Derecho: Quinwood West Virginia 2012
The storm hit us on June 29th 2012 at approximately 7:55pm, it came from the West-NorthWest, With winds at an excess of 70 mph. we lost power for 10 days, temps reached well into the 90’s, Neighbors helped one another, we boiled water and cooked what we had before we had to throw it out till help could arrive; Other impacted states included Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington DC.
If anyone were to ask me what I thought a "Derecho" was prior to 2012, I would have said a Quentin Tarantino film. Like many, I had been through my share of weather events; Snow storms, Blizzards, Tornadoes, I remember the heatwave that hit Chicago in 1995 that contributed to over 700 heat related deaths. Through each event you think you're better prepared more over than the last one, you're not, you're really, really not. Cause we're all too busy living in the now in the moment. I do applaud the citizens of all the communities, small towns, and cities through the great state of West Virginia, we helped one another, and that is truly what living is all about.
More Power crews began to show up 10 days later to access the damage.
Mayor of Quinwood greets a member of the American Red Cross from the Kentucky division, soon after the power crews arrived..
The Red Cross was a welcomed site to many of the residents of West Virginia that were effected by the storm..
Pallets of water arrive per the National Guard.
Volenteers prepare meals furnished by the Red Cross.
Meals stand ready to be taken to those residents that could not make it to the quinwood fire dept
Pallets of water stand ready to be distributed to the residents.
Members of the American Red Cross getting ready to head out.
The last can of food is handed out before their departure.
The Thousand Year Flood: 2016
As we approach the 2-year anniversary of the "thousand-year flood" that occurred on June 23, 2016. I thought I'd share some of my images from my ride home through Harts Run in Caldwell West Virginia to White Sulphur Springs.
Shot with my LG G5 Smartphone: My Rolleiflex MX series TLR and the film I shot on my dresser, it would be a month or so till I was able to send it out to be developed.
Shot with a LG G5 Smartphone: Part of the Greenbrier golf course in White Sulphur Springs (right) It had gotten worse as I drove on route 60.
Shot with an LG G5 Smartphone: Center of town, the river had breached the barriers to the right and was pouring into the neighborhoods, the area behind the tree line (right) fared far worse since it sat much lower. The road directly in front of me is the one I needed to take to get home, Howard creek had already breached the barriers along the road, and the lower lying area just on the other side of the tree on the right, 23 homes were destroyed and 6 lives were lost.
Shot with my Roleiflex 6x6 TLR: Section of road at route 60 and 92.
Shot with my Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR:Several vehicles were washed away downstream and found themselves in the park.
Shot with my Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR:The area where many homes were destroyed, I found this bicycle that someone had stood back up, it was the only thing still intact.
Shot with LG G5 Smartphone: this image was taken in 2017 atop the bridge of Howards Creek, I thought I'd include it to show just how high the creek had risen.