Wild, Wild, Windstrom

The early morning hours of December 1st were met with powerful, howling winds. We woke to the sounds of breaking branches, trees toppling, and outdoor possessions being thrown to and fro. Frightened by the sounds, my two younger kids joined me in bed. My heart jumped at every noise, hoping, and praying that my large pine trees in front would not fall on my house.

When we finally assessed our damages, we were happy to find they were minimal. Roof shingles were strewn around the yard, and two of our trash cans had rolled down the street. We were one of the lucky ones.

School was cancelled when the power went out at the Jr. High and High School. Unfortunately, I had already sent Lizzy to Jr. High, and therefore she had to be “checked” out of school in order to leave.

As we drove through the neighborhood, we were stunned by the immense damage. Centerville, our neighboring city, was hit worse than Bountiful. It was reported that winds were gusting in both areas between 89 to 102 mph. Category 2 hurricanes are winds of 100 mph.I guess we can say we lived through a hurricane.

We saw fences that were missing, trees toppled, power lines downed, roof shingles scattered, and much more immense property damage. It was reported that semis capsized on I-15, shutting it down for a period of time. It was estimated that 50,000people in Utah were without power at some time.

The majority of Bountiful residents and businesses were without power. The entire city of Bountiful looked like a ghost town. Most restaurants, fast food venues, and other business establishments were all closed. We were hoping to have electricity by evening, but continued to be in the dark.

Relatives, friends, the bishopric, and someone in the stake presidency checked in on us. How thoughtful! Many friends and family offered their home to us to crash at for the night. At 9:00 we ventured out to Centerville to spend the night at my sister’s house.

The Ashton’s are empty nesters, with a large house. They were very accommodating. They even provided a necessary barf bucket for Lizzy, now that's what I call hospitality!

Power was restored to our home around 1:00 am. There are still places in Bountiful that are without electricity. You don't realize how much you depend on electricity, until you don't have it.

Thoughts of immense gratitude surface at times of destruction. I am so grateful for a warm home, safety, electricity, and minimal damage. I am also grateful for good people watching out for each other.