the strongest storm ever

Wow, central Phoenix got hit by the strongest storm I've ever been in a few days after my last post. We had winds up to 100mph at times, combined with thousands of lightening strikes, rain and hail. Thankfully, our home and immediate neighborhood came through OK, with only minor damage to the roof being our issue. We lost some clay tiles and one of those whirly vent things, and my husband spent the next day getting loads of pine needles and debris off the roof. Others nearby lost power for about 48 hours, and so many big old trees snapped. I'm sorry for that, and for the damages some have suffered. I've lived here for more than 45 years and I've never been through one like that. It was actually scary to go through, and it was weird trying to tell the kids "It's OK, we are lucky to be inside a safe, strong house," while in my own head I felt like, "whoa, this is a bad one, and I'm not going to stand next to this big glass window in case it blows out." A mile away, my folk's neighbors pulled together, sharing a generator for power, pot-lucking it for a front yard BBQ to cook up all that defrosted food, the ones with gas stoves cooked for those with electric only, and they helped each other with repairs to damaged property. Police and city workers were great. It made me feel proud of my community, my family, and my city to see how everyone responded. We were safe. We had a warm, dry house with power. We had food and services. We are so-o-o-o lucky. More than ever, I'll do what I can to help victims of adverse circumstances elsewhere, even if the way I am able to help seems small.