For Ascot Grove resident Kelly Hayward, as soon as she realised what had happened, she ran straight to the bedrooms of her and husband, Simon's, sleeping daughters Peppah, 4, and Olive, 2.
"But they'd slept right through it," she laughed.
However, despite the roaring noise which she described as being like a jet engine, it wasn't until the power went out that she realised the seriousness of what they'd escaped.
"I was just doing some work at the table and there must have been some light rain and about 30 seconds later it started getting louder and you don't realise what it is and then eventually I was like 'this is not normal'."
After checking the kids she looked outside and saw all her neighbours walking out on to the street.