http://cnn.com/1999/WEATHER/12/29/eu....01/index.html

Europe cleans up after battering
by deadly storms

More than 60 killed; hundreds
of thousands lose power

From staff and wire reports

PARIS (CNN) -- The death toll rose
above 60 on Monday in the aftermath
of a blast of devastating storms that
blew across Western Europe with
winds as high as 219 km/h (136 mph).

At least 66 people were killed by the
storms, with France bearing the brunt. Up to 34 people were reported
dead in France, and 1.5 million homes had no electricity.

Paris was hit by its strongest winds in 50 years. Both the city's airports
were closed for a time on Sunday, and six visitors to Disneyland Paris
were injured when a tree fell on their bungalow.

France's National Fund for Historic Sites and Monuments estimated
between 400 and 500 million francs ($62 to $77 million) will be needed
to repair damaged cultural monuments. With gusts reaching 170 km/h
(104 mph), the winds tore slabs of roofing from Notre Dame cathedral
and blew stonework through a stained glass window at the
Sainte-Chapelle.

Outside Paris, the famed palace Versailles took a beating; windows
were smashed and some 6,000 trees in the palace's sculpted gardens
were uprooted.

Paris Mayor Jean Tiberi has asked the French government to declare
the city a disaster area.

"There's never been anything like this," said Transport Minister
Jean-Claude Gayssot. "Obviously, because it was unique and
exceptional, we were far less prepared than if it were something that had
happened before."

Airports in the north and east of France remained closed on Monday,
and train service was slowly resuming. Tens of thousands of trees were
uprooted, and many roads and highways were impassable.

Falling chimneys and other debris caused most of the deaths, while
overworked emergency crews handled thousands of calls for help.

Along the coast of Brittany in northeastern France, thousands of tons of
crude oil from a shipwrecked tanker were being swept ashore.



And while Paris and the rest of France were calm Monday morning,
forecasters warned that another storm was shaping up over the Atlantic
Ocean and would likely hit the area later in the day.

The forecast was not good news across the rest of Europe either. At
least 17 people died in Germany, where 199 km/hr (124 mph) winds
raced through the southern part of the country. Eight people died in
Britain, where nearly 300 rivers were said to be at a flood alert level.

Other storm damage:

Spain -- Two workers were killed in the town of Mieres when wind
knocked down a 15-foot-high wall under construction.

Netherlands -- Maas River is on the verge of overflowing.

Belgium -- About 30,000 people were without drinking water in the
southern Charleroi region, where rivers flooded.

Switzerland -- At least 13 people were killed, including two in a
ski gondola that fell in the Alps.

Italy -- A light-plane pilot and an instructor were killed in Torino
province after the pilot lost control in wind-spurred turbulence.

Austria -- Winds were as high as 219 km/h (136 mph) in the
Salzkammergut region; about 2,000 people were evacuated from
a movie theater complex in St. Poelten, west of Vienna.


[This message has been edited by F150Europe (edited 12-29-1999).]

 

F150Europe - This was one of the Top stories on the local metropolitian New York area news. Unbelievable, we're having the mild weather and you are having disaster. You didn't mention how this effected you, your family and your business. I think I can speak for all North American members in hoping you are all well and safe.

 

mtknee,

In fact we only had stormy weather on Friday Dec 24 th.I had a real bad night.I had to sleep downstairs,using earplugs so I couldn,t here the noise.I really can't stand that sound.I was worried about my business alot too.
Luckily,nothing happened.
On Dec 25/26 we have had not much wind.
I quess we were on the right side of the low pressure area.Amazing we have had no storm at all,France is not that far away from us.If it had been a little upnorth,there wouldn't have been many greenhouses left in this area,I can tell you that.

The south of the netherlands has some trouble with floods;lots of rain falling in France and Belgium is streaming this way.(Maas river)
You know, The Netherlands (Lowlands) is completely below sealevel.

So for me everything is ok.No damage at all.
Thanks for asking.

CJ

 

Ceesjan: How windy was it??? Was this a freak storm that passed through? Sure am glad it didn't hit your area. T.

 

Tina,

The storm on Friday was normal for people in the coastal-areas.
Up to windforce 9 to 10 from the south-west.
Storms from the North-West are far more dangerous.
The storm that hit France on Saturday Dec 25 was a real bad one,up to windforce 12.
They are not used to have these servere winds and certainly not up to windforce 12.
Up to 50 dead, and I believe they are talking about 150.000 trees broken like matches.And a lot of powerlines are down.
The Eiffeltower in Paris wasn,t damaged.

On Monday Dec 27 th they were hit again.
Once again 24 dead.

North of Spain was hit too. 6 dead or so.

CJ


[This message has been edited by F150Europe (edited 12-29-1999).]

 

F150Europe, stayed on isle st louis during mardi gras (from new orleans). the wind was very strong just walking over the seine to notre dame, i can't imagine what it had to be like. we have had our share of hurricanes in new orleans, but get advanced warning to get ready. i hope all the beautiful sculptures and stained glass can be restored. Versailles is beyond description and so vast, that it need attention around the clock anyway, it certainly didn't need any more of mother natures' wrath. i hope the "euro" new year is much better than your christmas was, good luck to you and your family.

 

I'm glad I never had a bad stom when I was in Germany when I was in the Army but we did have a bad cold spell and I had guard duty and we olny could be out for a hour instead of the 2 hour shifts that we normaly done.

 

My gosh...this is the first I have heard of this!!! WOW where have I been. I'm glad to here you and your family are safe. If it helps at all our prayers are with you and the rest of our brothers and sisters in Europe...good luck to all and America is there to support (at least us little people)

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