Here I was, settled in for a quiet morning with pups in the house beside me. A cloudy morning with a few showers. Yes, I was aware of the potential for severe thunderstorms. Then, as I was watching one of my favorite shows, the lights went out. It was pitch black outside and rain fell as thick as pea-soup. Suddenly, hurricane force winds hit and I thought “this is it!” Within a minute or two the storm passed, generator back-up kicked in, I let out a sigh of relief, and I thanked the good Lord for sparing us. What I didn’t realize was the devastation awaiting us outside.
It was later reported by the National Weather Service that an EF-1 tornado soared through our area with 104 mph winds. A total of eleven 100-foot pine trees were uprooted and crashed against our fence line, just like toothpicks. More limbs and smaller trees were snapped in two. One tree crashed so hard it ruptured the water line. Fortunately and gratefully, no injuries and no structural damage here occurred. Other properties did not survive as well.
What happened this week was an immediate reminder to me just how quickly circumstances can change in an instant. How many relatives or friends of mine have died from sudden medical emergencies, car wrecks, or acts of violence? My own father had his business destroyed by a tornado and one of his employees died when refusing to evacuate. Yes, change happens instantly for someone every second of every day.
