Deja Vu All Over Again

It is May in Central Oklahoma, and of course,we know there will be severe weather.  Our first serious brush with it was in May of 1999.  The very large tornado that cut a swath through Moore went by less than 500 yards west of us.  We had no damage, but had debris all over the house and yard, and no power.  The library was undamaged, but we lost a lot of materials that were checked out to folks who lost their homes.  That was the least of our concerns.  We had staff lose their homes.

Today, I sat hunkered in my closet again, watching it happen all over again.  This time, I think it is worse.  We have lost more people, including some precious little children at Plaza Towers Elementary.  We have lost our hospital, the Post Office is damaged, the local branch of my bank is likely gone, our fabulous movie palace, the Warren, sustained a lot of damage.  I am unsure of the fate of the Harley dealership that was next to the theater, but I think it was on the opposite side of the theater from the worst damage.
I am still in shock.  Shocked that places I loved to go are damaged, shocked that so many children at the elementary school were lost, shocked that friends have had their homes damaged or destroyed.  Absolutely shocked that all this destruction has happened again.  Not on exactly the same path as before, but close.  We were fortunate both times.  Praying that I haven't lost any friends.  Some of the young people I have worked with at the library have not checked in on social media yet.  Very afraid for one of them in particular.
Though both of our pets are now gone, we still care about the folks at our veterinarian's office, and I hope and pray they are all OK.   Of course I couldn't get through on the phone.  These people loved our pets and cried with us when we lost them.  We've been through a lot together. 

My fellow library employees all seem to be OK.  Most have checked in, and others we have heard from "through the grape vine."  Only one of our "library kids" hasn't checked in.  I am worried about her.  She's like a daughter or an extra niece.  She works at the SOKC branch now, but she grew up in  our library.  I hope she and her family are all right.

All of us at the library have been through this before.  We've been through a lot of things together, and this is another one.  We'll be OK.  We always are.  God provides.  We  take stock of what's left, and soldier on.  I have been exceptionally well blessed to not have lost my house either time.  Also lucky not to have lost my life.  We have no below ground shelter.  Just a closet, not even reinforced.  Except by fervent prayer.  I was praying for the safety of all my friends as well as myself and my house.  We have had quite enough to deal with already this year.  We could not have stood losing the house as well.  Here's hoping the storms go away and stay away for a long, long time.  Moore has MORE than paid its dues.
One thing I will say for the majority of the churches here, they truly are God's houses, and true to the teachings of Christ, they are open and offering shelter and comfort to any and all who need it.

Tuesday Morning.
Still feeling very blessed to have my house and have power.  Still feeling frustrated  by lack of water.  If we had water, we could offer even more comfort to our friends who have basically lost their house.  To make matters worse, another thunderstorm has come to dump more misery on the folks who are trying to find missing people and gather what they can of what they have left.  Our friends are bringing their animals over here so they can try to get home and see what's left.  I hope they can make it both over here and back to their house.  Both are likely tricky propositions right now.

Today continues to be an interesting adventure.  Wiping off dishes with disinfecting wipes so we can stash them in the dishwasher until water comes back.  Our voice coach delivered 5 gallons of water and several bottles of drinking water.  Still haven't heard from our friends with their pets, and now it is raining again.  God bless those trying to work to clean up and rescue and restore our poor town, and God, please, send the storms on another path.  Have mercy on our little city.  God has been merciful to us in many ways.  The loss of life is not nearly what it could have been, many of us still have our homes and workplaces, and are looking forward to being able to do more to help, once the city decides what they need us to do.
Blessings and messages of concern and hope have been coming to me from all over the world today.  I am grateful for the "friends I have never actually met" who have made getting through this easier by their supportive "presence" on social media. 
Also grateful to the local friends I HAVE met, who have checked in to tell me they are OK, see if I am OK, all those who have offered help, you are all precious to us, and we are SO glad you are all right.   Glad my "library kid" Mahlon has checked in and that she and her family are all OK.

Since I am still here, I guess there are things I still need to do on this earth.  Finding them and doing them well will be my challenge, I guess.
God bless all who live with the specter of disaster, whether recent or long past.  These things never leave you completely.  Know that we grieve with you, we hope with you, and we pray for your restoration.
As Ever,
Katie