Posted on by Belinda O

Severe Weather

Last night multiple tornadoes ripped through the neighborhoods around me. Seeing the pictures, I recognized many of the sites and landmarks, and was shaken, to say the least, to realize how close they came to me. Especially since I slept through the whole thing.

I didn’t think I was that heavy of a sleeper, and it’s possible a tornado warning that came through my phone woke me. I’m not sure, because I don’t know what time I woke up, but that warning came around 1:45 a.m.

Several trees in my apartment complex were downed or stripped of many of their branches. In the midst of this serious situation I had to laugh at the number of squirrels gathering acorns, which no doubt had been shaken loose. There are always squirrels around, but they all seemed to show up this morning.

We’ve been pretty insulated from the bad weather so far, with much of it happening west and north of us. My only comfort with missing the tornado warning was that had it hit my apartment and killed me, I likely never would have known it was coming. There are very few places for me to take shelter and tornadoes are a huge fear of mine.

But I’m okay, and lucky enough to have power. I got an email from my electric company, which said about half its customers had lost power and they may not have it back for a week. It’s getting hot these days, and I don’t know how well my cats and I would tolerate such a situation. I supposed we’d do what we have to do.

I’m also lucky to have enough food–and cat food–to get me through the next few days, as authorities are asking everyone to stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to be on the road. I don’t even know if local stores are open.

Situations like this make you think, although I’m not thinking too much about it because it’s so frightening. Eventually it will hit me. Severe weather can hit anybody. My neck of the woods hasn’t gotten too many tornadoes in the past, and there’s even a Native American legend about why. Not sure what exactly that legend is, but basically it says the gods will protect us.

Take care, and take the risk of severe weather seriously. Even if you’ve been told the gods will protect you.

Image Credit: Header © J.V.G. Ransika–stock.adobe.com

26 Replies to “Severe Weather”

  1. So happy you’re alright and I turn my phone off at night, so there would be no warning here either. Unfortunately, you can’t take the weather forecast seriously here, or you’d be an anxious wreck. They love to amp it up to the level of terrifying, but it always changes from the forecast. I’ll take the side of the Native American legend. 💙

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    1. We hear threats of severe weather frequently as well, although most of it seems centered just south of us. This really shook me up because in the 20 years I’ve lived here, there just hasn’t been this kind of severity.

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  2. Seeing those tornadoes on TV…they scare the heck out of me, Belinda. I am glad you are safe. These storms always happen at night–or so it seems–and I wonder how many others slept through the warning. Keep stocked with food for you and the kitties. This weather is nuts.

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    1. This weather is nuts. I’m driving north in three weeks and I’m not happy about it. Hopefully the weather is clear on the days I drive. I know hurricane season is starting soon and they’re predicting a bad season for that as well.

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      1. I think no one is escaping this weather. Every night when I watch the news, I think of which blogger lives where and who’s getting what kind of weather. Be careful driving, Belinda!

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  4. Wow! I am glad that you and the human (but not the tree…) residents of your apartment complex were spared. I live in the Boston area, and ten+ years ago our neighborhood experienced a mini-tornado (called a micro-burst) that toppled hundreds of trees but did not take any human lives. It’s incredible to see — both on TV but even more so in person — what extreme weather can do! And it’s very hard to comprehend/accept that our human choices (regarding how we consume fossil fuels) are making the weather patterns more and more powerful. And I salute the squirrels who are taking advantage off the fallen trees — as well as your ability to find some humor in the midst of such terrifying destruction!

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  5. Yes. It is very sobering — both what is happening right now and the likelihood that the weather will continue to become more extreme/damaging. Deep breath in, Deep breath out. My main source of hope these days is reminding myself how human beings often come together during times of great challenge and work together to survive it. Maybe that will happen more and more in the days/weeks/months/years ahead!

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  6. The last couple of years, we’ve had tornado warnings in our immediate area which has sent us to the basement just in case…and fortunately they were just that – warnings. Our area isn’t really predisposed to having them, but the times they are a changin’ and we’re very aware to take heed now more than ever.

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  8. Great reminder in the post that there is no discrimination with the weather. It can and will hit us all. Amen to the squirrels. They took advantage and gathered food while they could. I don’t about the gods, but I trust my God, the Creator. I agree that weather can be terrifying. I am in Vegas and the heat can be stifling. Year before last, I didn’t hydrate enough and almost passed out. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you! It had been vengeful. It turns out there were seven tornadoes in our county that morning. I’m learning more and more and seeing more and more and it’s really frightening.

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