Fire and ice

[olmue]

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

--Robert Frost, Harper's Magazine, Dec. 1920

Let's add tornadoes and floods and hurricanes, shall we? This winter we had quite enough of ice, thank you. Now DH's family, who live in the Santa Barbara area, are on the edge of the evacuation area from the Jesusita fire. (ETA: They've just been put under evacuation warning.) I'm also looking out the window at an extremely black sky. Normally tornado weather travels east/NE, but this mass is coming south from Missouri at us. My oldest is boarding a bus for a field trip--towards the clouds--right now. I'm not worried about when they are there, because they are going to a cave. As long as there aren't any flood issues they should be in the best place possible during a tornado. But getting there...

WHY doesn't the weather service update more often when there is severe weather? "Cloudy" isn't exactly the description I'd use at the moment! Actually, looking at the doppler radar for the Ozarks, it looks interesting--the whole storm pattern has a rotation to it kind of like a hurricane. (Yes--I'm sure all storm patterns are circular. Just noticing, that's all.)

So glad we saw the sun yesterday to remember what it looks like. Now I think I'm going to go find batteries for the weather radio I bought the other day. I hope it's sunny (but not fiery!) where you are!
 

Comments

[shaelise.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope DH's family is safe and they don't lose their home. And I hope everyone is safe from the tornados where you are. Hang in there!
P.S. I've always loved that poem.

[olmue.livejournal.com]

Right now they are harboring evacuees (FIL is the bishop). Their freeway exit street is the border between mandatory and warning evacuation. They're hoping that the burn strip from some other recent fire will keep the fire itself from jumping too far westward.

I guess there is a price for living in Eden...

[edawn.livejournal.com]

Oh, my, so many things that are not in our control. I'm wishing you a tornado-free day.

I hope your in-laws' home is going to survive, but I am glad they are getting to safety.

[olmue.livejournal.com]

I know--it's easy to think that humans have everything under control, and to forget that nature is way, WAY more powerful. SB is a lovely place to live--but the fires and earthquakes definitely make sure you pay for the privilege of paradise.

Kind of apocalyptic weather this year, though. The kids have pointed out that in Germany they always got recess outside, even when there was a little (or a lot of) rain. I pointed out that in Germany, they don't generally have tornadoes, flash floods, and ice storms on a weekly basis.

[kathys-shadow.livejournal.com]

I think we like to pretend that we're in control, that we dominate the planet. But weather constantly reminds us how little control we have, and how overly powerful nature is compared to us.

I hope you and your family all stay safe and sound through all the storms!

[olmue.livejournal.com]

Nature sure is powerful!

Looks like the weather has changed, the winds have died down, and the temps have lowered. My relatives are no longer in the warning zone. I'm sure they are relieved.