Disaster movies can be a great way of escaping into some good old fashioned mindless fun for a couple of hours. Chilling on the sofa or relaxing upon the couch. It's good to know we're safe within our snug boundaries of reality, watching from afar as chaos ensues on the big screen. Well, ever wondered what it'd really be like to be transported into the thick of the action? Like, in a "first-person perspective" sort of way? Well, imagine no longer for the following describes my personal account of just that.
...The scene presented before me was one of pure carnage and horror. A huge roadside tree that had, up until this morning, remained firmly planted in the ground, and was now uprooted to the point where its mid-section branches were touching the road tarmac. Windows were shattered spanning numerous houses along the street where debris had smashed its way through. I remember a car windscreen which had been completely caved in, though with no trace of the offending object which initially caused the damage. It was total pandemonium. But this opening catastrophic exhibition from hell was only just getting started.
I wandered down the road a little, numb from the shock of what I was witnessing. Families evacuating their homes in floods of tears as the absolute devastation around them, was only just beginning to sink in. A warzone slap bang in the middle of my neighbourhood, created in a matter of seconds. But the true savagery reared its ugly head near toward the end of the road. This particular house was being examined by a gathering crowd of onlookers gawking in astonishment from the sidewalk. A once encapsulated bedroom within, now exposed for the world below to see. Bed, mirror on the wall, pale white wallpaper, high-standing set of cupboards in the corner. Everything on display. The missing section of roof being nowhere to be seen. I simply could not believe my eyes. And I had the hopeless feeling deep inside of me that human casualities (or worse) were the next logical step in all this.
Well, it didn't take long for the once quiet streets of my neighbour to start teeming with activity. News reporters (some of which I actually recognized as regulars from television), camera crews, police and a bevy of inquisitive bystanders. As I returned back to my home in despair of the surrounding destruction, a gentleman approached, bearing a logo I was quite familiar with. Sky News Broadcasting.
"Did you see what happened? I mean, the tornado itself?" I could tell that he didn't see me as another fellow person, just a useful source of information to reign in the scoop of a lifetime. "Sorry, but I just heard it. I never actually saw it." I confessed. He bade me a swift farewell before continuing to scour the thongs of scattered groups for a possible eye-witness to the brief and violent behemoth. For that's what it really was.
A full blown tornado had hit "my" neighbourhood, which for years had been tucked away in an unremarkable, sleepy suburb of London. Though not any longer. For I remember clearly the big-name news channels covering the story. Sky, BBC, CNBC, even CNN. It was a global event that caused ripples throughout the country. And I was there no bare testament to the entire damn thing. God forbid if I had decided to venture out for a quick bite to eat or, worse still, it had been my roof that had decided upon embarking on a trip to find "Dorothy in Kansas". I was so close to meeting the grim reaper and it sends shivers down my spine to this very day.
Well, as the evening trudged on, I saw stuff only possible in the worst of nightmares. Familiar faces who I'd see on a regular basis passing me by on the street, now on the television in my local pub! Talking about how "parts" of their house were missing and they essentially had nowhere to stay. My local pub! On nearly every single national news station! Incredible, but true. And to make matters that much more damning, many had no house insurance policy (or, more specifically, none covering "Acts of God", as they put it). So, in essence, some had to remortgage their homes just to cover the costs of reparation. It was unbelievable, but very much happening in the here and now.
As the months rolled by, we all collectively huddled together to offer support and assistance to those who needed it. This was a true test of the oft remarked upon "community spirit" and I must say the residents certainly lived up to that expectation. Some even used the freak event as an opportunity to refurbish their whole house. Structural rebuilding from the foundations up and all. Time is the greatest healer, as they say. And never has this proved more apt than for the day a tornado decided to cast it's twisted finger of doom opon us all.
No deaths, one minor injury. A tiny miracle unto itself...
I remember you telling me this story! Absolute insane! Great write up man.
Oh mate! It was insane! One of the craziest things to ever happen to me. Thank you so much for your kind words, bro! :)
Yep its very interesting story .
Keep writing like this . i will be very happy to read them..
The story is amazing .
Keep it up @ezzy this story is more then the previous one . i am glad to read it .
Nice one, buddy. Thanks for the vote of confidence. :)
Welcome
Great words man, I wish I can write as you do all I have is my photos to tell my stories!
Oh man! I'm sure you'll do just fine! Upload them and start writing. :)
so sad ....Tragedy!!!!!
creative story..
like it...
follow you,sir, @ezzy
starting Line indicated something like cheerful scene...But last is opposite to the first...
This is called the skill of a Writer!!!!!!
Consummation of a writer !!!!
@upvoted @resteemit
Sweet words, @lafzaia. Very nice comment and very appreciative of your support. :)
my pleasure,sir@ezzy...
your qualification is too high...you deserve this,sir..
also thanks for resteem
Community Spirit
Its community spirit that human civilization is still strong then other living beings.
...And from my perspective, it was never truer than when our little community bandied together in a time of great need. The power of human unity in periods of distress can not be underestimated.
Oldest mighty weapon still working in 21st century #HumanUnity
Thanks for this story sharing....i like your blog
Wow.. what a beautiful plot. We need to have that type of story writers who put all basic ingredients in their story..Like above.I am highly inspired.Thank's for such beautiful story.@resteemed
Nice story keep it up
Thanks for great story..i appreciate this writing..i like this life..
upvote and resteemit
Nice post bro 😘
This great story, i appreciate your writing.
i wait your next post, keep it up dear....
upvote and resteemit
give help to the affected people, because they will gladly help you if you are hit by a disaster. :)@ezzy I like your story and writing. :)
already long I not commented on your posts.@ezzy how are you?
This great writing, i appreciate your blog.
I wait still your next post.upvote and resteemit
Wowsa! In the blink of an eye..... I've noticed that every year seems to have it's theme - life lesson. This one surely had to have an impact. But you are fortunate that your neighbors and community came together in support - that means a lot. I remember years ago when we had a tornado here, my knees suddenly got weak when I was trying to get my son out of his room (he had to save all his stuffed animals, too!). We ran downstairs and I saw something out the window and went to see - pieces parts of houses swirling in the air, insulation, doors, siding. I must have been out of my mind because I didn't connect the dots enough to realize the tornado was directly above our house.
Keep writing these pieces. Please.
They are easily among the best storytelling samples I've found on this place.
I knew it! Here in US in the southern mid part there are times when tornado activity is so high that you could have as much as 50 in one day. Sometimes cat 5. Thank s crazy!
hi @ezzy this is a story that makes us sad what else because of a disaster that has happened around you. Because I also have felt the very disaster that happened in this earth that is Aceh Tsunami that menggut hundreds of thousands of human life lost as well as my loved ones is my grandmother. But with the disaster that ever happened to make us increasing the awareness of a disaster will happen in the future. Let's Disaster Alert.
Uh, usually your stories are fun and lighthearted, even when they involve strange and almost homicidal neighbours, but this time the sense of imminent tragedy is quite strong. And insurance companies are the worst.
In the end, I had to go and look for articles about the fact, I see the tornado made quite the impact. You don't think stuff like that is ever going to happen to you when you live in the city, right?
And the tornado actually destroyed the brick and stone houses!! I always felt safe inside my brick house, thought tornadoes only did that much damage because American houses are made of wood... guess i was wrong...
A tornado just hit my country a few days ago, i'm from Portugal and the tornado is in a very tourist zone called algarve (british people love to come here on holidays), there were no casualties but many people lost their houses in the process, i already went to Algarve to check my parents home and everything was fine thank god.
Wait, what year did this happen? I think I remember watching the news report about this.
Another awesome little audio follow-up. Nice... :)