Not Gail, Gale

​I was reading a book the other day. I have only just started it and the author talked about going through Hurricane Sandy. He was in an apartment in New York city. His wife was somewhere else at the time.
The author just remembers the ferocity of the storm. He had never seen anything like it. His apartment was in central New York and a number of stories high. It turned out it was ok but he was unsure the building could even cope with what was being experienced, He has a vivid memory of New York city losing its lights (underground power areas flooded). He said the lights of the city were like a road map and he could identify areas by the lights. When they all went out he was literally in the dark.
I think I have a little idea of what he was going through. I am pretty sure I have mentioned before about going through cyclone Althea in Townsville. How we were huddled under the table in the dining room and the roof of the house next door flew over ours. And how the guy next door came over when a wall started to come towards him. How hat house was completely destroyed.
Arrr memories. A few years ago Merril and I were on holidays and a cyclone was going down the coast. We were in an apartment on the Sunshine Coast. We had a birds eye blew of events unfolding. We did not mind what was happening as we were snug where we were.
While there was not destruction, I will never forget the power of the wind. Stately, strong trees bent so easily.
We have a tree in our yard I watch. It is solid and big. Yet I know things happen to big solid trees. I have seen its trunk being moved in the wind. Only once mind but that makes me know it can happen. It does not seem to be only the prolonged wind that is potentially hazardous, it is the unexpected strong gusts. The taking of it by surprise. I watch which way the wind is blowing to determine which way it will go if it comes to that.
But this tree's roots go deep. I am often amazed at the trees down in the states. They are huge, but their root system seems to be so shallow.
Anyway I just watch. We do what we can but that is as good as it gets. Some things I am powerless against. I just know what the wind can do but so far so good.