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Sorry we missed you yesterday, but we are ready to give you a complete update on the lightning strike aftermath of Chez Herd.
We were having a fairly normal summer shower Tuesday afternoon with just a few distant rumbles of thunder. Nothing particularly alarming. Frankie wore his thunder-shirt in Hu-Dad’s study, but he was pretty calm about things. Until KA-BLOOEY.
We knew the strike was close because we could feel it in the air as it happened. The internet was kaput, but that happens a decent amount during thunderstorms (the transmission tower is on the peak of the ski area, so it attracts lightning like any metal tower would). But within a few minutes, we noticed we didn’t have water.
That’s when things got really exciting.
The shockwaves of the strike traveled down our well shaft, burned out the pump, and shattered the water pipe . The water from the line raced back into the well which created a suction effect, draining water from everything in the house. Pipes, toilets, hot water tank—everything became bone dry. But the damage came from the suction in the water filtration system where the pressure was so great it crushed the pair of filter tanks.
The good news is that the well company hoisted the old pump out of the well (340 feet / 104 meters) below ground, installed a brand new pump, and repaired the broken water line. Water was flowing again by mid-day. The water filtration system will be replaced as soon as all of the parts are shipped in.
And repairs to the internet transmission tower were complete yesterday afternoon, so we are back online. The only electronic equipment that was damaged was a coffee maker—something the Hu-Dad considered to be a great catastrophe.
So all is good here at Chez Herd. Hu-Dad says the plan is to remain boring for a while since we have all had enough excitement.
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Glad everyone is ok (except the bank account) !! and YES a damaged coffee pot is in the catastrophic category!!!
Impressive you were able to get things fixed so quickly. Where I am located (Manila, Philippines) the contractor would be ordering parts for six months and take another six to get it installed. Sounds like a modification to the system might be called for to prevent suction on the line. Glad to hear everyone is ok.
good grief. it was like dominoes falling! I’m also amazed that it all got fixed so quickly.
sounds like your furry crew did really well during the scary time. I’m so glad!
we had baseball sized hail in the counties near the panhandle yesterday. frightening.
it can kill humans or poor animals who get hit by it. the prairie knows no mercy weather wise!
it has been an odd Spring all over the country it seems!
WOW!! What a mess. I hold my breath when the storms come in and pack a wallop. Glad all is well now.
Ok, I have to ask. What’s with the board in Landon’s crate? Lol Did he destroy the other one? My girl had made a few holes in hers so I know it happens.
Landon is a Houdini. He kicks out the plastic tray at the bottom of the crate and then slides his body out through the open slot.
Yes, really.
The board is impossible for him to slide out.
The front which hit y’all came through Greensboro later in the evening. We got 4″ of rain in three hours, in addition to spectacular lightning. I’m surprised that you got so much damage repaired so quickly.
Holy moly!!! What a crazy mess! Again…. so very grateful you’re all ok!
Wow Hu-Dad-I cannot even imagine the catastrophe in your house. WE also have a well and water treatment system almost like yours. I hope you never again have to go through that again. I know Landon and the rest of the Herd think so too. I also hope you have that coffee maker replaced-that is VERY important!
No worries. Hu-Dad had a backup coffee maker. You should always have backups for critical items.