calliopes_pen

Here’s a branch that took out the mailbox—I think this is when the mailbox was still under there, before Dad started to saw through everything.

This is the tree in our backyard, which just barely missed the house. As Dad took this picture, more limbs were falling—barely missing him. (And then another limb from another yard flew by) One is currently leaning against the window in the garage.

Next, here’s the bottom of the tree that caused the mess on our block. Everyone is stunned by it, understandably. You can see a neighbor’s husband and dog standing below. Here’s an angle, where you can just see the ground and fence that came up with it. A closer look.

Here’s where you can see the ground ripped up a little better. With this last one, you can see where the tree landed on a shed, and the nearby power line. From what I understand, someone called the local news about it, but they didn’t care. They would rather go to Southern Illinois, or Missouri, than look at a giant downed tree less than 5 miles from their news station.

Oh, also? Whenever anyone comes to gawk at the damage that tree did, the owner of the tree now offers to sell them hot dogs and hamburgers. He's trying to make money that way, since he didn't have insurance for this, apparently. It's that, and the fact that the food in his freezer would have gone bad if he didn't start grilling it quickly.

ETA: Wow. As of 5 PM, they now say the wind gusts were as fast as 90 mph.