Now I know how the Midwest feels...

[4x4HEMIrig]

You guys all know I live in Montana (if you've ever seen my signature). Well, we had this nasty little thunder storm roll out over the valley (dimensions: about 60 miles W-E, 50 miles N-S). From the office windows, my co-workers and I witnessed ping-pong ball to hand ball sized hail stones pelt our personal trucks and Government owned vehicles . We called our wives as soon as we got word of the impending storm and sent them home to put their cars in the garage. The women-folk were able to get some of their cars inside. So far, My wife and I have received repair claims from our insurance on both our vehicles . Our home is being looked at this coming Tuesday. The damage, so far, is in excess of $4k . We'll see what they have to say about the chipped paint and damaged landscaping. The house was built in 2007, so I don't anticipate any damage to the roof. However, the Adjuster may say different .

Until now, I've never experienced much in the way of extreme weather. A severe thunder storm and tornado watch rolled through about 2 hours north west of here when I was a kid . I've stood in an open air parking garage (under orders of our commanding officer, we came into work, met in the garage and listened to him talk to us about safety just before he sent us home.) in a tropical storm on the edge of a hurricane gliding up the Eastern Seaboard . I saw a tornado blow through when I lived out in Portsmouth, VA . Now, I've got a hail storm to lay claim to as well .

I have a friend who's from Muskogee, OK who's been telling me stories of these severe storms for years. I have a new found respect for those brave enough to intentionally live in parts of our country where these storms are normal, almost every day occurrences .

Normal for my area is about 2-8 million acres of forest land catching fire every year. Usually, lightning starts them (Yellowstone Fires of 1988, 1.2 million acres). Occasionally, they're started by some dumb ass dumping their hot BBQ coals out on the ground (Canyon Ferry fire 2000, 43,947 acres). Or by the inexperienced/idiot campers leaving their fire burning unattended throughout the night (Boulder, MT 2000, 12,604 acres). Rarely, will a farmer's annual burn be caught by the wind to make it uncontrollable.

We haven't yet had any major fires this year. There's still plenty of time left in the summer though.

[lemming303]

I was born in the panhandle of Texas where they have plenty of weather like that. I have seen softball sized hail punch holes in tin roofs! I watched a tornado form in the field past my friends house when I was in the 8th grade. I have never really been scared by the storms. I guess if you live there long enough it wouldn't be as scary as if you had never been in one before.

[burdar]

It all depends on where you live.  Thunderstorms and tornado watches are a weekly occurance here.   People in California don't worry about earthquakes, but if I was subjected to one I'd probably freakout a little.

My sister used to laugh at all the people who didn't know how to drive in the rain when she lived in Pheonix.  She said traffic would slow down to 35MPH in the rain.  It all depends on where you live.

[Scatterbrain]

Here in central Texas we get those all the time.  Nothing you can do about it.  You see cars driving around that look like they drove through a golf driving range.  BTW, even though your roof is new, it could still be damaged.  Only way to tell is to have the adjuster go up there and take a look.

[WorkingOnItStill]

Here in KS we see storms so often that until we here the sirens we don't take much mind to them livening here 18 years has that effect I guess. In fact right now as i wright this we have a good one heading towards us in Wichita. I have a few pics form a few years ago of one tornado that turned in to 3 while we watched form our camp site at the lake, I will look and see if i can find them.
I have chased tornado s for a summer for a local radio station and i can tell ya its not like what you see on TV!
My dad had a run in with a small f-1 in the 70's. His car was picked up and turned upside down with him inside he wasn't hurt except for the brown stain in his pants. I can go on and on with story's

[cuda]

I can feel your pain as well. I live in Calgary Alberta and we are a couple hours north of Montana. We also had a nasty little rain/hail/wind storm today. Did some serious damage to the trees and flowers here. We got off lucky with minimul to property. Some cars had the windows taken right out. In previous years i have had to have my house and garage re shingled and new evestroughs. Deck and fence stain and a total holiday trailer right off.  Mother nature doesnt pull any punches. Good luck

[4x4HEMIrig]

I hear you guys. At least I've had some time with severe weather and know what to expect. The adjuster who's looking at it is from the Mid-west/ South-central. He's already said he'll be getting on the roof. I'll know more tomorrow.

I'll probably be going to San Diego for my next assignment(s). I'm sure some time in the next 12 years, I'll experience either a flood or an earth quake.

I've already survived a -42F night with only the bare essentials (sleeping bag, ground cloth, sleeping pad and blanket). Definitely the coldest night of my life. I'm not doing that again, unless I absolutely have to.