On Tuesday morning, around 4:00, we awoke to the sound of the answering machine clicking on and off and the bedside lamps flashing on and off as the electricity got ready to give up the ghost. Outside, the lightening was flashing with such frequency that we really didn't need electricity for lights; we could see by the lightening. Seconds later, it sounded like a giant hand was throwing rocks up against the house.
Vann got out of bed and got dressed and went to the basement to listen to his battery-operated weather radio, as the electricity was thoroughly out by that time.
I didn't get up. I kept thinking, "It's just a thunderstorm"--although I'd never seen such constant lightening nor heard stronger winds overhead. But my bed was so warm and comfy, and I can't count the number of times I've crawled out of bed in the middle of the night to seek cover from a possible tornado. (Someday I'll tell you about the adventures that my stormaphobic father put us through during my childhood.)
Finally, I sat up in bed, thinking, "Well maybe I should get up--just in case." But before I could get my feet on the floor, the storm had moved on. The wind died down, and the thunder boomed in the distance, not right over the house. So I lay back down and went back to sleep.
It wasn't until later yesterday morning that we learned that our hometown had been hit in the early morning hours by a fast-moving storm which meteorologist say wasn't a tornado, but a microburst, which sounds like a little-bitty thing, which this storm wasn't. Whatever you call it, it made a mess of Leeds, Alabama. We took a ride around town yesterday (the parts we could get too) and saw sights we could hardly believe. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera with me, so I've had to resort to lifting a photo from my niece Buffy's blog. She obviously didn't forget her camera. This is not the worst of the damage we saw, but it's bad enough. The high school's new ball field was destroyed. But the saddest news is that one woman lost her life when a tree fell through her home.
Our neighborhood was spared significant damage. Just a few limbs down and a tree or two. Our electricity was our biggest loss. But Vann is nothing if not prepared. He kept us warm and lighted with his generator and a sufficient supply of $3.15 gasoline.
This morning we were awakened at 5:00 by a call from our neighbor across the street telling us the power was back--26 hours after going off. When at last, dawn broke, we could see that we were getting snow. Alabama weather can be pretty exciting.
I pray that everyone who lost homes, roofs, trees, cars, businesses, etc., has good insurance and that everyone's life is back to normal soon. And I pray for the family and friends of the woman who was killed.
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On 02/27/2008, Jean B. said ...
Susan, I'm soooo happy that you and yours are
ok.
On 02/27/2008, Karen Lee said ...
Goodness! I'm thankful you're safe and tell Vann Quilters agree - he's a wonderful man for being prepared...for more than a FQ, too!!!
And...my prayers to your community for the loss. This is scary.
Wrapped in Love, *karendianne.
On 02/27/2008, Karla said ...
Oh wow! Thank God you are all okay. What was poor Sophie doing during all of this? I will keep that woman and her family in my prayers.
Karla
On 02/27/2008, hunnybunny said ...
I'm glad you're ok, I will keep your community in my thoughts. They had a microburst near my hometown right after I moved they can be very scary.
On 02/27/2008, Phyl said ...
I'm SO thankful you and yours were safe and had the wonderful generator to get thru the storm days!And thanks for sharing the beautiful quilt pix on your blog here...such pretty work!You are all a bunch of talented women!
On 02/28/2008, sara said ...
Oh my goodness! I am so glad your home was safe. Too bad about the highschool's new field too!
On 02/28/2008, Nicole said ...
Wow! That is way too much weather for me. Good gravy, what a mess that storm left behind!
On 02/29/2008, redgeraniumcottage said ...
Oh how awful. I remember being in a tornado while camping when I was a child. It's so scarey. I hope all those people are ok and no one was hurt.
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