Well Blow Me Down!
By tammyr
@tammyr (5946)
Etowah, Tennessee
May 11, 2008 11:43pm CST
We has some really heavy winds this morning. There were trees blown down all around. The biggest one was almost in my yard.
This tree was over 100 years old to be sure. It was a huge oak tree. We were very lucky that the only thing damaged was a few limbs snapped off by this one falling. If had fell in any other direction there would have been major damage. If it had fell on my house, it would have demolished it!
6 people like this
10 responses
@paid2write (5201)
•
12 May 08
I'm glad there was no damage done. It must have been quite frightening and it is sad to see a great old tree come down. I hope new trees will be planted so they can grow for the next hundred years or so.
3 people like this
@kamran12 (5526)
• Pakistan
12 May 08
I am glad that you are safe and sound, tammy, as is your house. It surely would have claimed an unwanted price, had it been fallen some other way, given that how close it already seem to be from where the picture is taken. It is really very sad, on the other side though, that such an old tree lost it's connection with 'life', and glory it stood with.
The part of the world I belong to, there are so many such and other trees standing for centuries, providing home and nurturing not only to birds and animals but also to groups of humans too. Sometimes, they are considered as fatherly figures, not knowing they can themselves be fragile, in need of help for their survival.
2 people like this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
12 May 08
Thank you "Kamran.There is another right beside that one and RIGHT beside my driveway. There is a question about who's tree fell. It either belongs to this house or the apartments next door.
The reason (we feel) that this mighty oak fell is the fact that the drainage ditch runs down the hill and right between the two trees. With all the rain the ground was soaked and the trees are sitting in a pond of water around the roots. With heavy winds blowing it is little wonder it went down and will not surprise me if the other one falls as well.
1 person likes this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
13 May 08
I am going to talk to my landlady about it. There has to be something done about it. I keep looking out at it to see if it is starting to lean. A neighbor across the street said the one that fell was leaning before it fell. I hope this one "leans" the same way!!
1 person likes this
@kamran12 (5526)
• Pakistan
13 May 08
drainage ditch being the cause of this accident makes sense to me, Tammy, and explains it all. The city where I lived in my homeland got wind storms occasionally. If there were reports of falling trees, we always assumed, quite rightly so, that for the most part they would be the trees along the central canal.
Can you do something about the one remaining because it may choose to fall in style? seriously, it may fall at a different angle that may not be very safe for your house, not to mentioned the risk for inhabitants.
Once along the same canal, after a night of storm, I saw a car buried under a tree, I was relieved to know that it was parked by a student and he wasn't in it the time it welcomed the tree. So, be safe, my friend!
1 person likes this
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
13 May 08
This morning, it was windy in my area. It was also garbage collection day. Even though nothing got blown down, at least not that I know of, I did have a UFO come crashing into the back of my head.
I'm OK. It didn't hit that hard, but it sure was startling.
The UFO survived. It turned out to be a Rubbermaid garbage can cover that somehow, took a flight in the wind off someone's garbage can that bounced off the back of my head & landed on the street.
2 people like this
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
13 May 08
I'm just glad that it didn't explode. 
1 person likes this
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
14 May 08
I just wanted to add that it looks like you got through the windy weather better than I did. Even then, being that it was a Rubbermaid garbage can cover, it was not as bad as it really sounded. Better than one of those metal ones - THAT would have been a headache.
Too bad the windy weather didn't blow a $100 bill or three at me.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
12 May 08
Well, I am glad you are safe, I have noticed lots of people having wind problems this year. We have had some pretty windy days as well. It is not uncommon for us to have wind. We are still dealing with wind this week.
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
12 May 08
It was very close! you can just see the corner of my house in the topic photo. There have been many trees down in the area, but this is the biggest. People are talking about it in towns surrounding us. The road in front of our house has been very busy, and everyone is slowing down and talking pictures.
you can just see the corner of my house in the topic photo. There have been many trees down in the area, but this is the biggest. People are talking about it in towns surrounding us. The road in front of our house has been very busy, and everyone is slowing down and talking pictures.1 person likes this
the winds have been strong all over the US. The same storm created several tornadoes closer to you. I am glad you escaped any trouble from them.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
12 May 08
I am glad that you are OK. My yard looks messy after heavy wind, but my trees are solid. Wind was really bad yesterday.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
13 May 08
Geez louise tammy! You just get moved and the trees start coming down! I'm glad everyone is ok, and it missed your house - but hey, it's gotta make you wonder huh? LOL Sure the neighbourhood isn't haunted? lol
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
13 May 08
LOL. Well if you get 'a feeling' just stop what you're doing, say hello and welcome them to the family! That often neutralizes them.
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
13 May 08
I lost a few trees in my yard back in the beginning of this year due to high winds. Luckily none of them landed toward the house, but one tree did have it's branches touching the wires. My husband was crazy enough to cut the limbs and free the wires from the branches. 
Just be thankful that your big oak tree fell in the direction that it did.
Just be thankful that your big oak tree fell in the direction that it did.
2 people like this
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
20 May 08
I'm so glad the tree wasn't blown down--both for the sake of your house and the tree. I always hate to see beautiful old trees downed for any reason. We lose a lot of live oak trees in Florida due to hurricanes and tornados.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
14 May 08
Nature really knows it stuff. It is strong and powerful. One would think that a century-old oak try has seen its share of winds and rain and still conquered them. Still, there is no stopping the rain and wind from trying a few more times every year. The tree gives away a branch here, a limb there to appease the winds and I hope it keeps its elegance.
