Typhoon Songda

The great thing about Typhoons is that you get plenty of warning with them.  We knew several days in advance that Typhoon Songda was headed our way, so plenty of time to prepare!  We went through what has become our ritual of moving all outdoor equipment inside or into our teeny concrete storage shed, securing the grill and patio furniture, and tying up our trash can.  Most of the time these thing prove unnecessary because the storm either peters out in intensity or misses us by the time it gets here, and I am always tempted to just not go through these motions, but this time I was glad we did!

We usually get a lot of wind and rain with typhoons, but this time there was an eerie "calm" before the storm.  We were actually outside at the park with the kids in the late afternoon, trying to fight off their boredom at having been inside all day for what appeared to be no good reason :)  But after we put the kids to bed, the winds picked up and finally around 10 p.m. they hit full force!  Tommy and I watched from our bedroom window as one power surge after another would hit and then knock out a section of power on the major road that runs behind our house.  Our own power went out after the third power surge and then we watched as the rest of the city lights eventually blinked off.

We could already see several larger trees down in the big yard behind our house (there is a tree line that separates us from the highway).  But the palm trees on the highway stood tall and straight and proud, looking like tiny toothpicks in a sea of wind, rain, and debris.  We saw several neighbors outside in the storm trying to secure their belongings, flashlight in hand, braving the 135 mph winds!

Once daylight came we took a look at our backyard... trees down everywhere!  Our neighbors' trampoline mangled, another's vinyl shed scattered in pieces, another's gazebo completely crushed by either wind and/or the tree that fell on it.  Wyatt was amazed... "WOAH!!! Holy cow! Look at all the trees!"  I found three one-week old baby birds laying on the ground without their mother.  Two were alive, struggling to breathe... thankfully, the only casualties of the storm.  We took a stroll through our neighborhood.  More trampolines, gazebos, and trees... the trees were everywhere!

People jumped into action.  By 7:30 a.m., huge piles of trees and tree limbs had been stacked on every square inch of grass along the main neighborhood road.  I wish I had taken more pictures after all the trees were piled up... it was crazy!  People were out picking up debris; bags and bags of debris!  Neighbors helping neighbors.  Teamwork! :)  That's why I love being part of this community.

Thankfully, the power came back on about 11 a.m. and we were able to leave base then.  We were packed up and ready to go, no worse for the wear, and headed to the Marriott for our mini vacation!