Was your home residence (house, apartment, garage, shed, fence) damaged? Extent of damage? Were you required to live somewhere else following the derecho due to home damage?
Door, window damage. Minimal interior water damage (chimney tipped during height of storm) Fence damage. Stayed at home. Without power for one week
Did your property sustain tree damage? Extent of tree damage?
Major tree damage. Lost 9 mature trees: spruce, apple, serviceberry, dogwood.
Was your workplace/school damaged? Extent of damage?
Retired
How many days were you without electricity?
7+
How many days were you without internet services?
It was restored when power returned.
Did you need to make a property insurance claim? If so, what was your experience with your insurance company?
Yes. Insurance adjusters varied greatly between our April claims due to hail damage and the August derecho claim. The derecho adjuster was strictly business and not the most helpful person we have worked with. I think the toll of dealing with so much damage everywhere was getting the better of him .
Did you have access to enough food for your household following the derecho? Did you have the need to use local food pantries to supplement your household’s food supply?
Yes. We had a generator to run our freezer and fridge. Did not use local food pantry, but for the first time ever we drove through the Hy Vee food give away that was by the old Marion Drug Town after our supplies were getting low after multiple days of feeding workers helping with tree debris in our yard.
How was your mental/emotional health affected by the derecho?
Mixed bag. Grateful that we were not injured and still had a roof over our heads. Thankful for the ability to enjoy the Milky Way at night from our backyard thanks to no power. Challenged by the physical work needed to clean up. Humbled by the kindness and generosity of people helping one another. Tired. Frustrated at the loss of bird habitat.
What resources were helpful (in any way) after the derecho?
Family members helping clear tree debris with their farm machinery. Tree removal experts who felled spruces broken in half by the storm. FEMA trucks hauling away tree debris for our neighbors.
Are there any memories you would like to share?
Watching the storm rip trees out of the ground with ease, clearing the debris, loss of habitat for birds. Planting for the future.
