I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE ALL HEARD THE NEWS FROM MY AREA OR NOT (IOWA) BUT SUNDAY LATE AFTERNOON WE EXPERIENCED A TERRIBLE TORNADO HERE IN THE AREA. IT HAS CAUSED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THROUGHOUT SEVERAL COUNTIES HERE. THE MOST NOTABLE DAMAMGE IS IN A TOWN CALLED PARKERSBURG. 4 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES THERE AND 2 PEOPLE FROM A NEARBY TOWN, NEW HARTFORD AS WELL. DAMAGE IS BEYOND BELIEF!
HERE IS A WEB SITE OF OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER WHERE YOU CAN FIND NUMEROUS LINKS TO ARTICLES ABOUT IT.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/
http://www.courierwebcasts.com/play.php?vid_id=977&file=parkersburg4052608.flv
I AM STILL WITHOUT POWER AT HOME, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE RESTORED IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. POWER LINES WERE DOWN 1 MILE SOUTH OF WHERE I LIVE (ONE POINT AT WHICH THE TORNADO ACTUALLY TOUCHED DOWN) AND RUNNING EAST TO WEST FOR ABOUT A 4 MILE STRETCH. POLES SPLIT IN HALF, LOOKING LIKE A GIANT TOOTHPICK THAT SNAPPED. WIRES DOWN IN ROADS.
MY FAMILY & I ARE SO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE ONLY A FEW BRANCHES BLOWN OFF OUT TREES. IF I RECALL, JUST IN THE PARKERSBURG ARE, 222 HOMES ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
FUNDRAISERS ARE BEING HELD TO AID THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE HAEKEYE CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF FINANCIAL DONATIONS. PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR MORE INFO. AND IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/05/28/news/top_story/10369314.txt
I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU ALL AND WILL BE BACK ON THE FU AS SOON AS I CAN.
TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE AND DON'T EVER TAKE FOR GRANTED ALL THAT YOU HOLD DEAR, FOR IN ONE INSTANT, IT COULD BE ALL GONE!
PEACE,
"1969"
KRISTY
