#STORM/WIND DAMAGED TREE(S)

[pokemonbiologyirlthetabletop]

Xurkitree

Xurkitree (#796)

Xurkitree xurkitree

General Information: Xurkitrees play the vital ecological role of producer on their homeworld—this means that they serve the ecological equivalent of plants, in the sense that they convert energy from the abiotic environment into useable biotic energy.

There is no average size for Xurkitrees in their native world, for they are capable of growing eternally until they die of other causes, such as an inability to gather enough energy for itself. In fact, this is a major cause of death in the species: starvation. Some Xurkitrees have been known to reach hundreds of feet tall.

A group of Xurkitrees is called a forest.

Special Ability: Lightning Eater: All electric-type attacks are redirected to Xurkitree and consumed. 1/10 of the damage that would have been taken is instead converted into HP.

Habitat: Xurkitrees are native to the world called Ultra Plant, where they are a foundational keystone species. Their homeworld is a world of endless lightning storms, which they safely absorb and convert into biological energy. The sunlight that does exist is more hypothetical, for much of it is hidden behind dense storm clouds that seldom fade, and the world is dark except for the light produced by the Xurkitrees.

Life Cycles: Xurkitrees are a sexless species only capable of reproducing with its own kind, dittos, and Mews. They reproduce fairly slowly, and the children that they do have are cared for and protected by its parents. There are few predators of a Xurkitree once it reaches a large enough size, though there are some primary consumers who may fancy a bite out of a baby Xurkitree. Of course, there are parasites and commensalistic relationships, too. As the Titans of their world the Xurkitree have little to fear and mostly small annoyances. Their biggest source of competition is from each other, for as an individual gets bigger they require more and more electricity from the environment, which ultimately forces other Xurkitrees to move to better feeding grounds. However, this competition is largely passive, and unlike plants on Earth who are unable to move from where they were sown, the Xurkitree can simply pick themselves up and leave if they are feeling overcrowded.

When a Xurkitree is ready to reproduce, which occurs at the startlingly late age of level 35, they will seek out a mate that they fancy. There is no specific mating ritual for this, but they are known to give pretty rocks to each other and build a nest for their egg(s) with those rocks. And many a couple can be observed dancing in the stormy winds together. They will have about 5-8 eggs together. Half of them will reach reproduction age, and the other half will perish from various natural causes such as disease, heavy parasite loads, or predation. Of the remainder, not all Xurkitree find a mate.

Xurkitrees can live upwards of 200 years in the wild, though most will die of starvation closer to 150 years old. The death of a Xurkitree is like a whalefall in the abyss: a huge ecological event that fuels the entire ecosystem for years to come. Throughout the entire population of Xurkitree, which is well into the hundreds of thousands across their homeworld, one of these 150/200-year-old deaths occurs frequently in a year randomly across the planet.

Behavior: Xurkitree are gentle, curious giants of Ultra Plant. They mean you no harm.

When they want to eat ground electricity for any reason, they will spread their limbs out and anchor themselves into the ground like a tree. Often this is done in groups.

Diet: Xurkitree eat electricity. They absorb it directly from lightning strikes and they can absorb it from the ground, too.

Conservation: Least Concern

Relationship with Humans: Xurkitrees do not live on Earth and have no meaningful relationship with humans. However, astrobiologists find them fascinating, and are one of the safest alien lifeforms to study. In the worlds where Ultra Beasts are known and studied, the Xurkitrees are just as curious about humans as humans are of them.

Classification: Xurkitrees are the namesake species for their entire branch of life, thus simply called Xurkitree xurkitree.

~~~~~~~~

Hey guess what, if you like my stuff, this is my website where you can find other Pokémon I've written on and more information about the game that I’m slowly making! Check it out! I write books sometimes too.

[shinysparklesapphires]

showtime precure!

chapter 36: Nicolette's Rival and Dominique's ticket booth!

🎀: @xryptik @baileypie-writes @harufallinwonderland @lowcallyfruity

Nicolette was humming on her way back to her dorm from class, twirling her hair around with her finger. She felt a chill down her spine as the wind blew through the rustling trees. She yawned and looked around before-

"Ow! Hey watch where you're going!" She had bumped into a girl walking in the same direction as her.

Nicolette reached her hand out to help her up, but she smacked it away.

"I don't need your help. Next time, pay a little more attention to where you're walking. dumbass." The girl stormed off leaving Nicolette confused.

Rude.

"Hey are you guys going to the concert later? I heard academy students get free admission!" Lucia swung her feet under the desk, eyes wide with excitement.

"I gotta sell tickets for the show so I can't," Dominique sighed.

"And it certainly doesn't help that with that Quinn girl performing, everyone and their mother is buying tickets for that instead," Violet added.

"Quinn?" Nicolette asked.

"Yeah this girl," Amber held up a poster promoting the concert and on it was a girl with long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail garnished with sliver tinsel highlights.

"Oh hey I saw her! I bumped into her yesterday. She wasn't very nice though," Nicolette sighed in annoyance.

"I mean to be fair she does have a huge concert tomorrow, she might just be nervous yknow?"

"I'VE GOT IT!" Dominique shot up from her chair, startling Reel awake.

"Huh-wha?!" Reel adjusted his glasses.

"We'll advertise our show tonight at the concert!"

"Isn't that kinda scummy? To promote your stuff at someone else's performance?" Violet asked.

"Hey if it works it works," she shrugged. "Plus then Nicki can talk to that Quinn girl and see what her problem is."

Nicolette sighed, tapping her fingers onto the tabletop.

"If you say so..."

"Excuse me! You're Quinn right?" Nicolette rushed over to the girl who just glared at her in annoyance.

"Yeah, and you're that girl from yesterday. Now piss off I've gotta practice." She turned, and for a split second Nicolette could've sworn she saw black four pointed star on her forehead..but that probably wasn't it right?

Dominique hammered a bunch of posters around the music hall, Violet had to cover her ears from all the racket she was making.

"Dominique can't you be a little quieter?!" She yelled.

"Quiet schmeit! I've gotta make sure that these posters stay up!" She sighed, "there! Perfect!" She stood with her hands on her hips triumphantly, admiring her work.

"I think you caused permanent damage to that wall."

"Hey at least we advertised it."

"We basically just snitched on ourselves with it though."

"Hey maybe they'll scan the qr code and buy the online tickets instead and won't notice. Now come on we need to sell physical ones now."

"Aaaaaah! Quinn you're so cool!"

"I can't wait to see your show tonight!"

Nicolette walked into the cafeteria to see a crowd of girls around Quinn, who was eating it up.

"Nicki!" Lacey called her over from a table.

"Do you know what that Quinn girl's deal is?? I walked into the cafeteria, ready to meet my adoring fans, but instead they were all flocking to her!" She angrily took a bite of her burger to which Amber just groaned in annoyance.

"And earlier in the courtyard, she knocked my notebook right out of my hands! And she laughed in her stupid uptight British accent while she did it too!" Amber gripped her pencil so hard that Nicolette was sure it was going to break.

"According to Jaq, she 'accidentally' knocked over a bucket of paint thinner all over his midterm project that took him over three weeks to do, and now he has to paint the whole thing from scratch," Lyna added.

"And when I asked her where she got her highlights from because I thought they were super pretty and wanted them for myself because heaven forbid I want to do something new with my hair and I told her she looked really pretty, she just gave me the stink eye!" Lucia gripped the edges of the table and clenched her teeth as Amber gently pat her on the back.

"Precure!" A hologram of the queen appeared on the table.

"Queen Mnemosyne!"

"I don't know who that girl is, but I'm sensing an evil aura from her. Figure out what it is." She disappeared.

"Well she got straight to the point huh?" Amber rolled her eyes.

"But yeah, something's off." Violet said as she sat down at the table.

"Ooh I have an idea!" Cinena jumped our from Constantine's bag.

"Me and the music instructor are friends, so I have to be backstage anyway tonight to help her out. I can then let Constantine know from the remote what I find out."

"Wait the remote had that feature?" Constantine pulled it out of its satchel to examine it.

"It should work as a walkie talkie or something like that."

"Oh sweet!"

"Reel how come our ribbons don't work like that?" Lucia looked at the cat hiding in her bag with a pout.

"Because they're chokers Lucia. You're a magical superhero not a secret agent."

"Whatever."

Outside of the music hall Dominique, Violet, Nicolette and the others sat at a makeshift ticket booth, Dominique handing out tickets to anyone who would take them.

Meanwhile Cinema was walking near the dressing rooms when she heard Lenore's voice on the other side of Quinn's room.

"Now then Facade, once everyone has gathered into that hall, as soon as you go on stage you'll release your power and steal thier wish energy understand?"

"Saw!" Cinema peaked through the door to see Quinn with a four pointed star on her forehead, eye sockets a complete black nodding to whatever Lenore said. She ran over to a nearby speaker, hiding behind it as she whispered.

"Constantine! We got a code raven!"

"What?" Constantine whispered into her remote.

"Lenore did something to Quinn that made her act all weird! Just get in here!"

Constantine and the others rushed inside leaving Dominique to sell tickets alone.

"Fine, be like that! Losers!"

As the girls reached the hall they saw Quinn step on the stage, with a wicked smile on her face. She raised her hand up as she started melting into a pile of black goo, shifting into a monster.

"SAWWWW!" The monster inhaled as a bright light started to leave the audience and one by one they started to pass out.

"Girls!" Cinema ran out to them jumping into Constantine's arms.

"Precure! Rollback! Lights! Camera! Action!"

"Precure, Heart Rewind!"

"SAWWWW!" The Facade noticed the girls and shot a beam of light at them, which they dodged.

Showtime kicked it, but the goo got stuck to her boot, causing her to struggle.

"Showtime!" Encore pulled her out, but the black goop stuck to her boot still.

"EWWWWW! GET IT OFF GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFFFFFF" she yelled frantically waving her arms and running trying to shake it off her foot.

"Showtime calm down!" Wright sent her quills flying at it, but it just bounced off.

"I CANT CALM DOWN! ITS ALL SLIMYANDICKYANDCOLDANDWETANDSTICKY AND I WANT IT OFF MY FOOOOOTTTT!" She whined.

"Physical attacks don't seem to do anything to it, they just end up getting stuck." Action sighed, "it's like a giant ball of slime..."

Set's face lit up. "Action you're a genius!" She kissed her cheek.

"Wait I am?" She looked at Set confused.

"When I was little, my grandma got me this cheap Walmart slime that my mom hated because it got stuck to everything-"

"Ok buy what does this have to do with the monster?"

"One day during winter I was playing with it outside on the porch table and forgot about it, and when I remembered it was frozen solid!"

"So you're saying we have to freeze the monster?"

"Exactly!" Set turned to Showtime, who was being chased by a stressed Encore trying to calm her down.

"Set pallate!" Set reached her hand into the air as her paint palate appeared.

"Precure, color me...frozen!" She mixed up the paint and pointed the paintbrush at the monster, which shot out an ice beam, freezing it instantly.

"Girls now!" Showtime nodded as she shook the frozen slime off of her boot.

"Wishing well, grant us your power! Precure, Noveux style Rendezvous!" The monster disappeared as Quinn's body returned to normal. Lenore entered the stage with a pitiful look on his face, as Encore landed next to him.

"Give it up Lenore. You've lost. You-"

"I know."

Encore stepped back in surprise.

"What?"

"I'm quitting Curtain Call." Just as he said those words Tragedy appeared behind him, knocking him down to the ground.

"What do you think you're doing Lenore?" She dug her heel into his back, causing him to wince in pain.

"Tragedy! What are-"

"SILENCE!" She flung Encore into the wall, causing the girls to go rushing towards her.

"ANSWER ME! WHAT DO YOU THINK GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO LEAVE?" She dug in her heel further.

"I'm tired of making people suffer! I want to be fully human again! To be able to make friends and-AUGH!"

"You? Make friends?" Tragedy laughed as she stomped onto Lenore again before leaning to whisper in his ear.

"Trash like you will never mean anything to anyone."

Lenore felt himself about to pass out.

"Cure Encore...I-I l-love-" he fell to the ground unresponsive as Tragedy hurled him over her shoulder and turned.

"Catwalk. I have a puppet that needs correcting."

"Of course Miss Tragedy!" A chipper voice rang out from her watch as she disappeared.

"Encore?" Showtime put her hand on her shoulder.

"Lenore's wrist. That ribbon.." her hands shook as she looked down at the ground.

"Ugh....what happened?" Quinn groaned and rubbed her head.

"That's our cue to leave," Wright grabbed onto Encore's arm to lead her out.

"Miss Tragedy he's in the confinement chamber now," Catwalk bowed as Tragedy put out her cigarette.

"I need to find a way to corrupt them from the inside. I've already targeted thier leader but..." She looked at a picture of Amber.

"Maybe it'll be easier if I target the weakest of them all."

[mariacallous]

On Tuesday morning, five days after Hurricane Helene ripped through Boone, North Carolina, David Marlett was on his way to the campus of Appalachian State University. The managing director of the university’s Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, Marlett was planning to spend the day working with his colleagues to help students and community members understand their insurance policies and file claims in the wake of the storm. He didn’t sound hopeful. “I’m dreading it,” he said. “So many people are just not going to have coverage.”

Helene made landfall southeast of Tallahassee, Florida, last week with winds up to 140 miles per hour, downing trees and bringing record-breaking storm surges to areas along the Gulf Coast before charging up through Georgia. But perhaps its most shocking impacts have been on inland North Carolina, where it first started raining while the storm was still over Mexico. At least 57 people are dead in Buncombe County in the west of the state alone. Communities like Boone received dozens of inches of rainfall despite being hundreds of miles from the coast. Waters rose in main streets, sinkholes and mudslides wreaked havoc, and major roads were blocked, flooded, or degraded by the storm.

Now, there’s a good chance that many homeowners in North Carolina won’t see any payouts from their insurance companies—even if they have policies they thought were comprehensive.

“The property insurance market for homes was already a patchwork system that really doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Marlett says. “Now you’re adding in the last couple of years of economic uncertainty, inflation, climate change, population migration—it’s just an unbelievably bad combination happening all at once.”

For North Carolinians, the issue right now has to do with what, exactly, private insurance is on the hook for when it comes to a storm. An average homeowner policy covers damage from wind, but private homeowners’ insurance plans in the US do not cover flooding. Instead, homeowners in areas at risk of flooding usually purchase plans from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The way a hurricane wreaks havoc on a state is a crucial deciding factor for insurers’ wallets. Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida as a category 4 storm with some of the highest wind speeds on record, caused $63 billion in private insurance claims. In contrast, the bulk of the $17 billion in damage caused by 2018’s Hurricane Florence, which tore up the North Carolina coast, was water damage, not wind; as a result, private insurers largely avoided picking up the check for that disaster.

This breakout of flood insurance from home policies dates back to the 1940s, says Donald Hornstein, a law professor at the University of North Carolina and a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. Private insurance companies decided that they did not have enough data to be able to accurately predict flooding and therefore could not insure it. “In some ways, that calculation of 50 years ago is still the calculation insurers make today,” he says.

While the NFIP, which was created in the late 1960s, provides virtually the only backup against flood damage, the program is saddled with debt and has become a political hot potato. (Project 2025, for instance, recommends phasing out the program entirely and replacing it with private options.) Part of the problem with the NFIP is low uptake. Across the country, FEMA statistics show that just 4 percent of homeowners have flood insurance. Some areas hit by Helene in Appalachia, initial statistics show, have less than 2.5 percent of homeowners signed up for the federal program.

“Even in coastal areas, not many people buy that, much less here in the mountains,” Marlett says. “People have never seemed to fully understand that flood is a separate policy.”

Flooding is not unprecedented in the mountains of North Carolina: Hurricane Ivan swept through Appalachia in 2004, and flash floods from rivers are not unheard of. Purchasing flood insurance is mandatory with a government-backed mortgage in some areas of the country, based on flood zones set by FEMA. But the data is based on extremely outdated floodplain maps that have not taken the most recent climate science on record rainfall into account.

“The biggest non-secret in Washington for decades is how hopelessly out of date these flood maps are,” Hornstein says.

Even if water wasn’t the cause of destruction for some homeowners in North Carolina, the storm’s disastrous mudslides—another risk supercharged by climate change—may not be covered either. Many home insurance policies have carve-outs for what are known as “earth movements,” which includes landslides, sinkholes, and earthquakes. In some states, like California, insurers are mandated to offer additional earthquake insurance, and homeowners can purchase private additional policies that cover earth movements. But in a state like North Carolina, where earthquake risk is extremely low, homeowners may not even know that such policies exist.

It’s also been a tough few years for the insurance industry across the country. A New York Times analysis from May showed that homeowners’ insurers lost money in 18 states in 2023—up from eight states in 2013—largely thanks to expensive disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. Payouts are increasingly costing insurers more than they are getting in premiums. Homeowners are seeing their policies jump as a result: According to statistics compiled by insurance comparison shopping site Insurify, the average annual cost of home insurance climbed nearly 20 percent between 2021 and 2023. In Florida, which has the highest insurance costs in the country, the average homeowner paid over $10,000 a year in 2023—more than $8,600 above the national rate.

Florida has made headlines in recent months as ground zero for the climate-change insurance crisis. More than 30 insurance companies have either fully or partially pulled out of Florida over the past few years, including big names like Farmers’ and AAA, after mounting losses from repeated major hurricanes like 2022’s Ian, the most expensive natural disaster in the state’s history. Florida’s insurer of last resort, now saddled with risk from multiple homeowners, has proposed a rate increase of 14 percent, set to go into effect next year.

In comparison, North Carolina’s insurance market looks pretty good. No insurers have exited the state since 2008, while homeowners pay an average of $2,100 per year—high, but avoiding the sky-high rates of states like Florida, California, and Texas.

“What traditionally has happened is that there’s a rate increase every few years of 8 to 9 percent for homeowner’s insurance,” says Hornstein. “That has kept the market stable, especially when it comes to the coast.”

But as natural disasters of all kinds mount, it’s tough to see a way forward for insurance business as usual. The NFIP is undergoing a series of changes to update the way it calculates rates for flood insurance—but it faces political minefields in potentially expanding the number of homeowners mandated to buy policies. What’s more, many homeowners are seeing the prices for their flood insurance rise as the NFIP adjusts its rates for existing floodplains using new climate models.

Many experts agree that the private market needs to reflect in some way the true cost of living in a disaster-prone area: in other words, it should be more expensive for people to move to a city where it’s more likely your house will be wiped off the map by a storm. The cost of climate change does not seem to be a deterrent in Florida, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, where coastal regions like Panama City, Jacksonville, and Port St. Lucie are booming. (Some research suggests that the mere existence of the NFIP shielded policyholders from the true costs of living in flood-prone areas.)

Asheville, at the heart of Buncombe County, was once hailed as a climate haven safe from disasters; the city is now reeling in the wake of Helene. For many homeowners, small business owners, and renters in western North Carolina, the damage from Helene will be life-changing. FEMA payouts may bring, at best, only a fraction of what a home would be worth. Auto insurance generally covers all types of damage, including flooding—a small bright spot of relief, but not enough to offset the loss of a family’s main asset.

“People at the coast, at some point after the nth storm, they start to get the message,” Hornstein says. “But for people in the western part of the state, this is just Armageddon. And you can certainly forgive them for not having before appreciated the fine points of these impenetrable contracts.”

Marlett says that there are models for insurance that are designed to better withstand the challenges of climate change. New Zealand, for instance, offers policies that cover all types of damage that could happen to your house; while these policies are increasingly tailored price-wise to different types of risk, there’s no chance a homeowner would experience a climate disaster not covered by their existing policies. But it’s hard, he says, to see the US system getting the wholesale overhaul it needs, given how long the piecemeal system has been in place.

“I sound so pessimistic,” he said. “I’m normally an optimistic person.”

[thezombieprostitute]

Flowers in Storms

A/N: Another entry for @the-slumberparty​‘s Bingo, again mixing three squares: Friends with benefits, Trapped together, and Flowershop AU. Reader is female.

Warnings: Mentions of the death of a character. Storms and storm damage. Angst.

The bell above your door jingles and you know who it is without even looking up. “Good afternoon, Sheriff. I’ve got your order right here.”

“How do you do that, Y/N?” Lee walks up to the counter, shaking his head. In the years he’s been visiting your flower shop he still hasn’t figured out your secret to knowing he’s the one walking through the door. He’s tried showing up on different days, at different times, in different weather patterns, and you still know it’s him. “One of these days you’ll have to tell me your secret.”

“Maybe someday,” you tease. “In the meantime, here’s your order. Make sure to give her my love while you’re out there.”

Lee nods his thanks and heads on out, pausing to turn back and ask, “are we still on for Tuesday night?”

“Yeah,” you smile. “Unless that storm we’re supposed to get gets worse. Then you’ll likely be on call.”

“Thank you, Darlin’” he tips his hat and heads out, flowers in hand. 

It’s been several years since Juanita, Lee’s wife and your best friend, passed on. You were both in a lot of pain at the loss and, after a year, ended up finding comfort in each other. Not a relationship, Lee couldn’t risk looking like he was moving on too quickly, lest he lose his next election. Friends with benefits and it worked for the two of you. 

You both became workaholics when Juanita was buried, burying yourselves in your jobs. It wasn’t healthy and it came to a head when Lee came in to buy flowers on what would’ve been their anniversary. You had told him he needed to take better care of himself and he threw that right back at you. Soon after you both agreed to start meeting up, as friends, just to make sure you each took some time off work. 

Your relationship grew from there but neither of you felt it was right to actually be dating. So you made arrangements, trysts, and other fun things but neither of you asked the other for more. Tuesday would be your next “not-a-date” and you were looking forward to it.

Business was painfully slow Tuesday but that didn’t surprise you. That storm was building and people were prepping for the worst. Lee had called and told you he was on call for the night and you reassured him you’d be home by the time the really bad winds hit.

Unfortunately you weren’t paying as much attention to the windows as you probably should, too busy making sure that your flowers would survive the likely loss of power. The next time you looked out the window it was hailing pellets the size of golf balls and you decided it was safest to just stay in the shop. You’d been through a few twisters by now and knew how to handle yourself but you still found yourself shaking and nervous as you plotted out the safest spots in the store. 

Your nerves got worse when the power cut out. The scream of the wind and the hail against the roof were the only sounds you could hear. You lit one of your emergency candles. It wasn’t much but there was something comforting about the little source of light and heat. You let yourself relax, watching that little flame, until some red and blue lights distracted you.

You heard the front door slam open followed by Lee shouting your name. You ran to the front of the shop and hugged him tight before yelling, “what the hell are you doing here, Lee?!”

“I could ask you the same thing, Y/N! You promised me you’d be home before this storm got rough. I tried callin' your home, which still has power by the way, and got no answer, so I ran out here hoping, praying you weren’t stuck in a ditch or worse!”

“I can look after myself and you shouldn’t worry about me like that,” you protest. 

Before Lee could yell back you both heard a loud boom as lightning struck a nearby tree. You pulled Lee away from the front door and windows as the tree started falling. Much to both of your dismay it landed on your cars. 

“Fuck,” he whispered. “That’s gonna be a lot of paperwork.”

“For both of us,” you agreed, grateful you were caught up on your insurance. “In the meantime, looks like we’re trapped together here. Come on back, it’s a bit safer there. You got your radio? Let the other officers know?”

“Yeah, yeah. You get on back and I’ll radio. But we’re not done talkin’ about you lyin’ to me!” Lee turns away and radios the station letting them know his car is done for, “happened while rescuing a citizen trapped in a store but now we’re both here. We’ll be alright but I’m out for most any calls.”

“Roger that, Sheriff” you hear as Lee walks to join you. 

“Now,” he says as he crosses his arms and glares, “you wanna tell me what the hell you’re doin’ puttin’ yourself in danger like this?” You’ve noticed over the years how his accent gets stronger the angrier he is. It’s cute when it’s not directed at you.

“I genuinely lost track of time, Lee. I swear it was a legitimate accident. But you didn’t have to come out and save me. I’ve been through these things before and know how to take care of myself.”

“You’d be better at takin’ care o’ yourself if you were at home. Why’d ya even bother openin’ the damn store today? Coulda saved me a heap of trouble and a car!”

“That’s on you,” you countered. “I didn’t ask you to come get me, so you do not get to hold that over my head. And the store was closed most of the day but I had to be here to make sure I’d still have a store to come back to. I got caught up in the preparation and lost track of the time. You know that happens to me.”

“Why the hell couldn’t you just stay home where I…” Lee falters. “Where I’d know you were with your neighbors, lookin’ out for each other?”

“What were you about to say?” Lee shakes his head but you press him further. “You were gonna say something else just now. What was it?”

Lee lets out an exasperated sigh. He knows you well enough to know he’s not getting out of this one. His tone is quiet as he admits “I was going to say, ‘stay home where I could keep you safe.’ It’s…it’s what I say every time I visit Juanita. I just…I don’t want to lose someone else because I couldn’t be there.”

Not knowing what to say you opt to wrap Lee in as big a hug as you can. He gives you a gentle hug back and you stay like that for a long time. Long enough to notice the wind dying down and the pounding of the hail soften to the patter of just rain. 

The hug finally breaks when Lee’s radio chimes in, specifically calling for him. He walks out the front to respond leaving you in the back room. All by yourself in the dark with just a candle. You take the time to clear your head and, by the time Lee walks back in, you’ve made your decision.

“Deputy is drivin’ out here to give us a lift,” Lee tells you. “We’ll drop you off at home and I’ll get back to work.”

“Sounds good, Sheriff.”

Lee freezes. You only call him Sheriff when there are other people around. “What’s goin' on, Y/N?”

“We should probably stop hooking up,” you admit, not meeting his eyes. “I know we agreed on no romance, dating or whatever but…this whole thing was supposed to be temporary anyways. A way to stave off the worst of the grief as we healed. But I don’t think it’s working. I’m the last person to tell you to move on but if you’re still blaming yourself, blaming her, for her death, you need something more than I can offer.”

Lee focuses his attention on the floor, even though it’s too dark to see anything. When he doesn’t respond you continue, “I’ll still happily be your friend, that sure as hell won’t change. But I’m not gonna keep up the rest. It’s been fun, don’t get me wrong, but I think it’s keeping us from healing like we should be.”

He continues to stare at the spot on the floor until you hear the deputy’s car horn. You walk out in silence and get in the back of the car while Lee and the Deputy discuss all the damage and ongoing situations. They drop you off in front of your home, Lee never once acknowledging you. 

Over the next week you and your neighbors set to picking up the pieces, helping each other out, finding missing pets and more. Happily there weren’t any fatalities. Lee was purposefully keeping his distance from you, sending other officers to areas he knew were helping. The rumor mill was buzzing, of course, but you made sure to not feed the fire. 

When you finally got back to your shop the power had come back and you started salvaging what flowers you could. There were phone calls to suppliers and insurance companies to be made and you settled in for a long day on the phone. 

The front door jingled around noon and, without looking up, you call out, “mornin’ Sheriff.”

Lee lets out an exasperated sigh, “one of these days, Y/N.”

You look at him and ask, “do you actually want to know or do you want to keep it a friendly mystery?”

“You know what, I do wanna know. How the hell do you always know it’s me?”

“You’re always wearing the cologne Juanita would buy for you. That stuff she had to order special from the catalogs. You would’ve run out of it by now but I’m guessing you keep buying it because it makes you think of her.”

He purses his lips and nods, “the smell makes me think of her. My complaints about the cost when she first bought it for me were tempered by her assurances it would help me stand out while campaigning. It just kinda became another thing we would laugh and kid about.”

Lee takes his hat off and walks towards you, “I do need to apologize for bein’ so short with you. I’ve had some time to think and, you’re right. I don’t know that I’ll ever heal from losin’ Juanita, but I need to try and I can’t do that if I’m treating you like I would her. If I keep seein’ her in your place. If I keep wishin’ it was her laying next to me instead of you.” The confession hurts but you take it in stride.

“I’d still love to have ya as a friend,” Lee looks at you sheepishly. “I ain’t been much of a friend but I’m hopeful you’ll let me work at being better at that.”

You give Lee a soft smile and walk towards him with open arms. He welcomes the embrace and you feel his shoulders relax. It takes a while but you finally break the hug, tears in your eyes but a smile on your face. You both needed this.

It’s been a couple years since the storm but you and Lee are still good friends. So much so that he considers it his duty to keep an eye on your new suitor, a war veteran who came home missing an arm. When you asked Lee why he was stalking your date he looked offended, “I’m the Sheriff and your friend. I have to make sure this new guy isn’t takin’ advantage of our town’s sweet florist.”

You’re working on paperwork when you hear the front door bell jingle. Without looking up you say, “welcome to the Bouquet Boutique! Let me know if you need help with anything.”

“So that’s what you tell your customers,” Lee says with a smile on his face. His smile grows when he sees your look of confusion. “I’m tryin’ to go without the cologne for a while. See how that works.”

“I’m proud of you,” you say as you give him a big hug. “I’ve got your order right here, Lee. Make sure to give Juanita my love.”

“Will do, Darlin’. Will do.”

[wardenswateringhole]

Shadowed Cross - Chapter 1

(This is an AU worked on by @peachypede and myself. Inspired by @bluebellowl's 50's AU.)

CW

-Mild body horror

-Blood mention Cut for length. Enjoy.

Ilona’s legs pumped as hard as they could. The bike sped along the darkened road. All traffic had thankfully cleared out before the coming storm. The wind threatened to push Ilona backwards as it howled through the trees. She persevered, her cargo sitting in the basket in front of her reminding her why she was rushing the way she was.

It was supposed to be an easy dead drop. She’d find the package, secure it, and take it to it’s intended destination. Most likely another dead drop. It hadn’t panned out that way. A couple of old women just could not stop talking. Even after bidding each other good bye on four separate occasions, the conversation between them dragged on, leaving Ilona to wait even longer for them to clear out so she could search for the package. The sun’s rays had begun to reach for the horizon by the time the two ladies left and she was able to get on with her job. She had silently prayed for whoever Robert was and hoped that he didn’t mind the entire world knowing about the painful rash on his rear end.

Now here she was, rushing to beat the torrential downpour and lightning that threatened to rip the sky in twain. A small wooden box sat in the basket on her bike. Plain and unassuming with some winding carvings on the front. The clasp on the front was a weathered brass and fastened shut.

Despite her urgency, Ilona couldn’t help but let her mind wonder. Perhaps as a method of dealing with the circumstances being completely against her on this night. First the conversation with Everett, now this. What it worth it?

She peered down at the box. There was no way to tell what was inside. She hadn’t seen fit to ask what it was she transported on these dead drop jobs. They paid exceptionally well for what seemed like such simple tasks to her. Sure she had to sneak around a couple times to get the item in question. It never seemed overtly dangerous. Other than some overly tenacious guards at a warehouse or dogs in a junkyard.

Was it the cargo that was so valuable then? The box was so plain it was hard to believe anything of value was inside. Ilona’s gut twisted slightly at the thought of there possibly being drugs inside. Maybe Everett was right… Maybe it was time to stop this business…

A shadow darted across the road in front of her. Small and black. Ilona snapped back to her senses just in time to twist her handlebars and avoid running the creature over. It hissed and ran into the bushes as Ilona fell, tumbling across the pavement and eventually sliding to a stop. The box flew past her, leaving wooden shards in it’s wake. It eventually stopped some ten feet before in front of Ilona’s body.

Ilona slowly pulled herself up. She rubbed her face, checking for injuries. Thankfully nothing had happened to her head. Her arm however, had seen better days. A sharp pain coursed through her limb as she tried to move the arm. It moved at least, but tell tale wetness on her hand and the shredded bits of her sleeve spoke of what damage had been done.

Her attention snapped to the box in front of her. She managed to pull herself to her feet to retrieve it. Holding the object in her hurt arm, she pulled the bike upright and fidgeted with the light on the front.

“Dammit… Fuck… COME ON!”

The light flickered to life as if almost on command. She used the small bulb to examine the cargo. The box was tattered and splintered but still whole. The clasp on the front was broken, gone and lost to the darkness of the night and the storm.

With careful hands, Ilona opened the box to check the contents. A segmented jewel glimmered back at her in the focused light. It sat framed by snakes and demon’s wings cast in light colored metal. The jewel itself looked shattered but as if someone had tried to make it whole again with some metal filament. Ilona picked it up and turned it around in her hands. She breathed a sigh of relief as she didn’t find any damage to the item itself. It seemed like some gaudy piece of antique jewelry. Probably for some eccentric collector. At least it wasn’t drugs…

She noticed the blood on her hand. Her hand had sustained a nasty scrape on the pavement. She’d have to make sure to clean that well when she got home. Along with all the other bits of road rash. She wasn’t going to hear the end of it from Everett tomorrow.

A distant flash followed immediately by a crack of thunder caught her attention. She quickly put the jewel back in the box and reoriented her bike. It wasn’t a pleasant ride to the drop off point. But she was determined to make it.

--

Later

--

Large hands held the box firmly as their owner walked down the darkened hallway. Sporadic flashes of lightning lit the path before the man. Shadows clung to the opulent trappings. Paintings, bright and beautiful in the light hung with dreary shades. The pale marble of a few small sculptures seems to almost glow with the lightning, the mottled shadows from the rain molding the features to something stark and alarming.

His footsteps, steady and purposeful, were muted against the ornate rug that lined the hall. What little sound his large frame managed to make was drowned out by the rolling thunder and rain battering the windows. Fine black leather shoes stopped at a door. A hand, complimented by a shining gold watch, reached forth and turned the knob.

The room within was just as dark as the hallway. A few moments and a desk lamp was clicked on. Golden light illuminated a desk covered in books of various sizes and titles while reaching weakly to the corners of the room. Shelves holding still more books peered from the shadows. The light was just bright enough to show off the embossed titles and ornate typing. Curious objects sat among the tomes. A decorated plate showing a battle from a long ago time. An animal skull of unknown origin. Trinkets tied with feathers and teeth, all dangling and rattling from their perches.

The man sighed as he held the box under the light of the desk lamp. It was damaged badly. The looping and winding carvings were scuffed and splintered. The edges frayed with bits of wood poking out precariously. The clasp that once held it closed was completely gone.

“This thing is in some state… What the hell happened?”

Papers and notepads that had sat on the desk were pushed aside to make room for the box. Though he was alone, a second voice was present. It sounded as if it had floated in from the ether. It sounded raspy, like blackened smoke.

“The pretty box isn’t important. What’s inside is still good, yeah?”

The man sat down in the padded chair and began to contemplate the parcel. The box was opened carefully with both hands. The hinges creaked loudly in protest, threatening to come undone in the man’s grasp. Inside, a brooch shined back at him. It was nestled carefully within the velvet interior. It looked tiny as he picked it up. Eyes the color of steel peered down at the purple jewel marbled with silver. His fingers ran delicately over the snakes and wings that framed it.

“It looks good. Not a scratch.”

“Great! Let’s get to it then! You know what to do?”

The man was already leaning down and searching through the drawers of the desk. After a few moments of rummaging, a small dagger was produced. It joined the box on the desk as the man pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.

“Yeah, yeah… Still a bitch though. Why does it always have to be a blood bond? The last three artifacts were duds. I’m tired of slicing myself for this shit.”

The voice chuckled, a series crackling hisses.

“Ah, but I have a good feeling about this one, Joseph, Old boy. With this bit of sparkle, you’ll be nigh unstoppable. Now c’mon! Get on with the show!”

The dagger was retrieved with a sigh. With grit teeth, the blade was pressed into the man's thumb. Blood oozed forth around the metal. The dagger was discarded to the side and the bloody thumb was pressed firmly against the jewel. A thick red splotch was left behind as the man withdrew his hand.

Moments passed by in silence. The rain and the thunder little more than a far off distraction.

“Shit.”

The man grabbed the handkerchief and wrapped his thumb. The voice growled. “No! What the fuck!?”

“Another goddamn dud!… SHIT!”

A heavy foot stomped against the floor causing the desk to shake. The voice continued to protest.

“That can’t be right!”

“The hell you mean ‘that can’t be right’? You saw as well as I did that nothing fucking happened!” “BULLSHIT! Check the brooch!” “I did check the brooch!” “I can feel it! There’s no way in the nine rings that thing is fake! Check it again, dipshit!”

The man pulled a book closer to himself roughly and flipped to a page. It showed an illustration of the brooch, drawn in exquisite detail and additional notes scrawled to the side. The brooch was turned carefully in the light, each feature compared thoroughly with it’s written and drawn counterparts. The man’s eyes widened at the sight of a drop of blood dried onto the metal on the back of the brooch.

“It’s already bonded!?”

His fist wrapped around the brooch and tightened. His steel colored eyes began to melt into the color of red slag.

“Did they think I wouldn’t notice!? Do they really think they can get one over on me!? Nobody is going to have more power than me! I’m Joseph Cross Dammit! I run this city!”

His fist raised into the air then began to descend quickly toward the mahogany surface of the desk with the brooch still firmly in it’s grasp. The voice bellowed out.

“WAIT!”

The man’s fist stopped immediately at the sound of the voice’s protest. It hovered over the surface a mere fraction of an inch. The man’s face was drawn back in a snarl as he huffed through grit teeth.

“For fuck’s sake… WHAT NOW!?”

The voice lightened to almost a purr.

“Easy, Joseph. Think before you break. Yeah, you could smash that thing real good. That would take the power away from whoever is bonded to it, but it would also take the power away from you. Let’s just track down the asshole with a tracking spell and off’em. Reset the brooch’s magic and have a little fun at the same time.”

Joseph’s arm relaxed slowly. He nodded in agreement.

“Yeah… Yeah! That’s a much better idea.”

He stood and sorted through the papers that were pushed aside before. One with symbols and strange writing was grabbed. Joseph held the brooch in one hand and looked at the paper. Red smoke billowed from his mouth as he spoke in a tongue not of human origin. It floated to the brooch and swirled around it a moment before dissipating. The chanting stopped and the brooch was placed back onto the desk with the paper.

“I got a trail. Let’s go say hello.”

A dark swirling portal appeared behind Joseph as he retrieved his hat from the coat rack. He adjusted his tie and stepped through. The portal disappeared as if made of mist.

--

Joseph found himself bumping his knee into a shoddy card table. It clattered and squeaked lightly against tile flooring. Glowing red eyes scanned his surroundings. It was a small pillbox of an apartment. He assumed he stood in what was supposed to be the kitchen, though it was all just one room. The card table he bumped into had an opened first aid kit on it. It’s contents were strewn about. A tiny fridge sat against a wall with various magnets and a calendar marked up with various colors of ink. A picture of three people smiling hung from a magnet in the shape of a smiley face.

Joseph stepped carefully toward a window. He could see what looked like a fold out bed. A shirt was hung up on the door handle of a closet. It was torn with dark stains. A flash of lightning revealed a figure curled up in the bed. Even in the dark, Joseph could see ribbons of dark energy wafting from them.

He leaned down and examined the figure closer. It was a girl, clad only in a thin baby doll night gown. Her pale skin was barely hidden by a raggedy blanket that she had most likely shrugged off in her sleep. A pitiful whimper left her as Joseph's hand touched her shoulder lightly. Poorly tied bandages and badly placed gauze covered her arm and hand. The voice whispered harshly at Joseph.

“What’s the hold up!?”

Joseph gently ran a finger over forehead, brushing the hair from her face.

“I can’t kill this one.” “What!? Why the hell not!?”

“She’s one of our best delivery drivers.”

SO!? You have other delivery drivers!” “Not like her! She’s the one that takes the hard to sell deliveries. The ones no one else will take. Besides, what kind of boss kills one of their best employees!? It wouldn’t be fair…”

Another whimper escaped the girl. Her body shivered as the wisps became thicker.

“Fine, but you better do something quick! This girl is about to go through a very rough transition and it’s not going to be quiet! The whole town is going to hear this broad’s screams in a few minutes!”

Joseph looked around for a few moments. There wasn’t much he could do. The blanket was wrapped around the girl as he scooped her up and carried her back through the portal.

--

It was not a good night.

Joseph had barely gotten Ilona settled onto a guest room bed before it all started. Skin previously cold to the touch now burned fiercely. Joseph did what he could but he knew there was no making it easier. All he could offer was kind words and a cool towel on her forehead as she screamed.

Screams of pain, or terror, of something he could not identify altogether as her mouth bubbled with blood and teeth that had fallen out. Teeth fitting for a wild animal quickly grew in their place. Her eyes had blackened and garbled shrieks of blindness and confusion accompanied them. Her nightgown did little to hide the undulating of her flesh as muscles rearranged themselves. The squelch and cracking of bones breaking and reforming could just barely be heard over her suffering. Black fur pushed it’s way out her skin. Two horns did the same on the top of her head, covered in ripped skin and viscera. The skin around her fingers and feet darkened and the appendages warped into different much larger shapes. Claws sprouted from the tips of her new fingers and toes.

Through it all, she begged. Her sightless eyes stared at Joseph as she begged him for comfort, for death, for it to all end. He held her hand and cooed to her.

“You’re doing great… It’ll be over soon…”

He wasn’t sure if his words had actually reached her. Eventually her screaming began to quiet and her body went limp. Her eyes drifted closed as exhaustion finally claimed her. Joseph placed a blanket over her. She looked so peaceful as he ran his hand over the fur on her cheek.

“In the morning… You’ll be mine.”

[gremlin-pattie]

this is literally THE FIRST TIME that tropical storm watches have been issued for the west coast. y’all do not have the infrastructure for this kind of natural disaster because you haven’t needed it before, so please take time now to prepare the best you can.

travel somewhere out of the way of the storm’s path if you can. if you’re going to stay home, research what supplies you will need and stockpile them in your house. the main things are food, bottled drinking water, and a generator in case you lose power. it’s also not a bad idea to have flashlights.

everyone’s windows where i live are built to withstand strong winds, but i don’t know if that’s standard everywhere. if you’re worried about that or if you have any old or broken windows, board them up. you can buy big pieces of plywood and cut them to size so they cover the outside of the window, then attach them to the wall.

if you have a car(s), park it in your garage or under the carport if you can. trees frequently get knocked over during hurricanes and one could fall and damage your car if it’s out in the open.

during the storm, stay towards the center of your house (away from windows). do something fun to keep yourself calm and entertained. if you have a dog(s), take them outside before the storm gets close so they won’t need to go use the bathroom in the middle of it and pee in the house.

Y’all in the American SW and west Mexico better check the national hurricane center and your weather for this weekend and next week.

Hurricane Hilary is about to make landfall and that whole desert area is supposed to get a years worth of rain or more. Death Valley is supposed to get twice the annual rainfall. Severe winds, massive flooding, and landslides are all strong possibilities.

This is gonna get ugly. Please spread the word. This is a majorly anomalous event and people may be unaware of the threat headed their way.

[mooresmithtreecare1]

Should I Cut Dead Branches Off My Tree in Nashville, TN?

If you’ve noticed dead or brittle branches on your trees in Nashville, you might be wondering whether it’s necessary—or even safe—to cut them off. The short answer is yes, and for more reasons than you might think. Taking care of dead branches is a crucial part of proper tree care, and it can directly impact your property’s safety, tree health, and curb appeal.

Why Dead Branches Should Be Removed

Dead branches may seem harmless, but they pose serious risks. Over time, they can fall during strong winds or storms, potentially damaging your roof, car, or even causing injury. In a place like Nashville, where sudden weather changes are common, leaving dead branches untouched could lead to costly consequences.

Aside from safety, removing deadwood improves a tree’s overall health. It allows the tree to focus its nutrients and energy on living limbs, encouraging stronger growth. Proper pruning also reduces the chance of pest infestations and fungal infections, which often target weakened or decaying areas.

How to Tell If a Branch Is Dead

Not all leafless branches are dead, especially during the dormant winter months. A simple way to test is to gently scratch the bark with a small knife or your fingernail. If the layer underneath is brown and dry instead of green and moist, the branch is likely dead.

You may also notice brittle limbs that snap easily, or branches with no buds during the growing season. If you're uncertain, it's a good idea to reach out to local professionals who can assess the condition of your tree accurately.

When to Prune in Nashville’s Climate

In Nashville, late winter to early spring is typically the best time to prune. This timing allows the tree to recover as it enters its natural growing phase. However, if dead branches pose an immediate safety concern—such as hanging limbs over a driveway or sidewalk—they should be removed right away, regardless of the season.

For larger trees or branches that require climbing or special equipment, it’s best to hire professional arborists to ensure the job is done safely and correctly.

DIY or Call the Pros?

Light pruning of small dead branches can be handled by many homeowners. However, if you're dealing with high limbs, heavy branches, or trees close to power lines, it’s best to contact a trusted local company like Moore & Smith Tree Care LLC. Not only does this protect your property and personal safety, but it ensures the tree is pruned properly without long-term damage.

Our licensed professionals are familiar with the unique needs of trees in Nashville’s environment. Whether it’s a small trimming task or a complete removal, we provide the expert support you need for long-term tree health.

Final Thoughts

Cutting dead branches is more than just a cosmetic fix—it’s a critical part of responsible tree care. It keeps your trees strong, your property safe, and your landscape looking its best. If you’re unsure where to start or want a trained eye to assess your tree, Moore & Smith Tree Care LLC is here to help.

We’re proud to serve the Nashville community with dependable services like tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, and emergency response. Whether you need routine maintenance or urgent care after a storm, we’re the service you can count on.

Discover more about how proactive tree care can protect your home and enhance your landscape. Don’t wait until a dead branch becomes a real problem—reach out today.

Moore & Smith Tree Care LLC

615.877.8733

301 S Perimeter Park Dr #100, Nashville, TN 37211

[goodneighbortreeservices]

Signs You Need to Trim a Tree in Kannapolis, NC: When is it Time?

Dead branches hanging over your house? Limbs scraping your roof every time the wind picks up? Yeah, your trees are probably trying to tell you something. Most homeowners in Kannapolis wait too long. Then they're dealing with emergency tree services after a storm takes down half their oak tree.

Let's talk about the real signs that scream "get those pruning shears out" – or better yet, call a professional tree service company.

Branch Problems You Can't Ignore

Dead wood is the obvious one. Brown, brittle branches that snap when you touch them. But here's what people miss – dying branches that still have some green left. They're not dead yet, but they're getting there. These compromise the whole tree's health.

Crossing branches are another red flag. When branches rub against each other, they create wounds. Those wounds become entry points for tree diseases and pests. You'll see bark wearing away where they touch. Fix this before it becomes a bigger problem.

Look for branches growing straight up from the main limbs – we call these suckers or water sprouts. They're weak, they grow fast, and they steal energy from the rest of the tree. Remove them as soon as you spot them.

Your Tree is Getting Too Close for Comfort

Power lines are serious business. If branches are within 10 feet of electrical wires, don't touch them yourself. Call your utility company or a certified arborist who's trained for electrical line clearance. One wrong move and you're dealing with power outages or worse.

Roof contact is another problem homeowners ignore until it's too late. Branches scraping shingles during storms will eventually damage your roof. The constant friction wears down roofing materials. Then you're looking at tree removal costs plus roof repairs.

Windows, sidewalks, driveways – if branches are hanging over these areas, they need attention. Especially the large tree specimens we have here in North Carolina. Live oaks and mature pines can drop some serious wood.

Storm Damage Assessment

After every major weather event in Kannapolis, tree care professionals stay busy. But you don't always need emergency tree care if you act fast on minor damage.

Partially broken branches that are still hanging need immediate trimming. They're unstable and dangerous. Don't wait for the next storm to finish the job.

Split trunks or major limbs require professional assessment. Sometimes the tree can be saved with proper pruning techniques. Sometimes it can't. A qualified arborist can tell the difference.

Root damage from construction or soil changes affects the whole tree's stability. You might not see problems in the canopy for months or years, but they're coming.

Health Signs in the Canopy

Healthy trees have full, dense foliage appropriate for the season. Thinning crowns, especially if it's happening gradually over several years, indicate stress. Could be disease, pest problems, or root issues.

Leaf problems tell stories. Brown edges might mean drought stress or salt damage from winter road treatments. Yellowing leaves out of season could indicate nutrient problems or root damage. Spots, holes, or unusual discoloration often mean disease or pest issues.

Fungal growth on branches or the trunk is a serious concern. Some fungi attack already-dead wood, but others target living tissue. Arborists can identify which type you're dealing with and recommend treatment.

Structural Problems That Demand Action

Multiple trunks might look interesting, but they create weak points. The connection between co-dominant stems is often unstable. As the tree grows, the attachment becomes more stressed.

Leans that develop suddenly are emergencies. Trees that have always been slightly tilted are usually fine. But new leans, especially after storms or construction, mean root problems.

Cracks in the trunk or major limbs are serious structural defects. They might not fail immediately, but they will eventually. Professional tree services use specialized equipment to assess these problems properly.

When Tree Species Matters

Different trees have different needs here in Kannapolis. Our clay soils and hot summers create specific challenges.

Bradford pears are notorious for splitting apart. If you have these, regular structural pruning is essential. Many arborist services recommend replacing them entirely because of their inherent weakness.

Live oaks need specialized pruning techniques. You can't just hack away at them like other species. They're susceptible to oak wilt disease, so timing and technique matter.

Pine trees show stress through needle drop and resin bleeding. If you see excessive sap or pitch tubes on the bark, you might have bark beetle problems.

The Cost of Waiting Too Long

Here's what happens when people ignore the warning signs. That dead branch eventually falls – usually during the worst possible weather, onto the most expensive thing it can hit.

Emergency tree services cost more than regular maintenance. A lot more. Late-night storm calls, weekend emergencies, complicated removals around power lines – the bill adds up fast.

Insurance companies are getting pickier about tree damage claims. If they can show you ignored obvious warning signs, they might not cover the damage. Regular tree care documentation helps protect you.

Property damage from tree failures goes beyond the obvious. Root systems that fail can damage foundations, underground utilities, and landscaping. The cleanup and repair costs multiply quickly.

Professional vs. DIY Decisions

Small dead branches under 2 inches? You can probably handle those yourself with proper tools and safety equipment. Anything larger needs professional attention.

Height is the deciding factor for most situations. If you need a ladder taller than 6 feet, hire professionals in Kannapolis, NC. The risks aren't worth the savings.

Electrical hazards always require professionals. Even if the power lines seem far away, tree branches conduct electricity, and you can be electrocuted from surprisingly far distances.

Seasonal Timing Considerations

Late fall and winter are ideal for most pruning work. Trees are dormant, which reduces stress and disease transmission risk. Visibility is better without leaves, making structural problems easier to spot.

Spring pruning should be limited. Trees are putting energy into new growth, and wounds heal more slowly. There are exceptions – storm damage needs immediate attention regardless of season.

Summer pruning is sometimes necessary but risky. Heat stress combined with pruning stress can damage trees. Only do essential work during hot months.

What Proper Tree Care Looks Like

Professional tree care goes beyond just cutting branches. Certified tree care professionals assess the whole tree's health, not just the obvious problems.

Proper pruning cuts heal faster and reduce disease risk. There's a science to where and how cuts are made. Cut too close to the trunk, and you damage the tree's natural healing process. Leave too much stub, and you create entry points for decay.

Regular maintenance schedules prevent most emergency situations. Annual inspections by tree experts catch problems early, when they're cheaper and easier to fix.

Making the Right Choice

Tree care isn't optional maintenance – it's essential property management. Those signs we talked about don't go away on their own. They get worse, more dangerous, and more expensive to fix.

Professional tree service companies have the training, equipment, and insurance to handle these jobs safely. They understand local tree species, common problems in our area, and proper techniques for our climate.

When you're ready to address those warning signs properly, Good Neighbor Tree Service provides comprehensive tree care services throughout Kannapolis, NC. We understand the unique challenges facing trees in our area and provide the expert care your trees need to stay healthy and safe.

Good Neighbor Tree Service

📍  1156 Red line Rd, China Grove, NC 28023

📞 980-499-2207

Visit: https://goodneighbortreeservices.com/ 

[eyeoftheaxolotl]

The Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane season begins June 1st.

Hurricanes can leave you and your loved ones without power and unable to go get supplies. You may end up in an emergency situation where it is unsafe to drive. You may end up having to evacuate your home. Or you may just end up late to work because of flooding blocking your usual route. You may just end up facing crowded stores and long lines while trying to purchase supplies. Either way, you need to be prepared.

What is hurricane season? Where are all these storms coming from?

Hurricane season is a period of time in the year when hurricanes and tropical storms are more likely to form in certain parts of the world. (This happens at different times in different parts of the world — for example, I think Australia's hurricane season begins a little before the end of the Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane seasons?)

The Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane seasons officially take place at the same time — from June 1st to November 30th. (Weaker hurricanes and tropical storms can occasionally happen outside of this time period (e.g. 2018's Tropical Storm Alberto or 2016's Tropical Storm Bonnie), so it's always good to have at least a basic level of preparations in place.)

Most hurricanes and tropical storms are born when a tropical disturbance (a loose assortment of thunderstorms) develops continually thanks to warm temperatures and high humidity. If these (and several other) conditions persist, the disturbance may develop into a tropical depression, gathering energy from the ocean and developing winds up to 138 mph (61 km/hr).

A tropical depression can then develop into a tropical storm. A tropical storm is a "named storm", meaning it is given a name (e.g. Odette, Nicole, or Isaac), which aids communication about it on news broadcasts and weather alerts. Tropical storms have winds ranging from 39 to 73 mph (63 to 118 km/hr). About half of tropical storms will die out before they get more powerful, but the other half will become hurricanes.

Once a tropical storm reaches wind speeds of 74 mph (119 km/hr), it is reclassified as a hurricane. Hurricanes are classified into 5 categories, with 1 being capable of damaging roofs, powerlines, and shallow trees, and 5 being able to render an area uninhabitable for months. All categories of hurricanes are dangerous, but higher categories are much more devastating than lower categories.

When a storm reaches land (referred to as "making landfall"), it loses its main source of energy (the ocean), meaning it will get weaker as it travels. However, in the meantime, it is still very powerful, with winds in excess of 74 mph (119 km/hr). Landfalls are usually reported in real time on local and state news, so you'll know when they hit.

Tropical storms may be weaker than hurricanes, but they can still cause damage, and they can still be dangerous. For example, 2001's Tropical Storm Allison caused billions of dollars in damage. While this is an extreme case, you should still keep an eye on any named storm with a predicted path around your area.

How can I know where a storm is heading?

Head to hurricanes.gov and take a look! Developing storms will already be listed on the site. When there is an active storm, it begins providing updates more frequently, with four updates per day -- at 5 AM, 11 AM, 5 PM, and 11 PM. The updated graphics include the time that the storm is predicted to pass through each area, as well as a map of predicted flooding, and other resources. Share these resources with people in your area, especially those who don't keep up-to-date, to make sure they know what to expect.

You can also go to weather.gov to look at more general warnings for your state. For example, I can see there right now that there is a flood warning for Palm Beach County, FL. (Named storms are not the only hazard of hurricane season; you also need to be careful with flooding and heavy thunderstorms.) Both sites are very helpful; I usually use hurricanes.gov once a storm has been named or mentioned on the news, and weather.gov otherwise.

Speaking of the news, state and local news sources usually report frequently on named storms, so it's worth checking it out if you've got cable. Most importantly, for local updates, make sure your phone can receive severe weather alerts, which will alert you on the status of your area and tell you about any evacuation orders.

How can I prepare for a storm?

Head to ready.gov and look through their many resources on this topic! They have supply checklists, readiness guides, and even activities for kids to learn what to do in a storm. It's very useful, and includes answers to questions like "How do I deal with my pets or service animals, or large animals like pigs and horses?" "What if I have medications I need to refill?" "What can I safely keep outside when a hurricane is heading towards my area?", etc. In general, if you have anything you need to purchase on a regular or semi-regular basis, you should try to have extra of that thing. Things like food, water, diapers, medication, pet food, batteries, etc. are good examples. Keep items in waterproof containers if possible.

Do you always take the same route to work, school, the store, or your house? Is there a single pickup location you use to pick up younger family members from school? What will you do if that route or area becomes flooded or inaccessible? This isn't to make you feel nervous, but to make sure you consider what your alternatives would be in an emergency situation, so that you can use those alternatives when you need to do so.

Ask for help from neighbors, friends, family, and members of your community. They may have extra supplies they can share, or you may be able to help them out with preparation. Hurricanes impact whole communities, so it's important to share resources so everyone can be prepared.

When should I start preparing?

The best time to prepare is now. But you might be busy right now, or about to go to work, or any number of things! If there aren't any named storms heading toward you, you're not gonna die because you didn't come up with a plan on June 1st. But set aside some time as soon as you can (today if at all possible) to figure out what preparations you have and what preparations you will need if disaster strikes. Include anyone who lives with you (including children!) and make sure they know what the plan is. If you're worried you might forget, set a timer for a time when you'll be able to work on it!

And, like I said, hurricanes impact whole communities, so ask your friends, family members, and neighbors if they have their own plans in place. We can all help each other out with preparing for hurricanes!

[voidcryptfrenzy]

When Disaster Hits: HDZ Plant Company Inc.'s 24/7 Emergency situation Tree Elimination Solutions

Introduction

When disaster strikes, the safety and welfare of your family as well as residential property come to be very important. Some of the absolute most troubling problems that can occur throughout a storm or even natural calamity is emergency tree service fresno HDZ Tree Services Inc actually the danger given through fallen trees. Whether because of high winds, heavy rainfall, or perhaps snowfall collection, trees may trigger substantial damage when they tip unexpectedly. That's where HDZ Tree Service Inc. steps in, delivering 24/ 7 unexpected emergency tree elimination services that guarantee your property stays secure and secure.

In this short article, our team'll explore the significance of quick plant removal in unexpected emergencies, plunge deep in to HDZ Plant Service's offerings, as well as highlight why they are the go-to professionals for critical plant extraction companies. Let's obtain started!

What Is Unexpected emergency Plant Removal? Understanding Unexpected emergency Plant Extraction Services

Emergency plant removal describes the critical process of taking out plants that have actually dropped or even are in danger of falling, posturing dangers to lifestyle as well as residential property. This service is essential during hurricanes or even after natural disasters when trees may be uprooted or damaged.

Why Is It Necessary?

Fallen plants can easily shut out streets, damage homes, and also produce hazardous states for pedestrians and also vehicles identical. Engaging an urgent tree extraction service guarantees that these dangers are actually relieved promptly.

The Job of HDZ Tree Solution Inc. An Outline of HDZ Plant Solution Inc.

Founded on guidelines of reliability as well as expertise, HDZ Tree Service Inc. has gotten a reputation as a counted on service provider of unexpected emergency tree services. Their devotion to customer fulfillment as well as safety makes them stand apart in the industry.

Expertise You Can Trust

With years of expertise under their waistband, the experts at HDZ are geared up with both the expertise and also tools essential for efficient emergency situation dropped plant cleanup. They comprehend nearby flora as well as fauna, allowing all of them to deal with any kind of scenario with finesse.

24/ 7 Urgent Tree Removal Explained What Specifies 24/7 Urgent Services Apart?

Unlike common tree removal solutions that function within routine service hrs, HDZ Plant Solution Inc. promotions nonstop aid. This implies no matter when calamity strikes-- be it midnight or lunchtime-- they're ready to respond.

How It Works Immediate Feedback: As soon as you call for assistance, a team is sent off to evaluate the situation. Safety Evaluation: The experts assess the area for dangers prior to proceeding. Tree Elimination: Making use of customized devices, they safely eliminate dropped trees. Cleanup: Lastly, they ensure your residential or commercial property is left behind neat as well as safe. Why Choose HDZ Plant Solution Inc.? Commitment to Safety

One of HDZ's best priorities is making sure every person's protection in the course of an emergenc

[newimagetreesolutions]

My Tree is Leaning - What Do I Do?

Keep a leaning tree from crashing into your property and causing significant damage. Knowing what to do when your trees show signs of imminent failure will help safeguard your home and property from costly removal and repairs.

New Image Tree Solutions gathered information on why trees lean, the hazards they pose, what to do about them, how to prevent them, and when to call an arborist.

For Tree Emergencies, Call New Image Tree Solutions at: 404-680-0041

Why Do Trees Lean?

Trees may lean for a variety of reasons. Some factors include:

Soil Instability: Shifts in soil composition or erosion can undermine a tree’s root system. Heavy rains or changes in water drainage patterns may weaken soil stability, causing trees to tilt.

Root Damage: Mechanical damage from construction, nearby landscaping, or heavy foot traffic can harm a tree’s roots. Compromised roots lose their ability to anchor a tree firmly, leading to a lean.

Wind Exposure: Prolonged exposure to strong winds or storms can cause trees to lean over time. Even healthy trees can develop a tilt if subjected to continuous lateral pressure.

Improper Planting: Trees planted (leaning or in unsuitable soil conditions) may never develop a strong, vertical root structure. A poor planting site can leave a tree vulnerable to shifting and tilting.

Disease and Decay: Fungal infections, pests, and rot can weaken the trunk and root system. A decaying tree might lose the structural integrity required to maintain an upright position.

Hazards Posed by a Leaning Tree

When a tree begins to lean, it is a warning sign that it may not be structurally sound. The risks include:

Damage to Structures: Leaning trees can pressure nearby buildings, potentially damaging roofs, siding, and foundations. In extreme cases, a falling tree can cause catastrophic structural damage.

Vehicle Hazards: A tree leaning over driveways or parking areas can block access or fall onto vehicles during high winds or storms.

Threats to Personal Safety: People are at risk if a tree falls unexpectedly. The debris can cause injury or fatality, particularly in densely populated areas. Given these risks, it is essential to take immediate action when you notice a tree leaning noticeably.

What to Do When Your Tree is Leaning

Immediate Steps

Assess the Situation: Safely observe the tree from a distance. Look for signs of severe leaning, cracked or splitting trunks, and dead branches. Determine whether the tree appears unstable.

Clear the Area: Ensure that vehicles, people, and outdoor furniture are away from the tree. Mark off a safe perimeter to prevent accidents.

Document the Condition: Take photographs and notes on the tree’s lean, visible damage, and surrounding conditions. This documentation may be used when consulting professionals or insurance providers.

Who to Call in Roswell, Georgia

If a tree appears dangerously unstable, contacting a professional arborist immediately is critical. In Roswell, residents should call a certified arborist to evaluate the tree’s condition and recommend corrective measures. Additionally, if there is a safety risk, contact local emergency services for prompt assistance. Roswell professionals and organizations include:

Certified Arborists: Look for certifications through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or other accredited and reputable organizations.

Read more about emergency tree services and removal HERE.

Local Tree Removal Services: Professional tree removal services can ensure the safe disposal of trees requiring removal or heavy pruning.

City Services or Code Enforcement: When a tree poses a public safety hazard, notify local authorities to initiate appropriate action.

Preventive Measures to Stop Trees from Leaning

Preventing trees from leaning starts with proper maintenance and early intervention. Here are some strategies:

Regular Inspections - Schedule routine inspections by certified arborists to monitor tree health. Early root damage, soil erosion, or disease detection can allow timely interventions that prevent further tilting.

Soil Management - Maintain healthy soil around trees by ensuring proper drainage and preventing compaction. Mulching and aerating the soil can help stabilize roots and promote hardy growth.

Corrective Pruning - Proper pruning helps maintain balance and reduces stress on branches. Prune dead or damaged limbs promptly to reduce weight on one side of the tree, which might otherwise contribute to leaning.

Support Systems - For young or recovering trees, installing support systems such as cables or braces can provide extra stability until the tree develops a robust root structure.

Planting Practices - When planting new trees, choose species suited to the local soil and climate. Plant at the proper depth and orientation, and avoid placing trees in areas prone to soil erosion or heavy foot traffic.

When to Call an Arborist

Call a certified arborist immediately if you notice any of the following signs:

Significant Leaning: A noticeable tilt that worsens over time is a red flag.

Cracked or Splitting Trunks: Visible cracks may indicate internal decay.

Dead or Dying Branches: Extensive branch dieback suggests the tree is under severe stress.

Soil Erosion Around Roots: Loss of soil stability can undermine the tree’s support.

Signs of Disease or Infestation: Fungal growth, unusual discoloration, or pest activity require professional diagnosis.

Arborists can evaluate the tree’s condition and determine whether remedial measures like cabling or bracing will correct it (or if removal is necessary to prevent danger).

Managing a Leaning Tree

Once an arborist has assessed the situation, several outcomes are possible:

Stabilization Measures: If the tree can be saved, support systems such as cables, braces, or deep root injections may be applied.

Disease or Pests Treatment: If decay, disease, or pests contribute to the lean, appropriate treatments will be administered.

Tree Removal: Safe removal is the best option if the tree is beyond repair or poses a risk. Professionals will use specialized equipment to prevent damage to nearby structures during removal.

What Do I Do With a Leaning Tree?

In this article, you discovered crucial information about why trees lean, the hazards they can pose, what to do about them, how to prevent them, and when to call an arborist.

A leaning tree poses a significant risk to property and people. Understanding why trees lean, taking proactive measures to maintain stability, and knowing when to call a professional are critical steps for homeowners in Roswell, Georgia.

Failure to quickly address a leaning tree may result in significant property damage and costly personal injury (or worse).

Sources: site.extension.uga.edu/forsyth/2023/09/hazardous-trees-2 extension.psu.edu/what-to-do-about-leaning-trees

New Image Tree Solutions

Roswell, GA (404) 680-0041

To see the original version of this article, visit https://www.newimagetreesolutions.com/blog/my-tree-is-leaning-what-do-i-do

[lastimeexteriors-omaha]

How Can I Extend the Life of My Asphalt Roof?

Your asphalt roof is like a sturdy shield—taking on rain, wind, and the occasional hailstorm without complaint. But like anything exposed to the elements 24/7, it needs a little care to keep it in top shape. Whether you're a homeowner, property manager, or real estate investor, keeping your roof in great condition isn’t just about avoiding leaks—it’s about protecting your investment.

So, how do you make sure your roof lasts as long as possible? Let’s get into it.

Keep an Eye on It—Regular Inspections Matter

Your roof might not always be top of mind, but ignoring it can lead to costly surprises. A small problem—like a missing shingle or a clogged gutter—can turn into a major issue if left unchecked.

Here’s what you should do:

Check it out twice a year. Spring and fall are great times to look for damage before extreme temperatures set in.

Inspect after major storms. High winds and hail can loosen or break shingles, leading to water damage if not addressed.

Look inside, too. Stains on your ceiling or walls might mean your roof is letting in moisture.

If you’re not comfortable climbing up there yourself, no problem—most roofing contractors offer inspections.

Clean Those Gutters

Gutters might not seem like a big deal, but when they’re clogged, they can cause major roof problems. Water backs up, sits where it shouldn’t, and eventually seeps under your shingles. That’s a recipe for rot and leaks.

What to do:

Clear gutters at least twice a year. If your property has trees nearby, you might need to do it more often.

Make sure downspouts are directing water away from your foundation. A flooded basement isn’t fun for anyone.

Consider gutter guards. They won’t eliminate cleaning entirely, but they’ll reduce the buildup of leaves and debris.

Trim Overhanging Branches

Trees add beauty and shade, but they can also be a hidden threat to your roof. Overhanging branches can scrape against shingles, and in a storm, weak limbs can snap off and cause real damage.

What to do:

Trim branches regularly. Keep them at least 6 feet away from your roof.

Watch for dead or dying trees. They’re unpredictable and more likely to fall.

Be mindful of moss and algae. Shaded areas are more prone to moisture buildup, which can lead to moss growth.

If you already see dark streaks on your roof, that’s likely algae. It won’t immediately destroy your roof, but it can weaken shingles over time.

Fix Small Issues Before They Become Big Problems

You know that old saying, "A stitch in time saves nine"? Well, the same goes for roofs. A small repair now can prevent a much bigger—and more expensive—problem later.

Look out for:

Loose, curling, or missing shingles

Cracked or damaged flashing around chimneys and vents

Granules collecting in gutters (this means your shingles are wearing down)

Sagging areas (this could indicate structural damage)

A little maintenance now can add years to your roof’s lifespan. If something looks off, it’s worth getting it checked out.

Ventilation & Insulation

Here’s something most people don’t think about: your attic plays a huge role in your roof’s health. If it’s poorly ventilated, heat and moisture build up, leading to mold, rot, and premature aging of your shingles.

What you need:

Proper attic insulation. This keeps heat from escaping in winter and prevents excessive heat buildup in summer.

Good airflow. Ridge vents, soffit vents, and gable vents help maintain steady air circulation.

A cool attic. Asphalt shingles last longer when they’re not exposed to extreme heat from below.

A well-ventilated attic helps prevent ice dams in winter, too—another common cause of roof damage.

Be Careful with Pressure Washing

If your roof is covered in algae or moss, it might be tempting to blast it with a pressure washer. Don’t. High-pressure water can strip granules from shingles, making them wear out faster.

Instead:

Use a soft-bristle brush and a mix of water and mild detergent.

Consider installing zinc or copper strips. When rainwater washes over them, they naturally prevent moss and algae growth.

Hire a professional if needed. They’ll know how to clean your roof without causing damage.

Invest in Professional Roof Maintenance

At some point, even the most diligent DIYers need a pro. Roofing contractors can spot issues you might miss and make repairs before they turn into expensive headaches.

Professional maintenance can include:

A thorough inspection of shingles, flashing, and vents

Sealing small cracks before they lead to leaks

Checking for soft spots or areas where moisture is getting in

It’s like getting a tune-up for your car—small investments over time can prevent major breakdowns.

When It’s Time to Replace, Don’t Wait Too Long

Even with the best care, asphalt roofs won’t last forever. Most have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, depending on climate, material quality, and maintenance.

Signs it might be time for a new roof:

Frequent leaks, even after repairs

Widespread shingle damage or missing shingles

Curled, cracked, or blistering shingles

Major granule loss (bald spots on your roof)

If your roof is reaching the end of its lifespan, replacing it sooner rather than later can prevent more expensive structural damage.

Final Thoughts

Your roof does a lot for you—keeping your home or business safe, dry, and comfortable. A little care goes a long way in extending its life and avoiding unexpected expenses.

Inspect it regularly

Keep your gutters clean

Trim overhanging branches

Fix small problems before they grow

Make sure your attic is properly ventilated

Be careful with cleaning methods

Get professional maintenance when needed

Taking care of your roof isn’t just about avoiding repairs—it’s about getting the most out of your investment. Keep it in good shape, and it’ll keep you covered for years to come.

[ilearnedthistodaysblog]

#1281 What happens if you get struck by lightning?

What happens if you get struck by lightning? If you do get struck by lightning, which is more common than you might imagine, it can cause severe burns, damage to the nervous system, cardiac arrest, a lot of other damage, and death. It is estimated that 240,000 people a year are struck by lightning, and roughly 24,000, or 10%, of them die. It is difficult to get exact data because a lot of people don’t go to the hospital and it can be difficult to work out if lightning was the cause of death when a body is found. The majority of the people that survive are left with some kind of injury that can severely alter their standard of living. Being struck by lightning is not something you walk away from easily. Lightning is an electrical discharge from the clouds to the ground. The typical lightning bolt has 300 million volts of electricity and 30,000 amps. To put that in perspective, most countries in the world use 120 volts and 15 amps to power appliances in the house. Lightning is caused when an electrical charge builds up in the clouds. In a storm, hot air rises up and swirls around in vortexes. As it gets higher, it cools, and some of the water it is carrying freezes into tiny ice crystals. These tiny ice crystals are called graupel. As the wind swirls them around, the ice crystals bang into each other, and static electricity slowly builds up. You can see something similar in a grain silo. When grain is poured in through the top, tiny pieces of grain dust swirl around, building up static electricity, and they can explode. In the clouds, this static electricity builds up until it is too much for the clouds to hold, and when it is this strong, it is attracted to the closest point which has an opposite charge. This is the ground and whatever is highest on the ground at that point. Lightning is a spark that jumps from the clouds to the ground in roughly 0.2 seconds. It has so much energy and it is so hot that it heats the surrounding air to almost 30,000℃ in milliseconds. The heated air instantly expands, causing a pressure wave that we hear as thunder. You can tell how far away a storm is by counting the seconds after you see the flash of lightning because they originated at the same time. Multiply the number of seconds by the speed of sound (343 m/s), and you know roughly how far away the storm is. So, what happens when a person is hit by lightning? Well, it depends on how you are hit. There are several different ways you can be hit. The most dangerous is a direct strike. This is where the lightning bolt leaves the cloud, hits the person directly, and then passes into the ground. This is very rare because it is rare for a person to be one of the highest points on the ground. This accounts for 5% of strikes. The second way, which is more common, is called a side flash. This is when the lightning bolt hits something else, like a tree, and then jumps into a person standing under that tree. This, by the way, is the main reason why you shouldn’t hide under a tree when there is a thunderstorm. The tree is usually the highest point and it will attract the lightning bolt. This is also 5% of strikes. The third way is through the ground. When lightning hits a tree or a flagpole, it shoots down to the ground. However, there is so much energy that the current will travel across the ground and up into anything nearby. A lot of people and animals are killed by this. The fourth way is through conduction. If you are standing by something metal, like a fence, the lightning might hit something else and then be conducted along the fence to you. The third and fourth ways are the most common and account for 80% of strikes. And the last way is by something called a streamer. As lightning approaches the ground, an electric charge rises up from the ground to meet it. This happens so quickly that you can’t see it. Often, there is just one of these leaders, but sometimes there can be more than one, and they are just as dangerous as the lightning. This accounts for about 10% of strikes. The most common cause of death when hit by lightning is cardiac arrest. Our hearts beat many times a minute to push blood around our body and the contractions of the heart muscle are caused by electric signals from the brain. Lightning introduces so much electricity to the body that it overwhelms everything and shuts down the heart. If there is an AED nearby, the heart can be restarted, but this is the biggest cause of death. The lightning can also shut down the lungs as well,l and people will suffocate. CPR can save people in this state. There may be extensive nerve damage as well. The lightning bolt can cause paralysis that might pass. The lightning bolt also causes burns because of the intense heat. It can burn the skin, and also the organs. The energy in the lightning bolt can rupture capillaries under the skin as well, creating interesting patterns. Lightning is not fatal in 90% of cases, but these are usually where the strike is not direct. People that do survive may have a host of other problems that persist, generally caused by the electrical overload in the body. These can be hearing problems, irregular heartbeats, memory problems, nerve damage, and other things too. And this is what I learned today. Try these next: - #446 What causes thunder? - #574 Why is a strike called a “strike”? - #344 How did the Black Death change society? - #399 When did people first start using locks and keys? - #1021 How is a mongoose immune to snake venom? Sources https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_injury https://www.livescience.com/health/what-happens-if-you-get-struck-by-lightning-and-survive https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/dangerous-to-bathe-during-thunderstorm.htm https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/nl9w7v/eli5_how_does_a_person_survive_a_lightening_strike/ https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-struck Photo by Philippe Donn: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-lightning-1114690/ Read the full article

[ozma914]

Tornado Story

 I was eleven, and home alone while my brother visited with the neighbors. I didn't mind at all: I was what today would be called an introvert. I had my plastic Thompson machine gun and my khaki shirt with the sergeant stripes on it, and I was ready to shoot bad guys.

I was busy killing Nazis when everything became perfectly still. Not a bird chirp, not a breath of wind. The light around me turned a strange green. Kind of like the olive-colored kitchen appliances that used to be so popular, and please don't build those again.

Everything seemed to almost glow from within. It was enough to make me forget Sgt. Rock and just stand there, gazing upward.

And that was it. The light turned normal again, and I headed into the barn to back up The Haunted Tank. We lived out in the country where we couldn't hear sirens, the TV was turned off, and portable alert devices were things I saw on Star Trek.

It was part of the 1974 Super Outbreak, one of the worst tornado outbreaks in history. 148 tornadoes rampaged across 13 states, killing 330 people. The one that came so close to me was an EF3, and it killed three people, injuring 38 more.

Somehow, I didn't find out until years later that a tornado has passed two miles from where I stood.

The March 30 storm damaged the roofs of two Noble County Highway buildings, less than a mile from our home.

Maybe not knowing is why I became fascinated with the sky, but never developed a fear of storms. I'm one of those morons who would be out in the back yard, scanning the sky, while sane folks huddled in the basement.

Being a volunteer firefighter and storm spotter gave me an excuse, but didn't make me any smarter.

What hit us in Albion this time was a straight-line wind event. The only confirmed tornado in Noble County on June 30 was an EF-1 that took out several buildings on a path north of Churubusco, and west of LaOtto. Its path is the green line on this map. Straight line winds can be just as damaging, of course, but don't get the press of a photogenic twister.

Either way, having the tornado sirens go off while you're standing in the shower is definitely attention grabbing.

I dressed in the basement, and the worst of it seemed to be over when I dashed through the rain to work. But it wasn't, for me: I work in the Noble County 911 center. There are normally two or three of us there. I arrived half an hour early and found one of my shift partners already there. Including a trainee, there were five of us, then six, and we were overwhelmed.

Our power went out twice; our radio system stopped working once; our business phone lines stayed down all night, leaving us with one backup cell phone. (Honestly, we used our own a lot.) Meanwhile, every fire department and every on-duty officer in the county raced from place to place, checking on damage and downed utility lines, clearing trees, and keeping their eyes on the skies. Between 4:40 and 8 p.m. we entered 76 calls, almost all for storm damage.

No injuries. The very definition of it could be worse.

I actually took this a few days earlier, but you get the idea.

In bordering LaGrange County the storm flipped an Amish buggy, killing one man. Meanwhile, not far to the north, an ice storm flattened northern lower Michigan. On the other end of the storm system ... a blizzard.

As I write this, we've just had still another tornado warning, thankfully short lived, and a tornado outbreak to the south and west of us ... and east, now that I've had time to check the weather channels.

I told someone over winter that I had a feeling this would be a bad weather year. Wish I remembered who, so I could say I told you so. But I'd rather be wrong.

This is another photo I took a few days earlier, right after a thunderstorm. I like this better.

You can read our books here:

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Lately it's been much better to stay inside and read.

[rooftekmillcreekut]

Emergency Roof Repair in Millcreek, UT: Responding to Unexpected Roofing Issues

In Millcreek, UT, emergency roof repair services are a critical aspect of maintaining the safety and integrity of your home or business. Whether it’s a sudden storm, unexpected damage, or the wear and tear of time, roof problems can arise without warning, leading to significant damage if not addressed promptly. When faced with a roofing emergency, it’s crucial to act quickly to prevent further issues like water damage, mold growth, or structural instability. Emergency roof repair services in Millcreek provide homeowners and business owners with the expertise and fast response necessary to mitigate damage and restore their roofs to proper working condition.

Millcreek is no stranger to unpredictable weather, from snowstorms and heavy rains to intense wind gusts. These weather conditions can cause sudden damage to roofs, including leaks, fallen tree branches, or even sections of the roof being torn off. When these events occur, it’s essential to have an emergency roofing service that can respond quickly. A damaged roof can lead to leaks inside the home or business, compromising insulation, electrical systems, and furniture, and even posing risks to health and safety. By contacting a professional emergency roof repair service, you can prevent such damage and ensure that your home or business remains secure.

Emergency roof repair specialists in Millcreek are trained to assess roof damage quickly and accurately. They will arrive at your property as soon as possible to evaluate the situation and provide immediate solutions to prevent further harm. Often, this means securing the roof with a temporary fix, such as tarping or patching up holes, until a more permanent repair can be scheduled. This fast response is critical in protecting your property and belongings from additional damage.

One of the significant advantages of hiring RoofTek is their ability to handle a wide range of roofing issues. Whether it’s a leaking roof, damaged shingles, or issues caused by falling debris, experienced roofers have the skills and knowledge to fix the problem efficiently. They also come equipped with the proper tools and materials to ensure the repair is done correctly and safely. Attempting to fix a roof without the right expertise or equipment can result in further damage or injury, making professional help the safest option.

Moreover, emergency roof repair services in Millcreek offer peace of mind during stressful situations. Knowing that a licensed and insured professional is taking care of your roof allows you to focus on other important matters while leaving the repair to the experts. Many roofing companies in Millcreek also offer 24/7 emergency services, ensuring that help is available whenever it’s needed.

Emergency roof repair services in Millcreek, UT, are essential for addressing unexpected roof damage. Quick and reliable repairs can prevent further damage, ensure safety, and provide homeowners and business owners with peace of mind. Whether it’s a small leak or significant storm damage, a professional emergency roof repair service is a vital resource for restoring your roof and protecting your property.

RoofTek 4080 S W Temple St, Millcreek, UT 84107 (801) 471-2054

[solarpana]

A Comprehensive Guide to Repairing Solar Panels in Miami: Everything You Need to Know!

As solar energy becomes more popular, many homeowners in Miami are investing in solar panels to reduce their electricity bills and embrace cleaner energy. However, just like any other system, solar panels require occasional repairs and maintenance to keep them running efficiently. Whether you're dealing with physical damage, electrical issues, or performance drops, knowing how to address problems quickly can save you time and money. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps for repairing solar panels in Miami.

Common Issues That Require Solar Panel Repairs Before diving into repairs, it’s important to understand the common issues that can affect solar panels in Miami's tropical climate. These issues can range from minor fixes to more serious electrical problems. Here are some of the most common problems:

Cracked or Broken Panels

Physical damage, like cracks or broken glass, is one of the most obvious issues that can reduce the efficiency of your solar system. In Miami, strong winds, hail, or debris from storms can cause damage to solar panels, making them less effective. Inverter Malfunctions

The inverter is the heart of your solar energy system. It converts the electricity produced by your panels into usable power for your home. If the inverter malfunctions, your entire system can stop working. Signs of an inverter issue include flashing lights, error codes, or no power output. Wiring Issues

Damaged or frayed wiring can cause electrical problems, leading to reduced power output or even safety hazards. Wiring issues are common in older systems or those that have been exposed to environmental conditions like saltwater corrosion. Loose or Corroded Connections

Miami’s salty air and humidity can cause rust or corrosion on electrical connections, affecting the flow of electricity. Corroded or loose connections can result in system malfunctions or even electrical fires if left unchecked. Shading and Obstructions

While not a repair issue per se, shading caused by nearby trees, buildings, or dirt can significantly reduce the energy output of your solar panels. This can cause a performance drop, and trimming overgrown trees or cleaning panels can improve efficiency. Step-by-Step Guide to Repairing Solar Panels in Miami If you suspect an issue with your solar panels, it’s crucial to take the right steps to fix it. Here’s a guide to help you understand the repair process:

Identify the Problem The first step is diagnosing the problem. Check for visible damage such as cracks, dirt, or debris on the panels. Monitor your system’s performance to see if there’s been a drop in energy production. If you notice issues like flickering lights or error codes on your inverter, it could be malfunctioning.

Turn Off the System Before performing any repairs, it’s essential to shut off the solar power system. This ensures your safety while handling electrical components.

Assess the Damage For cracked or broken panels, you may need to replace the damaged glass or panel. This type of repair usually requires professional assistance. If your inverter isn’t working, check for error messages or malfunction codes. Inverter repairs often require a certified technician who can troubleshoot the issue and replace faulty parts. For wiring or connection problems, inspect the wiring for signs of wear, fraying, or corrosion. In most cases, damaged wiring will need to be replaced.

Clean Your Panels (If Necessary) In some cases, the problem might simply be due to dirt or debris blocking sunlight. Clean the panels with water and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasives that could damage the surface.

Hire a Professional While some basic repairs, like cleaning panels or trimming overgrown trees, can be done on your own, most repairs require the expertise of a professional. Hiring a licensed solar technician in Miami ensures that the repairs are done safely and effectively.

Schedule Regular Maintenance To avoid future repairs, schedule regular maintenance for your solar system. A technician will inspect the entire system, clean the panels, check the inverter, and look for any potential issues before they become major problems. When to Call a Professional While some minor issues can be fixed by homeowners, repairs involving electrical components, damaged panels, or faulty inverters should always be handled by professionals. Attempting DIY electrical repairs can be dangerous and may void your warranty. In Miami, the high humidity and salty air can cause accelerated wear, so it's essential to hire a licensed technician who is experienced with the unique challenges of the local environment.

Conclusion Repairing solar panels in Miami can be straightforward if you catch issues early, but many problems require professional assistance to ensure safety and proper function. Whether you're dealing with a damaged panel, malfunctioning inverter, or wiring issue, it’s important to address the problem as soon as possible to maintain the efficiency of your solar system. Regular maintenance and inspections can help you avoid costly repairs and maximize the lifespan of your panels, making solar energy a reliable and long-lasting investment for your home.