If you're reading this, then chances are you've seen the video of me with the HUGE falling tree behind.
If you haven't seen it, CLICK HERE to watch the video.
I know, I know… it was a very dangerous situation.
I'm very lucky... and... what was I thinking putting my hand over my head?!? Basic instinct, I guess, but we all know that wouldn't have done much.
You need to know we were out there to get the word out about how bad the ice storm was. We also were keeping a close eye to the sky, and throughout the morning had dodged numerous falling branches. We had discussed that tree with others, and were pretty confident that due to the weight of the ice and the way the tree was leaning that it was not going to fall our way. You also need to know that I have learned my lesson, and next time I surely won't get quite that close.
Even though pictures ( or in this case--video) are worth a thousand words, it's what you didn't see on tape that has kept me going the past few days. Like you, I am also without a home, heat and hot water, and yes, it's even taking a toll on me.
When I came across that North Tulsa neighborhood Monday, the destruction was unreal. Clearly, this was the worst damage we had seen, and we had been all around the area. Mother Nature had devoured hundred-year-old hardwoods snapping them like used toothpicks. Electric boxes were literally ripped off homes. SUVs and cars were crushed; as bushes bogged down by ice, bowed down to Mother Nature. Our footsteps were punctuated by the snap, crackle and pop of the next branch falling from the sky… sirens screamed in the distance.
The tree that you saw fall, was the last of a group of three that hadn't laid down yet. The first two toppled earlier that morning and rested in the roadway. They were so big, no cars would be able to enter or exit this neighborhood, and hefty machinery would be needed to remove them. When we arrived on the scene, the family that lived in that house next to those trees was outside. They were all okay, but their power was out, so they were packing things up-- heading out for a warm place to stay.
My photographer, John and I were there for hours, talking to neighbors, pushing cars out of lawns, and keeping an eye on that last standing tree. We also noticed the family periodically come and go: once to get blankets… another time to take their dogs to a safe place. Each time-- they, like us-- were staring down the last standing tree-- willing it to just stay put.
As we know by now, that did not happen.
It fell shortly after the family took the dogs away. And as you saw, I was standing on the other side when it lost its fight against the freezing rain.
We knew no one was inside the home (that you can barely see from the video), and there was nothing we could do at that moment, that's why we kept taping. We also knew it was only a matter of time before the family came home to discover it.
They arrived a few minutes later… and silently looked on as the tree rested like a sleeping giant across their front yard and onto their house. Despite the chaos, they were surprisingly calm, cool and collected, and after checking things out--- thought perhaps someday the house would be okay.
We spoke for a while off camera… and they amazed me.
Here's why..
The homeowner told me: "Before I went to bed last night, I just prayed that those trees wouldn't hit any of our cars, or our house while our family was in it. We moved the cars before the first trees fell, and we were out of the house for the third. So, you know what? The way I see it, we're lucky. Our prayers were answered."
As we count the days we are cold, uncomfortable, hungry and without hot water.. Perhaps we should count our blessings too.
I sure am. It sounds cliché, but even I'm living proof-- things could've been a lot worse.
Stay Safe.
Julie