Welcome to my world...Work...Tornado damage

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I got home tuesday night 5-10 for the first time since 4-15 when a tornado hit outside of Moscow, Mississippi taking down 17 of our steel poles .The next week one hit east of Memphis,Tennessee knocking down 2 of our high-line 161 KV towers.Then on wednesday 5-27 all hell broke loose when we lost 75 high-line towers and over 150 steel poles both on 500 KV and 161 KV lines in Mississippi , Alabama ,Georgia  Tennessee and Kentucky with the worse damage being in Alabama and Tennessee. Most of these pictures are from the Cleveland , Tn area and a few from the Widow's Creek Steam plant in north Alabama where 37 towers was mashed to the ground like tooth-picks.










These tornados was rated EF 4 AND EF 5 ...I know a couple folks that has these type garage's the  car and tractor  was parked in this garage the car was a good 200 yards from the tractor the house was gone and we was told three people died at this location.






This store is located in Cleveland Tennessee I talked to my ridin' bud Terry ( T-Bird ) who lives in Cleveland and he told me the young girl that was working here was found over 100 yards from the store wrapped up in utility powerlines.Only thing still in tack was the cooler that still had beer and soft drinks on the racks...Keep that in mind when out riding I also heard on the radio that the Waffle House in Ringo , Georgia was blowed all over I-75 and 9 people walked out of the cooler without a scratch.


This is what I've been dragging around the rural backroads when we arrived in Cleveland they was still cutting the thousands of downed trees out of the road .



We got all the equipment moved in to Widow's Creek last tuesday night and they let a few of us that has worked since the 15th of April take a break...I go back Monday morning and start the 17 to 30 hour days all over again.

[hotglue #43]

Keepin the wheels of America turnin'.... thanks Joe!!!!

[Swartzy]

Man, that is just terrible.  Your hard work is appreciated!

[Hoser]

Folks like you are a Godsend for folks in that area.  Whatever they pay you ain't enough.  We sent two Rescue Companies from Topeka Fire Department to Katrina in Mississippi when I was still working.  a big   for you guys.  Hoser

[R J]

Thanks for the good work Joe.  It is much appreciated.    Your job is like my old one was.    Worked our butts off and no one appreciated it.   Most people expected it, kind of like Katrina, then they tore hell out of what was provided.

Don't ever remember seeing anywhere, that the Government owed us a living for FREE.

Been through a Tornie-A-Doe and don't want to go through another one.

Now back to our regular programming.

[eric in md]

well buddy all i have to say is get her done we got riding to do ... be safe ..

[Daniel Meyer]

Rock on Joe!

[rainman]

hey Joe any word from t-bird?

[thumper]

You da' man!  Wish you could have given me a little more notice so I could have ridden up to Cheaha this morning with you.

Good work my friend.

[Dubsvalk]

Hang in there Joe!  You will be rewarded for your efforts!
Dubs