Author Topic: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)  (Read 8414 times)

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« on: March 16, 2016, 08:23:46 PM »
As you know, there was a LOT of lightning in this area between 6-6:30pm today and the thunder was heard right after the lightning was seen, so it was very nearby.

I was sitting at my computer when I saw the light and immediately felt a huge BOOM...........via the floor. It felt like a steel wrecking ball had smacked the ceiling of the apartment below me because I felt it in my feet.

The fire alarm went off, which is not an unusual occurrence. I looked out my kitchen window and saw some pieces of brick on the roof. The next thing I knew, firemen were at my door, telling me that the building's main chimney got hit - the one you can see when you look straight at the building (where the old cell antennas used to be). One of my apartment walls right next to my front door is the back side of that chimney, so it hit about 30 feet to the left of where I was sitting and about 15 feet above.

They checked to make sure there was no damage to my apartment (there wasn't). After they left, I went out on the roof to take some pictures (below).

22 years ago, lightning hit a secondary building chimney that's about 20 feet in front of where I sit typing this.

I hope I'm not being long-term triangulated.


Click to enlarge.





Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline Homer Jones

  • Long-time poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 622
  • Karma: 16
    • View Profile
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2016, 10:16:34 PM »
Imagine if you had been shooting out the window when the lightning struck. It would have been a great final picture for your portfolio.

Offline just watching

  • Long-time poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 928
  • Karma: -25
    • View Profile
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2016, 07:10:29 AM »
Glad you are ok. Great pics of lightning damage

Offline johnny g

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 329
  • Karma: 6
    • View Profile
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2016, 08:36:40 AM »
Wow that's crazy, glad you're ok....I don't know which floor you live on but that really was low lightning!

Offline Editor

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4430
  • Karma: 17
    • View Profile
    • Hackensack Now
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2016, 09:13:45 AM »
Remember, it's not paranoia if someone IS out to get you.

This one is for you:


Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2016, 11:28:04 AM »
Thanks, guys, for the concern and the video (love those lightning shots).

JG - I live in a separate unit that sits on top of a 6-story building, which makes me the 7th-floor tenant in a 6-story building. The bolt hit at about an mid-8th-floor level. It missed the very top of the chimney where all the cool birds perch on the iron bar structure (see first picture) at almost a 9th-floor level. That's where I've shot all of the jumping mockingbird photos, in addition to cardinals, blue jays, and - of course - redtailed hawks. I've already written to the landlord and asked him to maintain that metal structure for the birds, if possible.

Homer - I think we both know that that "final shot" would have been wildly over-exposed by the bolt and useless, so I'd have to be reincarnated to try again.

I took some more shots this morning - this time from closeup - and I'll post them later.

« Last Edit: March 17, 2016, 11:29:56 AM by BLeafe »
Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment)
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2016, 12:30:07 PM »
I just noticed that the bricks say "HB Co" on them - Hackensack Brick Company (which was actually in Little Ferry, where most of the local brickyards were located at the time due to an abundance of clay). HB Co existed from roughly 1900 to 1940, so since construction of the building started in 1928, I would think that this is original brickwork.

It's too early to know if any whole HB Co bricks will be used in the chimney repair or if they'll be tossed, but it made me recall shooting a Fairmount section backyard BBQ pit two years ago that was made with original Main St cobblestones.

Would anyone (or the city) be interested in acquiring any HB Co bricks for some reason? Not that they're mine to give away, but if there was some interest, now might be the time to inquire.

Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment) NEW PIX
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2016, 02:00:25 PM »
I took these early this morning. If it isn't cloudy later today, I may take some more.

1. There's an old rusty metal ladder attached to the wall that's for getting on the roof of my apartment. This is the first view of that roof as you climb up. Anyone standing on that rusty rung when the bolt hit yesterday would have had his/her head taken off.

2. Half of a brick almost out

3. Overall side view

4. Broken glass panes on two sides of the elevator room skylight

5. HB Co = Hackensack Brick Company (see previous post)

6, 7. Suspected bolt entry point at chimney roof line

8. The entire church steeple was not visible from this angle 24 hours ago.


As usual, click to enlarge.



Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline BLeafe

  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 4158
  • Karma: 26
    • View Profile
    • Bob Leafe Photography
Re: Fierce lightning hits Hackensack (and my apartment) 2 MORE PIX
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2016, 07:55:08 PM »
The afternoon pictures I took were essentially sun-brightened versions of previously-posted shots, but one difference was when the overhead sun brightened up the interior below the broken panes of elevator room skylight glass - the secret inner workings!

What excitement!

(What a waste of time.)






Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness