East Wind in Utah

Well if you think you had an eventful, crazy, weird day and you don't live in northern Utah, think again!

Today the East Wind came up. by 4 a.m it was ripping and roaring. however, some of the real damage was done between 5 and 9:30. but in most areas of Davis county students still went to school. And that's what I did.

However, most of us didn't go for long. In fact I was only at school until 10: 45ish. So when I walked from the van to the doors it about blew my cello away, which could have been detrimental. Anyway, so I went to first period and the power was on when we were in there. In fact it was on until 8: 40. So were doing debate related things since Caesar Cicero is supposed to be tomorrow. We were doing expository's and working on PF. the power kept flickering on and off. And then Carissa and I went down to the computer lab to type some speeches. However, we got down there and checked a few things and while we did so, the power flickered and off the computers went. And then we logged in again did a few more things and the power went again. So we gave up.

We walked upstairs to talk to Ms. H and the power went out for good. Only the emergency lights were on. So power went out and eventually they told us all to go to the commons. However Ms. A kept us practicing. we have a tournament tomorrow and a little wind (whatever) will not stop us. Anyway, so we got tips and talked and saw big metal coverings come off the roof. The flag nearly ripped off, but they got it. I found later they were 100 mph hurricane force winds. It was so surreal and weird. So seniors and juniors with cars were leaving. But school wasn't canceled. Eventually about 10:30 they were serving lunch to call a school day and I called my mother.

First I tried the home phone, but our power was out so It went to my mother's phone. however her phone was off or out of service so it went straight to mailbox. Which then freaked me out, because Mom and Dad have the same service. If one's out the other could be out. But I called dad anyway and got a hold of him. He came and got me, and took me home. the scariest thing about going home was all the debris and the trees that had fallen over. While we were on Fairfield we saw Lauren walking home. We couldn't believe it. So we offered him a ride home. Poor kid couldn't get a hold of his mother so he walked. We saw roofs torn off down the rafters. Talk pine trees ripped up by the roots. damage was huge. Then we saw siding gone, shingles and when we got home our Swamp cooler was literally hanging on by a cord.

Dad decided not to go back to work and instead fixed the swamp cooler in 60 mph winds. but if he hadn't fixed it our fence could have been ruined, our neighbors house and our house. Luckily our house faces north so we didn't have quite as much damage as the east and west facing houses.

So for the rest of the school day I worked on homework and actually fell asleep. I neglected to say that our power went out around 7:30. We were far more fortunate than those who woke up to no power. Anyway, so about 2: 40 our power came back on. So I continued doing homework. At about 4:30 we got a call from the district. School's canceled tomorrow. Anyway. so I was freaking out about the tournament: was it still on, was it off? but I continued to do homework. at about 5 dad needed to go somewhere and I needed to get out of the house. So we were off to get stuff from the Seminary building, and go to Lowe's and check on grandma and grandpa.

Fairfield was backed up, Highway 89 was backed up, traffic was terrible. We got dad stuff from the seminary building. and then we went to Grandma's house. Grandma and Grandpa still didn't have power. In fact they hadn't had water or power since 5 that morning because the water thingy in the basement had sprung  leak. Amy's new car had been hit by a flying garbage can on Legacy that morning. But they had heat, a fireplace. They could boil water, heat some food, and they had lanterns. so they were mostly okay. then dad a call from Mom. Apparently Richie and Sarah's roof had torn off down the rafters and Richie had accidentally stepped through the ceiling. added to the top of that they didn't have power.

So we rushed up there because the phone had cut out while Sarah was talking to Mom and we didn't know if they had anywhere to stay for the night. When dad and I finally got there it was after dark and no one was home. I was dumb enough to only be wearing a hoodie (in 20 degree weather, -30 with windchill hoodies alone are not sufficient) anyway. So dad took a flashlight and walked around the house. Their bishop showed up right as he was finishing his circuit. So we talked to him a bit. We then got in the car to find out where the cousins could possibly be. Dad called mom, and once again it went to her mailbox. Then we tried Richie. He answered his phone and wonder of wonders, he was standing in our kitchen.

So we knew the cousins were safe. but we still had to go to Lowe's. when we got there the wind tried to rip the door off the van, it was that bad again. We thought the bad winds were over . . . apparently not.

But the good news about today: tournament's still on. . . school's out tomorrow and my family is safe, warm (mostly) and together, mostly. Good luck to all those who are not with power tonight, my prayer's of safety go with you and I hope power is restored soon. Those with damage. good luck to you as well.

And most of all, everyone be safe tonight.