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July 4, 1969 Storm Coverage

B

Buckeyes2001

Those of you who were around when the derecho storms hit NE Ohio on July 4, 1969, what do you recall of the local radio/TV coverage of the storms like back then? Were they able to do much else than issue storm warnings back then?
 
I don't know about the coverage, but I was caught in it! We, and a ton of other people are by the lakeshore waiting for the fireworks to start. Like prize dopes, we just sit there as we all see these very big and very dark, ominous clouds with a slightly greenish tint approaching, and there's not a wisp of wind in the air. It's the classic calm before the storm. Then suddenly the wind picks up quickly. We all go rushing for our cars as all hell breaks loose with the addition of heavy rains.
My family (Dad, brother, and I) get in the car, close the doors and immediatley a large tree trunk comes crashing down on our front hood. I start praying out loud. Dad says "Oh, shut up" as he gets out, pushes it off the car, revs up the motor and starts driving very slowly as you couldn't see much, but could tell that there was a huge traffic jam of everybody trying to get out. The storm passed quite quickly, but it did drop a pretty good amount of water.
 
I was 16 at the time. All I remember those storms just popped up and came so fast across the lake inland, there was really no much to warn. The warning was pretty much on when the storms were hitting. It was literally like 5 minutes from when you see it popping up over the lake till it was over you.
 
I was 15. All I can remember was camping out with some buddies on Harper Road in Solon. One girl came over and we played spin the bottle a few times.
 
Was on a cross country trip at the time. Left Akron around 11am and had plans for dinner in Chicago. Made it as far as Elyria where the turnpike was closed. Sat with a map listening to WKYC crossing off closed routes: 6, 2, 20, 303, 18. Finally had to go 25 miles south and got through on 224. Finally made it to Chicago around 2 am.
 
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