The day after "Kyrill" hit Europe

[Kirsten]

from cnn.com: Europe reels as storms kill 41 (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/19/europe.storm.ap/index.html)


Yesterday and last night, Europe has been hit by one of the worst storms ever. "Kyrill" brought a lot damage and claimed about 40 lives... In Munich, Germany, a girl of 18 months died, she was hit by a terrace door that was ripped out of the wall, and another toddler was killed in London, UK, when a brick wall came down. :(

There's also a lot of descruction in many parts of Europe, but not as bad as expected. There were some power outages (not in my area), and the entire German railway system was shut down last night.

I don't know yet how badly my area was hit by "Kyrill", but the schools were still closed today.

Hope everyone's okay!

Kirsten

[lvpets2002]

:( Yes that is all so sad & heartbreaken.. I was hearing about all of this on the news this morning.. We are so glad you are ok.. Keep us informed..

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Got away quite lightly here - lost a few trees :( cars and fences but still standing

[lizbud]

I saw some film of people trying to get around London in the very high
winds when this was going on.It looks very dangerous.I'm glad that you
are ok.

[jackmilliesmom]

We are not too bad either some power lines down and phone lines also some trees but again not too badly hit. I am glad everyone else in the states and europe are ok keeping fingers crossed though as husband working in Co. Galway today and it is snowing he is not happy as hte roads are getting bad.

[jackie]

I don't understand why people would put themselves out in such a strong storm.

I feel so sorry for the children who died. :(

[Kirsten]

Yes, it's so sad! :( Seems they lost their lives while they were INSIDE and their parents probably considered them to be safe there! :(

jackmilliesmom and Brody's Mum, I'm glad you're alright!

I just found a picture gallery showing photos of Kyrill and its descruction in my area. It's from the website of our local newspaper:


http://forum.hna.de/foto/thumbnails.php?album=1114&page=1

http://forum.hna.de/foto/thumbnails.php?album=1114&page=2

http://forum.hna.de/foto/thumbnails.php?album=1114&page=3

http://forum.hna.de/foto/thumbnails.php?album=1114&page=4

http://forum.hna.de/foto/thumbnails.php?album=1114&page=5

http://forum.hna.de/foto/thumbnails.php?album=1114&page=6


Kirsten

[Karen]

I am glad to know you (all the European Pet Talkers) are checking in and okay, that was quite a storm.

[Sonia59]

It was quite a storm also in the Netherlands (I work there) and in the North of France (where my home is). Yesterday afternoon we received a general e-mail at work saying that everyone should go home immediately, it was ~15:00 and the sky was totally black... But at that moment I heard that people who tried to go home were all stuck on the roads, some of them being closed already or blocked by a tree or a truck! :eek: So I stayed at work, thinking that the building might be safer than my room anyway.
The wind decreased a bit in the evening and everything was OK but several people were killed by falling trees while being in their cars. A crane crashed on a University building in Utrecht, very close to where I am. Today it was a complete mess on the roads with branches and all kind of debris.

At my house in France kitties and partner just had to deal with an electricity cut, besides the strong wind. Everyone is safe ;) I thought about our German PT members yesterday evening and I am happy to see that they are safe :)

[cyber-sibes]

Kirsten, Thank goodness you are safe! All of you touched by the storm are in my prayers.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Lots of damage here in Belgium too! But we only have a broken stone flowerpot (was on patio), and several wooden benches blown upside down.

Here are some pics I found in our newspaper
http://www.standaard.be/Assets/Images_Upload/storm2007-038.jpg

http://www.standaard.be/Assets/Images_Upload/DSC_0002.jpg

http://www.standaard.be/Assets/Images_Upload/PICT0234.jpg

http://www.standaard.be/Assets/Images_Upload/boomhamme.jpg

Wimereux, north France
http://www.standaard.be/Assets/Images_Upload/storm17d.jpg

and this is the crane Sonia was writing about
http://www.standaard.be/Assets/Images_Upload/storm17h.jpg

[kittycats_delight]

:eek: We didn't get touched at all. Nothing. I didn't even hear about it. Tell you how 'with it' I am lately. Glad everyone is alright.

[Freckles]

Is Kyrill the name of the storm like we name hurricanes?

[Cataholic]

WOW. Those are some photos. How sad. :(

[Kirsten]

Freckles, yes, "Kyrill" is the name of the storm. Actually you could almost call it a hurricane, I think. There's going to be another one this weekend that's called "Lancelot", but that one's not supposed to be so extreme...

Sonia, that sounds bad, I saws pictures of Utrecht on the news, it looked horrible. I'm glad you're safe, and I think it was a wise decision to stay at work. That was much safer than being in the car!

Lut, glad to hear you're okay!

kittycats_delight, so the storm didn't hit Italy at all? Maybe the Alps stopped it, and it moved eastwards.

Has anyone heard from the other Europeans here? Barbara, Randi, Killearn Kitties ...?


Here are some more pictures from Germany, hope they show up:

http://www.n-tv.de/img/755305_src_path3.nreQ.jpg

http://www.n-tv.de/img/755305_src_path22.KMWw.jpg

http://www.n-tv.de/img/755305_src_path33.+x6g.jpg

http://onnachrichten.t-online.de/c/10/17/01/38/10170138,tid=i.jpg

http://onnachrichten.t-online.de/c/10/17/00/32/10170032,tid=i.jpg

http://onnachrichten.t-online.de/c/10/17/04/94/10170494,tid=i.jpg



Kirsten

[Barbara]

I am absolutely fine- we had quite a storm this night but I am in the flat lands just north of the alps and we had a special situation: a warm storm coming from South (and that was the one that killed that little girl in Munich :() which was dangerous but not too much. Plus the main storm coming from North which was much worse but was kept at bay by the Southern storm- does that make any sense?
So the main storm only started in the night.
We closed every window, collected all loose items in the garden and although I saw some trees down in the morning (not on the road, however) and some damage to construction sites near my office very close to one the few high rise buildings in Munich ( which may have created some winds to spin round and be more problematic) there were no more people who have been killed.

I sleep under the roof and it was one of the loudest nights ever.

In my neighborhood there have been some trees (firs) which were dead last winter- and they got them down just 4 weeks ago- I think that was a good move.

So we all survived just fine. My roof is on the house and except lots of dry leaves in the closed garage there is nothing wrong with us.

Filou and Tigris have not been worried - they think that as long as mom and dad are there we are ok ;)

[Kirsten]

Hi Barbara, glad you're fine! :)

I didn't know that there was a southern storm also. That is so sad about that little girl! :(

The strange thing is that I even had my bedroom window tilted as usual, and I barely heard my wind chime. Well, okay, there were moments I heard Kyrill roaring, but most of the time it was quiet. But when my co-workers showed up this morning, one said she had a sleepless night because it was so loud and scary, and the other one was late because there was a tree in her driveway.

And my mother and Reinhold at Tillyschanze had a VERY scary night up there in the forest, with all the trees around!! They saw them bending over and feared they would fall onto the house. Needless to say, Peggy stayed inside last night!

Kirsten

[Barbara]

Kirsten- it was a Föhnsturm- the kind where the warm wind comes from the South and falls down from the alps to trhe area of lower pressure. It was the reason that first they said the Northern storm would hit us in the morning, then at 4, then at 6- and until it finally arrived I was in bed. ;)

[Kirsten]

I understand... I assume it's the same storm that brought subtropical tmeperatures to Austria and Bavaria? Just read that Vienna almost had a "tropical night" with temperatures around 20°C (68°F)!! I think this is something that never happened before!

The weather is so extreme that it's almost scary!

Kirsten

[Barbara]

Yesterday at 6 when I drove home it was 16 deg Celsius (that would be 61 Fahrenheit) ... not exactly how our January is meant to be.
But of course it's freezing in California- that's what happens if you get yourself an Austrian governor ;)

[Kirsten]

But of course it's freezing in California- that's what happens if you get yourself an Austrian governor ;)

LOL ;)

Kirsten

[Killearn Kitties]

No damage here. The wind missed us altogether. We got a bit of snow, but that was all. It was enough to prevent me getting to work though. Quite a few blocked roads, so I had to turn back and spend the day with the cats. They were quite delighted when I came back and put on the heating.

My husband had more bother. He was in Newcastle yesterday, and the whole of England had very high winds. There was a speed restriction in force on the trains, so he had bother getting back, but eventually they put on extra trains to move everybody.

I assume that Wales also must have caught the wind, but I'm sure I saw Chris posting this morning.

[lizbud]

I wanted to thank everyone for the pictures. I knew it was bad, but I
didn't realise how much property damage (and worse for those killed) also
happened. The pictures of the sea's surf was stunning.

I am glad none of you were hurt.

[Edwina's Secretary]

But of course it's freezing in California- that's what happens if you get yourself an Austrian governor ;)

You can have him back if you really want him!

I was off doing my thing on the East Coast and missed this news. Glad to hear all are well.....if a bit late getting home ;) (I can relate!)

Where's Randi?

[Logan]

This storm has astounded me, Kirsten. I'm glad you're ok.

[Barbara]

You can have him back if you really want him!





Hey he's Austrian- so he's not mine anyway ;)

[Kirsten]

You can have him back if you really want him!


No thanks! Here in Germany, we already had our share of Austrian politicians! :eek: ;)

Kirsten

[Pam]

I saw this on the news and have to say that I think the pictures that you posted gave more of an idea of the massive and intense effects of this storm. My first thoughts were of all of my European Pet Talk friends. I am glad we have heard from most of you and will be relieved when we hear from Randi and Chris.

The weather in the U.S. is very abnormal also as you have no doubt heard. What on earth is going on? :confused:

[Kirsten]

The weather in the U.S. is very abnormal also as you have no doubt heard. What on earth is going on? :confused:

Yes, I heard about it on the news, it's so weird!!

Kirsten

[Sonia59]

I am glad to hear about more good news of our European members :)
Yesterday was quiet, no wind at all. Today it started again and woke me up this morning; It's pretty strong now (may be the Lancelot Kirsten was talking about?) but compared to tursday it is nothing.

The kitties are not scared at all. Peppito even insists to have a walk outside! He did not realise that the noise we hear is due to the wind :rolleyes: But we will not accept his request, of course ;)

[sirrahbed]

Hubby and I have been reading all through these posts this morning and I am so glad to hear that those I "know" from here are OK. Still no word from Randi in Denmark?

Yes, US weather also has us talking. Here in Ohio, we still have fairly mild weather and there is usually snow by now. Last week there was an evening that it was 50 F up here and in the 20's with ice on the ground down in Texas for my dad and daughter Sirrahsim. That is over 1000 miles south of us. It is very eerie.

Thank you so much for all the news and pictures. All of this makes me want news of my PT family.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I am getting worried about Randi too! There are lots of scaffolds at the building where she has her appartment in, I hope they didn't cause any damage!!
I went to the centre of our village this morning, and I saw lots of damage on roofs everywhere! The fire-brigade was blocking the traffic to reach some of those :eek: ! At a building site I saw that lots of the scaffolds were scattered all over the building site...!
Please let us know if you are allright, Randi...

[Killearn Kitties]

Randi has been logged on every day since Thursday. She was just on an hour ago, so I expect she just hasn't seen the thread.

[Randi]

Hi everyone! I've been busy drinking cocoa in the Doghouse. :D

We did have a storm a few days ago, but nothing compared to Germany and France. It's been pouring with rain all day, but it's passed now. :) Here's proof: http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/radar

So....I'm safe and warm. However, the poor girl in no. 2 (next to me) has had her whole kitchen ruined due to badly covering of the roof. She lives on the top floor and doesn't even want the extension upwards - and she lost her mother in November. :( She also has two cats who now have to eat in the bathroom. She will need a whole new kitchen installed.

The scaffolds are still up.

[Marigold2]

Hello, I have heard nothing about the storm till just now. How sad. I lived in Freiburg Germany for two years (1976-1978) and my aunt and other family are still there. My parents came here in 1957. I am glad to hear that everyone is safe. Please take care. Monica

[Barbara]

I think it was really one of the worst storms we ever had for years- but as always- it can be very different just 5 miles away.

[lizbud]

Hi everyone!

So....I'm safe and warm. However, the poor girl in no. 2 (next to me) has had her whole kitchen ruined due to badly covering of the roof. She lives on the top floor and doesn't even want the extension upwards - and she lost her mother in November. :( She also has two cats who now have to eat in the bathroom. She will need a whole new kitchen installed.

The scaffolds are still up.


Maybe Fister could invite the kitties over for supper? I would hate to
lose my whole kitchen.

I'm glad that you are doing fine. Sipping cocoa in the Dog House huh? :D

[Kirsten]

Randi, I'm glad to hear you and Fister are fine, but I feel sorry for your neighbor and her cats!

Kirsten

[ChrisH]

Luckily, we came through it fine in my locale, apart from lots of noise - scary - and some debris scattered about. Such as fragments of smashed glass in my back yard/garden. There were very tiny pieces mixed in and it was spread over uneven and muddy ground and took quite some time to pick up. Happily though I'd had the foresight to check out there before I let Bob out. :)

Thanks to those who thought about me. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/CwmmawrJet/Smiles/grouphug.gif

[Kirsten]

Chris, glad to see you're fine!! But wasn't it just scary? From what I saw on tv, there was a lot of damage in the United Kingdom, it looked just terrible.

Kirsten

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

There is more damage to our garden than I thought :( . Several trees and bushes are uprooted; Bernard bought some wooden piles and hopes they will survive...!
This beautiful rhododendron simply cracked off and is now completely ruined :(
http://users.pandora.be/bernardgabriels/images/aptuin4.jpg
we found the cracked off part on the other side of the garden.... :( :(

[Kirsten]

I'm very sorry about your garden, Lut, and especially the rhododendron! They are such beautiful flowers and I'm sure they will be missed in your garden.

Yesterday, I passed by the house of a family I know, it's a beautiful house that had two old chestnut trees in front of it, but both of these trees came down during the storm. Now the house looks totally naked and exposed, very sad.

Kirsten

[ramanth]

I'm so happy to hear that all the European PT'ers are okay. Those photos are just shocking. Looks like a hurricane and a zillion tornados all rolled into one.
:(