Everyone in DFW ok?

[DanoInTx]

Tonight here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area we got a pretty long string of storms with one reported tornado out by the airport that I know of.  I've been living here for about 9 years now and this was a pretty hefty storm front, usually I don't get my panties wadded up, but this time I was a little cautious.  Winds were gusting at what the news said was 70-80mph, we had some pea sized hail, I watched my lawn furniture find a new home against my southern fence, and my west facing fence....well, "What west facing fence?"  Thankfully all of my family and the friends I've spoken with are safe and the fence needed to be replaced a long time ago.  Around 9:30p.m. we lost power.  I had a feeling we would lose power so I already had my trusty 3 "C" cell Maglite by my side.  This Maglite has been with me for about 12 years now as it was part of the kit I carried when I was an airline mechanic...we go way back.  So the power goes out, no problem, hit the button on my trusty Maglite and...nothing!  I never thought she'd let me down, but she did at the worst time:(  Luckily......I remembered my buddy Jerry Cupples gave me this neat little keychain light back when we had the shootout in April, and I knew right where that devil was! (Thanks again Jerry!).  Anyways, it's about 2:20a.m. now and my power just came back on.  The storms are still coming, but much less potent this time.  I took a drive around the neighborhoods, trees broken, limbs in the streets, I saw a LARGE trampoline in the middle of a main street that I can only guess flew from someones backyard like Mary Poppins and her umbrella, and of course more downed fences.  The news I saw before the power went out showed a tornado out in Grapevine, and some pretty bad stuff moving to the East, hope all you guys out towards Dallas are safe...chime in!  Thunder and lightning is picking up again, ....stay safe folks!

[Jerrycup]

Good morning, Dan
My home is in "far north" Dallas, out by George Bush Turnpike. I think some of the worst damage was not far north of me in Lewisville. We had some huge gusts last night about 8 or so. Lost power several times for a few minutes. I heard chainsaws working in my neighborhood just as it was getting dark, but no damage on my street. Pretty impressive storm front. We need to get you a new flashlight. ;-)
Start out by getting some Sanyo Eneloop AA's and a charger. Glad the little light came in handy.

[TCups]

Hey Dano

Glad you are OK.  Hope all the NTAGM-ers are OK, too.

[Bill inTX]

Didn't get it that bad down here by TCU - heavy rain for short duration, some street light power outages. The scary deal was some pretty dang close lightning strikes around 3:00 this morning. People at work this morning are reporting power problems all over the city.
I'm going to go check the batteries in my Maglite....

[shadow]

We had a Twister watch the other day up here but just got hit with some heavy rain and wind, no critters flying by.   Ed

[geewhiz380]

in nyc nothing but rain and cloudy, chilly days i guess we will have no summer or no winter or both cause i have never encountered such wheather in all my life and im 43 years old,i live in a 20 story building and my apartment is the 19th floor about 80 to 85  yards up well its made of brick and its a solid foundation but the planes from one of the airport called laguardia is right straight ahead and they fly right over my building so in storms like this i get so scared that i dont sleep .im just glad that everyone that lives in dfw is ok cause winds that fast could lead into other catrastrophes.

[DanoInTx]

It's been going pretty good again this morning, but my power is still on!  Took my wife to the dentist at 7a.m. to get her wisdom teeth pulled and saw a little more wind damage, but the weather wasn't bad.  About the time we left the dentist at around 8:30 it started pounding again and has been fairly steady ever since.  I went to the pharmacy a few minutes ago and most of the streets were flooded, but only a few inches deep.  This area was once considered part of the 100 year flood plain, but they've made a bunch of runoff ditches and aqua ducts so it doesn't get too bad for the most part.  So far the only fatality I've had is my fence and of course the old Maglite.  Definately need a couple new flashlights, will be bugging you about that shortly Jerry:)

[TexasShooter72]

Well I'm two hours west of you and battled golf ball to tennis ball sized hail on the way home.  My boss's pond overflowed and sent a bunch of water into his neighbors pond which in turn flooded out the road that I take to get to work.  Our satellite dish(HughesNet) at work was struck by lightning and left inoperable.  Our glass did alright at work but several of my neighbors lost auto glass.

Kinda makes for an exciting afternoon, eh!

Doing alright here.  Hope you cats did alright.

Matt

[Jerrycup]

Pocket sized, but very powerful. One AA battery, but it will need to be rechargeable, alkalines can't give you the current. This would be your outdoor capable, bright beam.

Sanyo Eneloop NiMH AA batteries (2) and charger (USB ready) $15
http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-Eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B000XVZYXO/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244769911&sr=8-13
Nitecore EZ AA $48 free shipping - use discount code CPF8
http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=93&products_id=1465

Then you get a AAA key ring sized light, which can run 20 hours on a plain alkaline battery, and produce enough light for most indoor purposes.
Fenix E01 $13.80 free shipping - use discount code CPF8
http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=443

[Jerrycup]

Storm #2 hit about 6 AM here. There was hail, and persistent heavy rain that dropped several inches. Flooding in many areas of town.

Glad you were OK in the bigger stuff...

[TexasShooter72]

Thanks Jerry, we're all fine here.