I'm seeing on Facebook how Boone got hit by a tornado. Here are some pics from the Nathans Walk apartments over on Queen Street.

Not a tornado, but 60-70 mph gusts around 7 pm. Tons of trees and power lines down all over.

Yikes! Hope everyone's okay.

Yeah, there was a picture circulating social media of a tornado in Boone. Now living in Colorado I saw it and knew in 2 seconds it was the Rockies and not Boone. None the less it took of like wild fire. So it was a nasty windy day with no tornadoes.

It's been a LONG 48 hours starting with me having to cut trees out of my own driveway that missed by a couple of feet taking out my car and the garage just to get out. But despite the thousands of trees down, so many people out of power (still some waiting even now), and lots of fire/rescue crews trying to help power crews to clear as much damage as possible, everything I've seen and all the aerial shots I've seen point to these being straight line winds/micro bursts. We'll wait for the official NWS word but I've been chasing/spotting since 1989 in addition to the EMS work, been through and worked in multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, and more severe thunderstorms than I can even think of. And the one telling sign is that everything was laid out in the same direction. Drones may be a pain to some but they sure do make damage surveys a whole lot easier and quicker. Used to have to wait for helicopters to map out areas. Now just throw a drone up in the worst areas and get a great view right on the spot.

Regardless the storms were bad and this is one of those moments that EMS and NWS people use as an example to all to always heed the warnings, no matter how many times they may turn out to be not so bad. You can never know and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

firemoose wrote:It's been a LONG 48 hours starting with me having to cut trees out of my own driveway that missed by a couple of feet taking out my car and the garage just to get out. But despite the thousands of trees down, so many people out of power (still some waiting even now), and lots of fire/rescue crews trying to help power crews to clear as much damage as possible, everything I've seen and all the aerial shots I've seen point to these being straight line winds/micro bursts. We'll wait for the official NWS word but I've been chasing/spotting since 1989 in addition to the EMS work, been through and worked in multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, and more severe thunderstorms than I can even think of. And the one telling sign is that everything was laid out in the same direction. Drones may be a pain to some but they sure do make damage surveys a whole lot easier and quicker. Used to have to wait for helicopters to map out areas. Now just throw a drone up in the worst areas and get a great view right on the spot.

Regardless the storms were bad and this is one of those moments that EMS and NWS people use as an example to all to always heed the warnings, no matter how many times they may turn out to be not so bad. You can never know and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

My neighborhood here in Wilkesboro \ Moravian Falls was w/o power for just over 50 hours. There are still communities around here that won't be back "online" til late today or sometime Tues. Duke Energy actually sent crews from here to Watauga to lend a hand. Don't think we had the level of structural damage that the Boone area got but the wind sure made pathways where huge trees once stood. We had major damage to two huge maples in our front yard. Don't think they can be saved. Hugo almost got 'em in '89. I think it's curtains this time.

firemoose wrote:It's been a LONG 48 hours starting with me having to cut trees out of my own driveway that missed by a couple of feet taking out my car and the garage just to get out. But despite the thousands of trees down, so many people out of power (still some waiting even now), and lots of fire/rescue crews trying to help power crews to clear as much damage as possible, everything I've seen and all the aerial shots I've seen point to these being straight line winds/micro bursts. We'll wait for the official NWS word but I've been chasing/spotting since 1989 in addition to the EMS work, been through and worked in multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, and more severe thunderstorms than I can even think of. And the one telling sign is that everything was laid out in the same direction. Drones may be a pain to some but they sure do make damage surveys a whole lot easier and quicker. Used to have to wait for helicopters to map out areas. Now just throw a drone up in the worst areas and get a great view right on the spot.

Regardless the storms were bad and this is one of those moments that EMS and NWS people use as an example to all to always heed the warnings, no matter how many times they may turn out to be not so bad. You can never know and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Hey Moose!!
A fireman's job is never done. Just cleaned up till the next one. Just glad you are ok! Thanks for all your hard work both as a firefighter and as the one who keeps up with and posts recruiting information. Fire and EMS here for 29 years. Thanks!!!

asu66 wrote:My neighborhood here in Wilkesboro \ Moravian Falls was w/o power for just over 50 hours. There are still communities around here that won't be back "online" til late today or sometime Tues. Duke Energy actually sent crews from here to Watauga to lend a hand. Don't think we had the level of structural damage that the Boone area got but the wind sure made pathways where huge trees once stood. We had major damage to two huge maples in our front yard. Don't think they can be saved. Hugo almost got 'em in '89. I think it's curtains this time.

Glad you're ok Chuck and didn't get any structural damage. Be careful with those trees if they can reach the house. Getting hit that bad it might be time to remove them. Believe me I've got some others here that are coming down ASAP. Dodged a major bullet by less than 10 feet. And if it had been one of the other two in the cluster instead it would have taken out a large part of the house. Been wanting to take em down for several years but just haven't been able to. It's over now for them and about 10 others.

ASU84 wrote:Hey Moose!!
A fireman's job is never done. Just cleaned up till the next one. Just glad you are ok! Thanks for all your hard work both as a firefighter and as the one who keeps up with and posts recruiting information. Fire and EMS here for 29 years. Thanks!!!

You've got that right. Thanks for your service as well!!! And the kind words about the recruiting info. Two things I love to do. Just one is a lot more safe than the other.

And I just want to say a special word to any other Fire/EMS/LEO's out there that are reading the board. I know a few on here already. The First Responder family is a large, close family. It's the reason I change my avatar to what it is now when we lose a member of that family. It's a difficult and dangerous job but it's one we do because we love it and want to help. There is no greater feeling than helping someone in what is usually one of their greatest times of need. All of you out there be careful, be safe, and know that your brothers and sisters stand with you always.