Katherine and her family had a decision to make. Stay for the next story, and risk danger, or evacuate. For the next storm, they chose to evacuate. Katherine found a safe place for her family to be for the storm.

They prepared as best they could, again, took important papers with them, and got to a safe place. The debris in the neighborhood created a new risk, and in the days before the next storm the campers disappeared and so did the people. Even people who stayed for the first storm evacuated to shelters.

Some of Katherine’s neighbors left the state for safety, some stayed with friends. Others, like Katherine and her family, stayed in hotels. Some stayed close, others drove miles away to find a safe place.

Katherine’s family checked into the hotel, interacting with others hiding from the storm. There was an underlying comradery among the occupants as they prepared for the storm.

Katherine continued to watch the news predictions, including the path of the storm and the intensity. It was overwhelming to think that the storm would not just pass them by this time. This storm was coming at them. This one would not miss.

The storm started to get close and the wind started to whip. The rain came and was relentless. As the storm got closer, the wind intensified. It often seemed to rain sideways, or even in rain tornadoes. The sound grew, often sounding like a train going by outside.

Some at the hotel watched the news on the television in the lobby. Others played cards or talked. People interacted, and many were just in their rooms as the storm raged outside.

The rain continued to fall, with totals up to 12 inches in the area. Katherine knew that would be a problem, but there was nothing she could at this point.

Katherine sat in the lobby, watching coverage of the incoming storm until the power in the hotel went out. There was nothing more to do. With no power, it was time for bed. Before going to bed, Katherine confirmed that her home was without power, again. She wondered how long it would take this time for power to be restored.

As Katherine lay down to try to sleep, she thought about the people in the track of the storm. She said a prayer for everyone being touched by the storm and closed her eyes.

Katherine woke early the next morning and looked out the window. It was still dark, without a light for miles. It was an eerie feeling that people don’t have often. She became very aware that widespread power outages would shape the next few days.

With no power at the hotel, she and her family got up early and returned home to see about the damage. Katherine was surprised to travel through her neighborhood and be able to reach her home. The huge piles of debris in the neighborhood were mostly in the same place with some pieces in the road, but she could get around.

This storm didn’t have the surge of the prior storm, but the wind caused damage, including signs down, and powerlines. Katherine and her family were lucky, again. Now it was time to be patient and wait for power, again.

Come back for more of the story next week.