Not the largest tree in the area, to be sure, but . . .

. . . big enough that it could have done plenty of damage. The tree fell
into the neighbor's yard, barely missing the (unoccupied) house there.

---

Back to the story: WHOOSH ... THUMP!
I went onto the front porch. It was very dark -- the street-lights had long since gone
out. I aimed the flashlight here and there. I couldn't see anything. I should have noticed
that there was a good-sized tree missing from its usual-and-accustomed spot, eight or
nine feet from the front porch. But I didn't have my wits about me . . .

A neighbor came running over. "Did you SEE that?" He had seen it fall. Then I realized
I'd been stupid about this. Laurie and I should have moved to the basement when the storm
began. I woke her up immediately and we spent the night there. It wasn't comfortable, but
at least we weren't cold. My office area in the basement is the most quiet place in the
house -- but the storm sounds we heard there remained pretty loud for quite a while.

We are so lucky. If that tree had fallen in the other direction, it might well have
gone right through the roof and into the room where she was sleeping. A power outage,
a few hours of mildly low temperatures . . . we have nothing to complain about. Some
houses in this area were hit so badly by trees -- some by more than one tree -- that
the houses are in effect destroyed. So we got off easy.

What must it be like to come home following a tornado -- and find nothing there?

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© 2006 Mike Arst