Sirens

First the cell phone buzzed and vibrated. A warning message was broadcast. Storm approaching. Take cover. Possible tornado. Then the sirens screamed.

We jumped into shoes, grabbed the keys. I took the walker and a book. Rocky followed moments later.

We took the stairs from our fourth floor perch to the third floor. There both ceiling and floor are concrete laid over a steel-girder frame. Our floor, the top floor, has steel framed roof with plasterboard ceiling finish. No concrete. A severe windstorm could take the roof and our ceiling with it! So, we camped out in the 3^rd floor elevator lobby.

We held our place for 40 minutes. Others were camped out in the concrete stairwells. Most were gathered in the concrete garage where 39 parking spaces with cars were located along with the heavy utilities for the entire building. Lots of concrete. Stability. Safety.

Our phones showed weather maps with the storm passing beyond us toward Lake Michigan and Chicago. The time was 3:50 pm.

We scaled the stairwell back to our own floor. Emergency lighting was on. Our apartment was safe and sound. No leaks or broken windows.

Electricity was partially on. They call it split phase power. Some circuits were fully powered, others were dead, and still others were at half power. We soon learned that the AC was working well, the refrigerator was dead, the microwave fully capable and it cooked our supper handily. Lighting in the kitchen was full on. Rocky’s bathroom was dark. Mine was half lit.

The TV didn’t work. Later in the evening Rocky crawled around unplugging and replugging electronics connected to the TV. It sprang to life. For the evening we had entertainment!

At bedtime we learned the office and computers were dead. Our bedroom had very little power. That meant I slept without oxygen and CPAP. Not a good night. But we survived.

Up early the next morning, the situation was the same. Power still mostly out. I did the toilet routine and then made coffee. As it brewed, I moved the computer to the kitchen and rebooted it. It came to life and remained so for the rest of the day.

At 3 pm Rocky announced the power had been reset. We tested all the switches and appliances and yes sir, we were good to go. 24 hours without power. No damage done. Just inconvenience. But then the COVID quarantine has taught us a lot about surviving inconveniences.

I tested the shower for hot water. Yes! It was at least warm. So a quick shower, shampoo and freshening. That felt very good.

Dinner planned. Looking forward to an evening of relaxation and early to bed with CPAP and oxygen concentrator operating at full tilt!

Life is good. We wondered about that a bit, but here we are back to normal. Well, not that normal!  COVID you know.

August 12, 2020