damage

Hanna came through the Grove and the cottage is not doing well. 

after many hours of a soaking rain that softened the ground and made the trees heavier, a large oak came down but before it struck the cottage much of the impact was taken by a tulip poplar (for those who have been, both were on the N side).  had it not been there to take the blow, both the cottage and the one next door would have been taken out at once. 

until the trees can be cleared it will be hard to get a complete damage assessment.  what I do know is that the trees came through the ridge beam but came to rest before without passing through the front room's high ceiling.  the trusses and bracing seem to be holding them in place, at least for now.  the trees are hanging over the adjacent cottage, threatening it too. 

at first things didn't look too bad.  but the tulip poplar's remaining trunk is continuing to split, shifting more of the weight onto the house.  it has been shifting under the increased load and it's not clear how long it will be able to hold up. 

removing the trees in a fashion as to to prevent further damage is going be to an extremely delicate task and will require that a crane be brought in.  calls are in to the area's über qualified tree firm and I'm awaiting their response. 

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more later as opportunity permits.