Scary days in Franklinville

This summer, the weather in Western New York has been insane. Mostly rain, with a few tornados thrown in to keep us on our toes. When most of us heard there was a possibility of severe weather again this past Sunday, no one really cared. There ALWAYS seems to be severe weather! So, people went to reunions and picnics and planned cook outs and the town softball game commenced at Legion Feild as usual. We're pretty tough around here!
I was at work. There was a planned meeting at the Conservation Club, in our large back hall, (Site of the annual Game dinner, weddings, funeral luncheons, parties, bands and all around lots of memories and use by lots of people.) The meeting was suposed to include a big local politian, and several not so big politians, newspapers, the Concerned Citzens of Cattaraugus county and anyone else interested in attending.
The day was hot muggy and humid, one of those awful days when a person can almost drink the air. People began filing in in their Sunday best. Important people were wearing suits. Lots of hands were being shaken, and OMG, I actually saw a baby get kissed. It was textbook, politian 101.
The sky was pitch black at two in the afternoon, but, we're used to it. My brother Luke and his wife Tammy had just been in to show me their new motorcycle, before they headed for the hour ride back home, when BOOM!!!!! The storm just whipped in with ZERO warning. one moment it was calm, the next it was just crazy. A window came right out of a door, doors were slamming open and shut, the electric went out, people were screaming, and the rain was absolutely horizonal.
The speeches were just begining, and it never occured to anyone to stop, so, sweat pouring off them, the politians kept right on politc-ing. Not one of them would take off their suit coat. When I told one of them he probably SHOULD take his jacket off, he looked at my with great pity. Poor little nothing of a bartender. Not worth the handshake, probably cant read to vote. sigh. You could see the sorrow on his face, as he decided I would never understand that politians DO NOT TAKE OFF THEIR JACKETS. It apparently isn't done. Duh. Whatever. Sweat to death you moron.
As soon as the speeches were done, and polite clapping had finished, the lights came back on. At which one of my bar customers yelled loudly, "SEE?! Even GOD doesn't like politians!!!!!!!"
Love this town. Anyhow, I was worried about my brother, but he, his wife and their bike made it home safely. trees were down. One right across the road from our house had fallen onto the neighbor's house. It went right through their roof, and the side of their house. The damage was pretty extensive. Jasin and several of the neighbors all pitched in the clear the tree off the house, patch the roof as well as possible for the night, and clean things up. We heard there were more storms expected. suddenly, people paid attention to the weather. Lexi had watched the tree across the road fall, and was frantic and just beside herself with worry and terrified of more storms. The poor kid has been upset since.
Around eleven Sunday night, Jasin and I had dozed on the family room couch, when I woke up to wind just whipping through the room, through the North and East windows. Storm # 2 had hit. We went to bed, and I laid awake all night listening to the awful fury outside. The lightning was so bad and so frequent that even closing your eyes, it burned.
Pictured below are just some of the pictures of the Village. It was worse in some parts, but this is what Jasin drove around and took today, as I was at work.

The view across the road from our driveway. It's cleaned up some in this picture, but it was pretty bad yeasterday.
The hocky field

The Golf course at the Country Club

The new playground at Legion Park

The creek. Not sure where he took this one

When I arrived at work this morning, the damage was amazing and extensive. the parkinglot had been flooded. At one point the water had come over the driveway leading back to the Club in 2 places. Trees were down everywhere, and the debris and just wind and flood damage was truly amazing. I was SO happy it happened over night, and not while I had a building full of poeple!

One of my regulars came in, everyone calls him Farmer Brown, as (AKA Jim Brown), due to the fact he actually owns a farm... anyhow, he is one of THE nicest people on the planet, and not one person can say anything bad about such a truly nice guy. Has a wife and two daughters, and is just great. The damage to his farm and fields was extensive, and he will lose his corn crops. His basement still has water rushing through it, and the work on his new barn is under water. All he can see of his 6 foot corn stalks is the tassles. "But", smiles the ever optimistic farmer Brown, "You should see the ducks! They are having the best time!"

'bout sums it up, here in poor little Franklinville. When all is said and done, everyone is okay. There was a tornado about 20 minutes away from here sunday, and a state of emergency in three different towns, where people lost houses and all sorts of things were swept away. We were lucky!