Tornadoes in my Neighborhood

The building shook, the customers panicked, it was an interesting evening at my job. Last Friday night, tornadoes ripped through downtown Atlanta, then careened up I-20 to strike near enough to my place of employment that the windows in the condos above my job exploded, sending terrified residents into Vickery's with tears streaming from their eyes.

Then it travelled up the hill to my neighborhood, an aging East Atlanta neighborhood, one where the houses are small, and built on the cheap, with trees towering over them, their large branches looming low above the rooftops.



Thankfully, my house was spared. Many were not. I did not discover this until the next day, as there were massive power outs all over the city as well as reports of more storms heading our way. I did not think it would be in my best interests to brave the elements that night.



There were even rumors of looters in my East Atlanta neighborhood, although I am skeptical as to the validity of these statements. There are a lot of people who think any roaming band of teenagers are out looting, when there is a legitimate case to be made for the idea that people were simply curious to investigate the damage that had been caused bu the storm.



The neighborhood is still in shambles, but we have power which is more than I can say for some of my friends, who are not expected to have power for several more days. All in all, the city has returned to normal, and the clean up process is moving along very quickly.



I still haven't been to the Cotton Mill Lofts, a huge loft complex close to my home that sustained a direct hit by the tornado.

It is amazing that no-one was killed that night. Especially in the lofts, or by the Dome, which was reportedly still full of fans who would have otherwise been piling out of the building at the time of the storm had it not been for the fact that one of the games had gone into overtime.