We went down to Laurel today. I had a 1 pm game and we looked into the aquatics center across the lot and decided to head over there after the game. they have indoor pools and free swim and the older girl is into swimming now, so we thought it would be a good way to keep out of the heat and have some fun.
at about 3:40 pm the lights flickered and the lifeguards blew their whistles and yelled at everyone to get out of the pool. I figured it had hit 4 pm and the free swim was over, but when looking out the window (and there is a whole wall of the building that is made of windows) we saw a crazy thunderstorm blowing through. There was wind and lightning and thunder and it was pretty intense.
After the storm passed we headed out to our previously scheduled lunch location. We were warned before we left the pool that there were lots of trees down and we quickly confirmed this when we needed to veer around a chunk of tree. and we decided to forge on even when the traffic lights were out, assuming the power outage could not affect all of the traffic lights.
but then we needed to detour when we came upon a tree that had fallen and completely blocked the road, and when we got to the next major intersection there was mass confusion as to how to navigate the traffic with no signals to guide the way.
after a close call in the intersection and then passing a couple of significant car accidents, we decided to go to a closer restaurant. but, alas, that road was also blocked and - we learned later - all of the power was out.
so we turned around again, this time intent on returning home. and we did so with little incident, aside from driving with the gas light on for a bit because the first gas station we got to didn't have any pumps working.
but it was chaos on the roads and, having heard from people in the area, it is chaos in the homes as well. the whole area is without power (some without water) and the power company says it could be as late as aug. 4 before they get everyone back on the grid.
It's been a strange summer.
at about 3:40 pm the lights flickered and the lifeguards blew their whistles and yelled at everyone to get out of the pool. I figured it had hit 4 pm and the free swim was over, but when looking out the window (and there is a whole wall of the building that is made of windows) we saw a crazy thunderstorm blowing through. There was wind and lightning and thunder and it was pretty intense.
After the storm passed we headed out to our previously scheduled lunch location. We were warned before we left the pool that there were lots of trees down and we quickly confirmed this when we needed to veer around a chunk of tree. and we decided to forge on even when the traffic lights were out, assuming the power outage could not affect all of the traffic lights.
but then we needed to detour when we came upon a tree that had fallen and completely blocked the road, and when we got to the next major intersection there was mass confusion as to how to navigate the traffic with no signals to guide the way.
after a close call in the intersection and then passing a couple of significant car accidents, we decided to go to a closer restaurant. but, alas, that road was also blocked and - we learned later - all of the power was out.
so we turned around again, this time intent on returning home. and we did so with little incident, aside from driving with the gas light on for a bit because the first gas station we got to didn't have any pumps working.
but it was chaos on the roads and, having heard from people in the area, it is chaos in the homes as well. the whole area is without power (some without water) and the power company says it could be as late as aug. 4 before they get everyone back on the grid.
It's been a strange summer.
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