Day 506: Oklahoma City Tornado

Another devastating natural disaster has struck.  An F5 tornado two miles wide moved across many miles in a suburb of Oklahoma City for over an hour.  It hit two elementary schools, a hospital and smaller stores.  Several children have been killed or are missing.  The scenes are horrific and I can't bear the thought of small children hurt and afraid, trapped under the rubble.

Steve was out at emergencies most of the day.  A house exploded in Westfield, probably due to a gas leak.  Fortunately, there was no one home.  Then this afternoon, dispatch called six departments to a field fire in Hanover Center.  It turned out to be an illegal landfill.  A farmer let a contractor dump construction debris on his property and then it caught fire.  Dangerous chemicals can be released from burning materials and the heat also puts the firemen at risk so it requires the rehab team to be on scene to care for them.  Then he went to a fire meeting this evening and he finished off the night with hose test.  All the while, I was absorbed by gardening and swimming.  It makes me feel ashamed for doing nothing while others are in trouble, but what can I do?

I went to school to collect the rest of the backpacks and tents, but only one student brought in his pack.  We'll go back tomorrow and hope that we can put this year's Quest to rest.

White azalea

  Columbine