Photo by Ali Yahya
The night after my first marriage there was a terrible tornado. So tempting to draw an analogy here but that would be a cheap shot.
It was a small wedding in my parent’s backyard in June. It was a balmy, wildflower scent wafting, sunny day. But the next day was Midwestern hot and humid with an ugly wind that we knew blew no good.
We’d finished dinner when the sirens went off. Dutifully, Mom, Dad, my sister, the ex and I trekked down to the basement with a radio, some cards, snacks, a flashlight or two and water.
Typical tornado drill, yawn.
Everything was fine until BAM! We heard an explosion and the power winked off. The winds screeched and the low-pitched rumbling increased and the house began to creak like old arthritic knees.
A cold rain and icy hailstones pelted the house and then suddenly the electrical outlets right next to where we were all sitting in the basement began spewing water.
We panicked. We stumbled for the stairs and pounded up them to avoid possible electrocution, fearing the power would suddenly come back on.
My Dad threw the breaker on the sump pump for reasons unclear to me other than we’d burnt a few of them out in our time.
We each huddled in different places around the house, none of which would have helped us survive if a tornado hit. After several hours the storm subsided but the power didn’t come back on until 4 AM.
We checked on the damage. There were sticks through the roof shingles, lots of limbs on the ground, a split tree in the back yard leaning on the power line and a basement full of 4 inches of water.
None of us knew if that water was just water or if there was an electric current running through it.
Dad, former farm boy that he was, scooped up the family cat, Moe and threw her into the stagnant basement water! We were horrified and my sister and I screamed.
Dad was gruff, “Who would you girls rather see fried if there was current running through that water me or the cat?” He had a point.
Moe the cat wasn’t happy about getting wet but other than a reduction in dignity, she was fine. Dad started up the sump pump again but the basement floor was never the same.
Oh, and Moe the cat lived the rest of her days in luxury with special kitty treats in recognition of her (almost) sacrifice. You can read more about Moe’s vet adventures here on my blog. Just go here: Give Me More Moe Cat!
Young Moe
Photo by Milada
Or read about my run in with another tornado in Spearfish, South Dakota: Click for Tornado Terror
Do you have a heavy weather story? I’d love to hear it. You know like the time you were driving in a rainstorm where you couldn’t see the road and ended up driving through a field, getting stuck and having to sit there all night drinking that six-pack of beer you were supposed to bring to the party you missed? Boy that farmer was nice when you asked him tow you out with his tractor. Let me hear from you! I’ll make it easy: Just click the button Here’s my story Zain!
