It was the most ominous storm warning she’d ever seen, TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY flashing red.
The tornado sirens sounded for thirty seconds, then stopped.
She headed up the stairs, assuming it was over.
The wind hit then, a roar like a jet taking off.
The trees shrieked as they were torn from the ground, hurled into the house, shattering wood and glass.
A line of shingles peeled from the roof like a candy wrapper yanked by a greedy invisible child, whipped high and away into the roiling sky.
When it was truly over she stepped among the fallen limbs, aghast.
On August 10th, a derecho (Spanish for “straight,” as Tornado is Spanish for “twisted”) cut a vicious swath through the town where I live. Nine days later, we are still without power, our driveway blocked by a fallen oak that sprouted around the time of the Lousiana Purchase. More than 90% of the buildings were damaged, but the most grievous wound is the loss of trees: more than half of the canopy that shaded our town was destroyed, and many of the loveliest trees were knocked down.
Wonderful atmospheric description. It’s terrifying the way the world can change in seconds
Dear Josh,
What a horrible storm. I’m glad you and yours lived to tell about it. I hope the power’s back on soon. Well told story from and up close and personal source.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear about the damage to your town! Especially the trees; it’s so sad to lose old trees. Houses can be rebuilt in weeks or months, but trees take generations to grow. I’m glad you’re safe, though, and hope everyone gets their power restored soon.
I’ve heard of the derecho before, incredibly damaging. It’s amazing your heroine survived. So very sorry for the loss of wonderful old trees, and praying your community rallies and finds ways to restore what was lost. Excellent writing.
Terrifying.
It’s sad that the trees were uprooted.
Glad that you are safe, and I hope the chance is taken for some tree planting to replace those lost. A real sense of the power of nature in your writing.
I can relate to this character ;-)
I thought about doing Fictioneers this week, looked at the picture, and just couldn’t. Hit too close to home. Loved your telling of it though :-)
You captured it well. That said from a survivor of 5 tornadoes starting with Xenia 1974.
The descriptive elements about the storm made it very immediate. And then the emerging survivor’s power to survive through it all: a great finishing touch!
Nature can be pretty brutal eh? Great descriptions, the greedy invisible child I love
I have a cousin with a farm in Iowa. I’m not sure if it was the same storm that hit you, but on the 10th they got hit and it flattened every building except the house, which just lost the roof and most of the siding, and it destroyed pretty much all of their crops. nasty….Anyway, glad you are ok, even if there was a lot of tree damage. Hope you have power soon!
I’m very sorry to hear about the disaster. I hope you get power back soon and are able to rebuild.
The line “A line of shingles peeled from the roof like a candy wrapper yanked by a greedy invisible child, whipped high and away into the roiling sky.” really resonated with me.
Great descriptive writing. So sad it’s true. Glad you’re safe. Yes, losing trees is a great tragedy, indeed.
That penultimate paragraph was brilliant. I hope things are back to normal soon.
I can’t imagine what that must have felt like. A graphic account indeed.
Here’s mine!
Fabulously written story and so sorry it hits close to home. The important thing is you and yours, as well as your house are still standing. What a scary thing it must be to witness.
Beautifully written but how sad. I’m glad you and your family are safe but those poor trees, how dreadful.
A vivid description of the power of nature. I am glad you are safe, must have been a scary experience.
Too real. Well done.
Quite a vivid description. So sad