A Word Edgewise |
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A Word Edgewise |
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Last Updated 01/20/06
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Email: mjclen@our-town.com
BE SURE YOUR STORM REFUGE IS SAFE
Texas storm season is upon us. Have you made plans for the safety of you and your family? You have probably heard of all the precautions to take, including getting in a small room which has as much wall support as is available. Chances are you have chosen a closet or bathroom as a place of refuge, and that is good—only—we had a real scare a few days ago.
My sister, a very active 80+ lady who lives alone, is terrified of clouds that announce their approach with jagged lightning and the clamor of thunder. She has a walk-in closet that muffles the noise and hides the lightning.
Though Sis lives alone, her daughter and son-in-law live across the street and check on her often. We live only a few blocks away, so I usually contact her daily.
Daughter came in from school, she is a teacher, one day last week, called her mother, but got no answer. Thinking her mother might be at my house or gone on some errand, daughter didn’t worry. I had called several times in the afternoon and got no answer, but neither did I worry. Sis is independent.
About 6:00 o’clock in the evening daughter began to be uneasy. She walked across the street and found all the doors locked with dead-bolts, as if for night. She called me to ask if I knew where her mother might. I, too, became alarmed. Fortunately, daughter had a key to the back door of the garage, and Sis had not locked the door from the garage to the kitchen—an oversight as she usually locked it.
Daughter and son-in-law, afraid of what they might find, got in and began a house search. Daughter dreading what she might find, paused at the door of the lighted bedroom. She called, “Mother, are you in there?” Then she heard a faint “Help,” coming from the closet. When they opened the door, Sis asked for water and headed to the bathroom, free at last.
It was at 2 A.M. when Sis heard the thunder and saw the lightning. She retreated to the closet where she patiently sat in a chair awaiting the storm to be over. She even whiled away time by going through a box of old letters and cards. When all was quiet, she reached for the doorknob. It turned freely, but nothing happened. Through long minutes of praying and talking to herself to keep terror at bay, she tried coat hangers, the only thing she could find, to open the door. The room was getting hot and stuffy. The light, with an outside the door switch, was like a heater to the little, tight room.
Finally, knowing no one could hear her cries, she talked herself into a calm, lay down on the floor with her nose to the crack under the door, pushing the nap of the carpet down as much as possible, and went to sleep. She had no idea how long she slept, but woke up anxious about her dogs.
Her Old, seventeen-year-old dog Charlie, was in the garage, while the little Pomeranian was in her bed in the laundry room. Neither had food or water. Every time Sis thought of them she cried a little. Sis was sure someone would investigate before another night, but if she went to sleep, they might miss finding her. Rummaging in old purses in the closet she found a pencil and some paper. She wrote in big letters, I AM IN THE CLOSET and pushed it outside the door. Time for more waiting. Such relief for all concerned when she was finally found! SIXTEEN HOURS locked in a closet was no vacation! The dogs were none the worse for confinement. All ended in explanations of joy and thanksgiving. Son-in-law immediately took the lock out of the door.
Do your closet doors open from the inside? Even if they do, it would be wise to place a hammer and screwdriver in the closet, or wherever you choose for safety. Even if the doors open freely, after a storm that damages the house, they may not. You might be trapped. Such precautions are especially important if you live alone and might not be missed for a longer length of time. Of course, taking a phone would be wise, but who carries a phone in one hand when they go to a closet to choose garments? Getting locked in could happen to you. Take time now to check your safe place.