Blustery Day

downed trees pulling down power lines and blocking roads

Wind is an element of Washington State weather most people forget or don't think about. Washington doesn't have to deal with hurricanes, since we don't have the warmer water and air off our coast nor do we have to deal with tornadoes, but we have our winds. With winds anywhere from forty to a hundred mph and as much as hundred and fifty mph  in places along the coast. The winds like the rain are just a part of this part of the country. Most years the wind storms aren't bad at all. Annoying that you can't even try to do your hair before leaving the house cause it'll inevitably look like you stood in front of an industrial fan no matter what you do. But for some reason I find the wind comforting. The sound of it howling around outside makes inside its own little isolated island, its own little world.

Wind Farm near Goldendale, WA

The wind has it's inarguable benefits with wind farms scattered through Eastern Washington and along the coast and giant wind mills put on the tops of  skyscrapers harvesting power from this natural wonder. Yet like all amazing phenomenal natural occurrences it has its downsides. With so many trees  making western Washington the beautifully lush world it is, tree blow down and inevitably bring power lines down with them. It doesn't happen often, the last time being in 2006 but about every ten years a truly bad windstorm blows through putting large numbers of people out of power. In December of 2006 more than 1.8 million people and business were without power. We  being out side the city and a relatively small community we were out of power for about two weeks and my brother who lived in a farming community about thirty miles away was out of power from the fourteenth of December into the new year. The thing about wind storms is people don't usually die from trees falling on them or blown debris, most deaths during wind storms are due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly using barbecue cookers and generators indoors. The wind is an awe inspiring wonder. Capable of extreme destruction, but also able to comfort. Today is a very blustery day with winds howling around outside. It turns the house into its own sanctuary and island among the world and for one evening a comforting oasis.