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September 24, 2005
10:15 a.m. Saturday and we're still okay
We are still okay here on this end of Chantilly. We're not venturing out yet to check on folks at the farther end of the street, but my bet is that they are okay, too. We have had very little rain and no steady winds.
Every once in a while, there is a great swooshing outside as a gust comes hurtling through the treetops on its way back south. Some leaves fall, little branches and twigs are twisted loose and scattered over yards, rooftops and yards. We may hear a soft thud on the roof. Then, in a moment, all is quiet again. The sky is a pale winter gray. Occasionally the cloud cover thins and the sky brightens, but then the gray closes in again. A young blue jay just landed on a favorite bill-wiping branch outside this bedroom window, swiped his beak a time or two on the bark, and flew off again.
Of course, we are at the far western edge of the storm. One hundred to 150 miles to the east, the story is very different. Beaumont has had 100 mph winds for several hours, and there is flooding in Orange and as far north as Jasper (85 miles inland). FEMA is set up in the Astro Arena here in Houston and ready to roll as soon as the weather permits. The Red Cross has shelters in place here already, and as soon as they know where they can set up in Southeast Texas, they will probably head there.
Every once in awhile, I hear a deep thrumming sound, not unlike the sound of a light saber being unsheathed. I'm betting it is the wind working on the power lines out back. We could still lose electricity. Hang in there, power lines. My two cats have remained totally calm throughout the last hours of rain and wind. As a matter of fact, John Thomas is begging to go outside. I think it is because there has been no thunder or lightning.
It's strange to have all this weather and no donder or blitzen.
The phone keeps ringing as friends and family call to check on us. Mike is handling calls as I have gone totally voiceless again. I'm hoping my appointment with the ENT is still on for Monday. Be it voiceless and coughing, I have to get back to work. More later, unless it stays boring and uneventful here, which is my fervent hope.
Posted by susan at September 24, 2005 10:15 AM