What a crazy day that was right?
1 year ago today, was the great ‘Iowa Derecho,’ and it was unlike anything I had ever seen in my life, as I am sure it was for most of you too. If you lived/worked in the Corridor…you witnessed something some of us only get to see once in a lifetime.
I remember hearing about a typical storm coming our way, so I went out and snapped a funny picture of me saying the storm was coming….little did I know, all hell was about to break loose.
It was a matter of seconds, and that wind just wouldn’t stop. I saw on N Center Point Rd outside out studio windows, firetrucks stopping traffic and telling people to pull over! Across the street seeing light and transformers exploding in white electrical fire! Then our ill-fated brick sign just toppled over…a BRICK SIGN! I remember placing my hand on the window and could feel it bowing….thinking ‘Holy crap man…’
The storm killed the power to the station, we weren’t able to broadcast, and after it was all done? We went outside to see the devastation…where we were at was hit hard no doubt, but the City of Cedar Rapids? That was a whole ‘nother ball game. Trees, trees, and more trees….some still needing work to this day a whole year later.
What was great though is seeing the amount of people that came together to help out. I would see consistent Facebook posts about people offering chainsaws, needing water, generators, etc. That’s what is so great about Iowa…when someone big like this happens? Your neighbors are right there to help without question.
Below are 2 videos from the Derecho…that one of the guy in the bathroom is NUTS!
