Derecho Crushes Nauvoo

A derecho is widespread and long lived straight line wind damage that is associated with a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms known as a mesoscale convective system.  This one hit Nauvoo on Thursday June 29, 2023 at about 10:30 AM. 

The damage was so significant throughout all of Nauvoo and the region. Many homes along Highway 96 had trees fall on them roofs blown off. It was estimated that winds were somewhere between 80+ miles an hour and some well over 100 miles an hour. The damage to the trees throughout the sites of Nauvoo was significant. Estimates are coming in that as many as 700 trees were destroyed or damaged in the sites.

The temple is the safest place on earth when storms come our way.  President Nelson has said, Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants! We were serving in the temple when the sirens went off.  

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ZJjObEXTSenCV70Dh33S0p-qUq8jGH2d

Coming out of the temple and viewing the damge.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QZavwyWRPMjJn0oTjIN590e_F_FbJl4U

Some of the lighting for the pageant was destroyed in the storm.  The church immediately shipped replacement equipment so the pageant could move forward.  

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MsozRHu1I-TSlftYYZVOA405Oni4_hCE

A hawthorne tree that toppled on the temple grounds.  The thorns were 3" long.  

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1PwsX7Qyy9RwI3XJvtzTb0T_dHyhWvdJb

This massive tree fell between the catholic church and the temple president's home in a very tight window where no harm was done.  Notice the statue of Christ that was left standing.  

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AVc4SKj-5CnCwOar-Uah3u5yRWdgFoOi

Many temple missionaries assisted in the cleanup effort. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qG_dUQ3IPIoBEmXWGX3Fh5D9xVaE1jP7

This tree fell between our apartment and Lucy Mack Smith's house.  It is a massive walnut tree.  

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