March 31, 2023 - The one with the weather

Today is April 1, 2023. April’s Fool Day. But yesterday really fooled us!!

Yesterday, the weather around here made for a Very Interesting day. Dry conditions and high winds in Oklahoma and Kansas, plus a storm front barreling east across the middle of the the country. Multiple Wildfires and Tornadoes along the way. My family was in the thick it it!!

#1’s SO was out volunteering to fight wild fires along the OK/KS border.  Started mid-afternoon and lasted through sundown. 

#3 travelled from OK to TN narrowly avoiding a tornado in AR, only to have one hit right by his Memphis hotel and knocking out power all night. (Still out)

#2 was with my in our far north Edmond / Logan County home when 3 wildfires were near our home. Two were within 3 miles, so we decided to grab some things, the Doxie babies, and evacuate. Spent 4 hours away from home - drove south to OKC to meet up with #4 and hubs. 

#4 and the hubs had their own adventure as this all broke out about the time dad got off work, so he came home for a few minutes - packed up essentials, then went back to get baby boy at the end of his school day. Took 1:10 to drive the 4 miles to the school due to evacuee traffic, after school buses and traffic, and road closures/detours. Once he finally had child in hand, he headed south to OKC to meet up with us and the dogs. 

We sat in the parking lot playing with very nervous dogs for about and hour, the started messaging our neighbors for updates. So many road closures and detours, it took a village of back road experts to navigate us back home. #3, the dogs and I went first to confirm the route, while #4 and hubs stopped to grab us dinner. By 8pm we were home and fed, and started unloading our lives from the back of our cars.  But, we didn’t unpack it all, because wild fires like to respawn. 

And respawn they did along the OK/KS border. #1s SO was back out in it in the middle of the night and finally got back home around 3:30am. 

#3 woke up in Memphis to the sound of fire truck sites around 6am, which was good because they needed to load buses at 7am to play a game at 8am (moved to a different hotel - one out of the danger zone - later that same day). 

#2, #4, hubs and I safe at home. Taking it all in. 

April. Please done be a fool!