I mean we've had crazy weather before but recent storms took the cake! I am semi okay with bad weather like a Hurricane because we have time to prep (I don't like them but I can mentally ready myself for the possible aftermath) but when its sudden, it is so much more terrifying!!! There was a memorial service for someone I know very well. All hell broke loose while in said service. Can I just say the lights going out during one of these is a bit unsettling...and I've read we weren't the only ones that had this lovely experience...INSANITY!
So the day started okay. Get ready, drive into town. We knew some nastiness was headed our way but we apparently didn't know HOW bad it would be. As we pulled up to the church there was a slight drizzle starting..."oh shoot, lets get inside". . . it went downhill quickly from there. As we were talking to our family and friends I felt our phones buzzing like crazy. We went to the restroom and realized our family that is a bit north and west of where we were was freaking out. Apparently a tornado touched down in that city and chaos ensued. Schools were pulling kids into hallways, offices were locking the doors and "hunkering down", there was hail and power was out all over. "Oh $hit!" We told them where we were and they basically said "stay put, it is BAD!"
As we made our way back to the others we were discussing how insane that is. We were telling one of our peeps what was going on when our phones started buzzing again. WTH!?!? It was our "parish" emergency response system. "Seek shelter immediately. Possible Tornado. Strong winds. Hail." Oh no, our poor dogs!!! So I texted my neighbor to see if he was home. He wasn't but he said his house alarm went off ...something about his garage door. He asked our other neighbor that was home to check on our houses. His response "I will once the weather passes. There are straight-line winds, sideways rain, I'm in the bathtub. It looks like a white out and like it is midnight." (it was 10AM) At this point WE are starting to get nervous. People are running into the church soaked and windblown. It is beginning to get nasty by us too. Very quickly the windows darkened. It wasn't like "hey it is cloudy out" it was more like "hey, who turned out the lights." (count the shadows) You could hear the wind picking up and rain pelting the church. We are telling some peeps at the service what was happening in our hood when "BANG" a loud, almost explosion and the lights went out. "F**k!" (no one said it but we were all thinking it). Then the generator kicked on. . .but you see it only powers SOME of the lights. Like enough to see so it was still a little dark. There was a lot of nervous laughter and talking. People were still making their way to the service (soaked) while the priest was lighting candles.
As we were about to start, whispering amongst the attendees is increasing and more phones are buzzing. Apparently it was now flooding outside. People were scrambling trying to get to their cars BEFORE water gets in them and others are calling to say they can't get to the church because of high waters and wind. *memories of our flood flashing in my head* Finally we begin. The wind is steadily howling, debris (not just rain) is slamming into the church. And then pretty much every phone in the place went off (Emergency Response System does NOT follow the phone on silent rule...it overrides it). Well that was a terrifying "seek shelter" message..."F**k!" again thought NOT said aloud. Dead silence, we start the service again and then *bang, bang, bang*. Doors are flying open. Not all but more than one. We are talking HEAVY wooden and steal doors being BLOWN open. *jfc, okay lets just ignore it* So we all just sang and prayed and remembered (distraction was helpful). By the time we left the worst of it was over. But the evidence of what went through was ever present. Power lines down, tree limbs all over, trash cans everywhere, trees snapped in half, so much DEBRIS...it looked like a weather war zone.
When we finally got home it was to terrified animals BUT our house was okay. Lots of debris and only a partial tree down in the yard (whew). Apparently winds were clocked at around 60-70MPH near mi casa and over a 100MPH not far from where we were. Are you kidding me!?!?!?
The ONLY times that happens down here is during a hurricane...at least that used to be the case but lately (like in the last 3 years) this is more common. We don't get tornadoes...that only happens in the Midwest. . . RIGHT?!!?!? Yea WRONG. A while back I was awakened by our ERS going off at 4AM right as the SIRENS went off. "Good morning, WTF!?!?" The sky is falling chicken little...no really...seriously GTFI (Get the F**k In)...this is NOT a drill. Maybe I need a sign that says "the end is near". Who wants to build an Ark/Sky boat?
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