindsay says
We are on the East Coast of NC and survived Irene as well. We were thankful to only be without power at our home a little over 24 hours but others around us were not so lucky! LOTS of trees down around here also. Glad you guys are ok! I agree….after the earthquake and hurricane all in one week I hope it all settles down for a while!!
Mercedes says
MY neighborhood up in Montgomery County Maryland fared a lot better than you guys down there! Glad to hear that the family (and the house) are safe. it’s a shame about the tree on the neighbors house though! I’ve got a 40 foot tall Bradford Pear tree just feet from my house. but she made it through just fine!
Diane says
Glad you are all safe! So sorry to see the misfortune that befell your neighbors, though.
Charlotte | Living Well on the Cheap says
Woah! That’s about how my city looked after Gustav a few years ago, but we’re used to it! The weeks after a hurricane like that are so surreal. Your quote about glorious power cracked me up, because it’s so true that lights and air conditioning really do become such an incredible luxury–you never realize how wonderful they are until you’re out of power for more than a few hours! I hope you get your power (and your neighborhood) back soon! So glad you made it through unscathed!
Ali Miller says
I am so glad you posted! I checked your website ALL weekend long. (I’m an original Virginian myself.) We were working on alot of projects all weekend (re-grouting some bathroom tile and replacing some wood on the exterior of the house), and I kept saying things like, “I don’t think John and Sherry would do it that way, gosh I hope they are okay with the storm and all.” …I think my husband might be tired of hearing about you guys!!!
KellyA says
LOL, I spray painted door knobs this weekend and kept thinking to myself “now that I see them, Sherry isn’t so crazy with her obsessive love for ORB…”
Ali Miller says
I know! It all makes so much sense!
Jenny says
Its strange to “know” someone who is effected by the severe weather out on the East coast (as I live on the west coast). You guys are kind of like distant family members that I never really talk to except keep up with your blog. You two share more with “whoever checks/reads your blog” than my own family does. Thanks for being so willing to share your lives with the world… And glad you guys are safe – sorry for all those effected in your family and area.
Andrew says
Hi Sherry.. glad you’re OK. One question though — how come your windows (and your neighbors) aren’t boarded up? I have lived in Florida and South Texas and when a hurricane is on it’s way, everyone boards up their windows. You’re lucky it didn’t blow the glass out.
YoungHouseLove says
Richmond is a ways inland (we’re about 100 miles from the east coast) so we’re not a town that typically boards up windows (storms like this in general are quite rare for our area). We don’t know of anyone who had any windows break except for those who had trees fall on their homes (sadly boarding things up wouldn’t help with that). So scary that you guys have to do that. I can’t imagine the force of a storm that can actually blow out glass!
xo,
s
kristen says
Most of BonAir is on Dominion’s repair list for today! Hopefully we’ll be up and running soon!
http://dom.com/storm-center/pdf/worklocations_richmond.pdf
YoungHouseLove says
That would be amazing! With so many trees still actively on lines we’re not holding our breath- but it definitely would be awesome!
xo,
s
Stacia says
So glad to hear you are OK. I am so sad to see the devastation in your neighborhood, but happy to hear no one was hurt.
Keisha says
I’m glad to hear that you guys are ok. Irene hit us last weekend in the BVI and we were without power and water for 3 days which we thought was bad, a week or two seems unbearable. I hope the power is back on soon. Ready.gov has some great tips for making a kit and making a plan for all sorts of disasters. It’s a good reference for the future if you’re not already prepared. Stay safe.
Holly says
So glad that you guys are okay and your house was spared – thinking of all who were affected. And btw, Clara looks absolutely adorable leaning on her little cousin :)
amanda says
Glad to see y’all and the house are ok! Those pics of Clara with her cousin are soo funny and adorable! When Hurricane Ike hit Houston bad a few years ago, we were the lucky ones that had power back immediately, but some people didn’t have it for 2 weeks and of course in south TX heat that is no fun! Hopefully y’all have a genny just in case and I hope the weather there is cooler than it is here (110 this weekend). Stay safe and prayers go out for the sanity and patience of those whose homes were damaged.
LeCheech says
Glad you’re alright. We’re in the upstate of SC and didn’t even get RAIN. I was like “That’s not cool!!” I didn’t even get to suffer with you a little :<
Karen says
Glad you guys are OK. How much of a love bug is Clara?? Too cute. Hope the power returns soon!
Annie says
So glad you guys are ok! How very scary! Count your blessings!
nancie says
oh gosh…SO glad you all are ok..
this same thing happened to me a few years ago – hurricane ivan…i live about 90 – 100 miles from the coast but the little town in alabama that i live in had way more damage most of the coastal areas where it actually hit…i think because we were on the northeast quadrant/or northwest/north-something anyway. the pictures you posted look oh so familiar! i was without power about 5 days i think…i was lucky like you with no house damage of my own, but my neighbors didn’t fair as well. just a reminder..later when all the insurance adjusters are out and about inspecting..you can claim all your refrigerator/freezer items..that stuff does add up, and without power, i’m sure you’ve lost lots of that kind of stuff..
Marlena says
So glad that your family is safe and sound! It broke my heart to see the fallen trees in people’s homes. Thoughts to everyone effected.
Barbara says
I am glad to hear that you weathered the storm well, although sorry to hear that some of your friends and neighbors did not fare so well. Your blog is alot of fun to keep up with and I am truly amazed that you even posted today :-) Best of luck!
Sara says
The picture of Clara and her cousin cuddling up on the sofa is about the cutest thing ever! Put a huge smile on my face this morning – thanks for sharing!
Dawn Levasseur says
Thankful that everyone of your family members are okay. We live outside of Philadelphia in Downingtown. Even though it wasn’t supposed to hit us that hard, we got it worse than our family in Philadelphia. We lost power about 10:00 Saturday night. We were told it would be back on in about a week. Power came back around 8:00 this a.m. and surprised us. We are so lucky that all we had to go through were some cold showers and spoiled food. We are buying a generator so we’re a little more prepared if it happens again. You and all of the hurricane victims are in our prayers.
Dee in BC says
I’m glad you Okay- I was rooting for you!