windstorm 2006

The local media outlets love to nickname our weather disasters. Snow Storm 2004. Ice Storm 2000. Typically the "storm" comes through with a sputter and the universal response is, "That's IT?!" This time was different. This was for real. Many of my friends and colleagues are without power and have been for a couple of days. They may be without power for up to a week. Trees are sitting in people's living rooms, and I don't mean the Christmas kind. Cars and houses are underwater; streets are flooded; Four people were sadly killed by weather-related accidents. I fared just fine. My lights flickered but I never lost power and my neighborhood had only a few downed trees. But my friend Lexi, who weathered the Houston hurricane last year reminded me to stock up on chocolate pudding and clam chowder, just in case, so I was well prepared.