Serenity in the Storm

"Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.  If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it."         Fyodor Dostoevsky

This photo taken last year of the trees across the street from our house.  They were lost in 

"THE STORM"

The first of December, 2011 brought predawn icy-cold hurricane-force winds to the area we live.   Winds steady at 80 miles per hour gusted to over 100 miles per hour.  By noon, the winds slowed down enough that we could venture outside and begin the monumental task of clean-up and repair.  Damage estimates in the county were eventually reported in excess of $20 million.  We were lucky in that we lost only one old cherry tree and some our backyard fence, including the section where the tree landed.  Our neighbors lost shingles, roofing, siding and multiple trees.  One of the large spruce trees landed on the owner’s pickup truck.  Another spruce fell directly in front of another neighbors house, tall enough to stretch the entire length of the house, blocking the front doors and windows.  

Depending on the area, electric power was off for 2 to 5 days, as below freezing temperatures settled in.  Again, we were lucky since my husband had purchased and wired into our house a generator that was able to run the electric fan motor on our gas furnace, our refrigerator and alternately a light or two in the house.  We have a gas range so were able to stay warm and have warm food.  Two of our adult daughters and their families took refuge in our home and we had sufficient sleeping bags and bedding to protect everyone from the freezing weather outside.  It was an inconvenience for us but not a disaster. 

Blessings amidst the storm were apparent.  Although the winds were violent, they were NOT accompanied by rain as most hurricanes are.  The odd weather continued so that with the frames of so many homes exposed to the elements, we experienced the driest December in recorded history.  Roofers came in from as far away as Kentucky and although at the end of January, not all damage is repaired, much of the most critical has been.  The storm came on Thursday and by Saturday night, a majority of the fallen trees had at least had the branches cut off, sectioned and stacked along the streets as every able-bodied person, including children worked in their own neighborhoods.

Within minutes of the wind slowing, there were sounds of chain saws everywhere as people began cutting the massive trees into manageable sections.  People were out on ATV’s to drag trees that blocked doorways, driveways and streets.  Our phone depends on electricity so was out but using my cell phone I was able to check on family and neighbors who were ill, disabled, etc.  Those unable to do the physical labor out in the cold made hot chocolate or cooked meals for others.  Those who had sources of heat invited others who did not into their homes.

Then the news reported another windstorm would hit us Sunday night.  The governor called out the national guard to oversee temporary dump sites in our county and called upon the citizens to pick up and transport all the debris to the dump sites so that it wouldn’t be picked up by the coming winds and do more damage.  We went to church long enough to partake of the Lord’s supper, give thanks that no one had been killed in the storm and to offer prayers that the coming storm would be calmed.  Then we went home, put on our work clothes.  Everyone with any kind of pickup or trailer started on their own street and families started in front of their own homes to load all the limbs and debris into trucks and trailers.  When our street was clean, we moved onto the next street.  We live at the base of a large mountain range where the winds swept over the mountains like water over a dam and raced through canyons and creek beds at increased speed so ours area at the mouth of several small canyons received most of the damage.  People further west in our county experienced significantly less wind and negligible damage so they came to our neighbors and worked along side us.  The winds were due to pick up about 5:00 pm.  Shortly after that time, the yards and streets of our town were free of debris. The Lord God heard our prayers: the second wind did not come.  In gratitude, we acknowledged His hand in our lives.

The work of shredding all the trees into compost will go on for months but we moved hundreds of tons of fallen trees in three days.  FEMA arrived the next week and determined that we did not need them.  Working as neighbors with the help of God, we did what no government agency is capable of doing.

No rain during or a month and a half after the storm significantly reduced the damage from the storm. 

There were broken ribs and legs as some making repairs after the storm fell from roofs BUT no one was killed or paralyzed in the storm or during the repairs or clean-up. 

Many semi-trucks were blown over on the freeway before it was closed but no one was seriously injured. 

Still in shock and weary from the first wind storm, we asked our loving Heavenly Father to calm the winds from the second forecasted storm and he answered our plea.  

There were sufficient numbers of us with generators, chain-saws, wood stoves, food supplies, bedding, etc., to pool resources to meet needs.

Our Father in Heaven has endowed His children with the ability and the will to meet challenges.  He then calms the storm when we have done all we can and call upon him for relief.  Glory to God for His mercy and power.