lol we got hit by Ike when it came past Ohio back in 2008...it was still a tropical storm when it got to us and we got HAMMERED by the wind. It sounded like a freight train outside...sustained winds were probably 40mph and we had gusts over 75mph all day long. I was at work and had so many downed trees to clean up afterward. I was actually out working in our woods clearing trees off the path with the backhoe when I received a phone call from 9-1-1. Apparently they call it a "reverse 9-1-1 call" where they call all the numbers registered in the county and it was a recorded message warning us to stay out from under trees, avoid driving if at all possible due to trees down on the roads/power lines, and keep away from all windows. Crazy stuff!
I think that's probably the worst I've ever experienced from hurricanes here in Ohio.
Worst weather would have to be the derecho that came through in I think June of 2013...winds gusted over 90mph. Storm came out of nowhere. We lost power before it hit. I was out talking to the neighbor about the random power outage when it started looking really black in the distance. Then suddenly the wind started picking up so fast we went running for shelter. Our trees were bending in half and I was watching the tree tops snap off and fly across the property. Being a storm chaser, I knew it was bad so I called my girlfriend at the time and told her to stop whatever she was doing, wherever she was and take shelter from the winds that were going to reach her within minutes. I had a wedding rehearsal to get to in the next town over. Normally a 15 minute drive no matter what way you took. Interstate was closed due to numerous overturned semis so we took back roads. Took us 2 hours before we found a route that wasn't completely blocked by trees and downed power lines. Immediately after, the groom and I came back to my work and worked until nearly day break fixing downed fences (I ran a captive deer farm) before heading to his wedding a few hours later. His wedding almost had to be moved due to a tree and power lines blocking the only entrance to the park he was being married in...they managed to get it cleared an hour before the wedding. Talk about luck!
Disclaimer: Please do not follow me into any trades without verifying their potential for yourself. While I often feel like I have a good handle on things, my track record says differently.....
