After the storm

 Just before 8 o'clock last evening the Tornado warning went off. It seemed like it sounded for forever. We did not know if a Tornado was coming or not because of the change in the Warning system a while back. So, we turned on T.V. network channels, no news of the storm yet. A few minutes later, they started scrolling what was going on. It said that it was a storm warning with winds of possibly as fast as 70mph. We ran around looking out of windows to see what was happening. In such a short time to see the weather change rapidly was a sight to see. My husband was watching out our east window when we heard a terrific cracking sound. He saw this branch fly through the air after breaking off. It went about 15 ft. before it landed, just brushing against the tin roof of our garage on the way by. No real damage was done. Just lots and lots of cleanup. A few minutes after this happened ad dh went to the front of the house to see what was happening there. He heard another loud cracking noise and then a clump, screeching sound. Yep, another tree hit. He got there just in time to see the two major branches of this tree break off, hit the roof, and end up on our large window air-conditioner. We have not used this air conditioner since putting in central air a couple of years ago, thank goodness. We spent the entire morning cleaning up branches, limbs, leaves and other debris. Last night after the main part of the storm moved through, we were able to drive around town to see the damage. It was a mess everywhere. I have a feeling it was more than straight winds, but cannot prove it. There are places out in the cornfields that are like crop circles with the corn flattened in a circular area and the rest of the area is flattened. You decide, I cannot. This tree branch down does not look nearly as large in the photo as it was. Dh had to get the chain saw and trim the downed branches so that they would fit in the back of our pickup. We made 4 trips to the burn pile north of town before we got finished. Then raked and cleaned up the rest of the debris. I just learned that some folks had trees break clear off. I am sure the dry conditions contributed to the damage. The fields around are a total loss. What the drought did not get, the storm did. I doubt they will have a crop now. Corn laying flat to the ground cannot be good. The corn was so dry from no rain that it was an easy target for the wind and rain. We only got about a half inch of rain total, but there was a lot of run off that did not get counted, I am sure. We were glad Hunter had not had a sleep over at our house. I would have been much more scared had he been here. We would have spent time in the basement, for sure. We had a bad storm go through last summer when our other grandson was here, and that made me a basket case. I don't worry so much about myself, but when they are here, it is frightening. This time I was smart enough to know to grab my purse and medicine, and the flashlight and to be ready to hide if need be. Oh, and I got my shoes on as soon as I heard the sirens. Can never be too prepared. I will have to make up an emergency kit to have down there waiting. Have always meant to do that, but have never done it. Bottled water, bandaids, etc. That is it for now. What a night!