posted 08-24- 12:02 AM
Almost forgot the biggest one! At home! I was 15, sitting in our living room chair with my face about 2 feet from a 13" TV, watching Smokey and the Bandit part II. I'd talked my parents into going out to see Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was June 13, 1981 (when something like this happens you remember the date). About mid-way into the movie a massive black sky developed and I thought "oh great, home alone to take on this very nasty storm." Being from a family of 7 total was the reason I felt very alone. Well, my mom is into praying and therefore, us kids were too. She said if you get scared when it's lightning close to home, windy like their may be a Tornado (this is Central Ohio btw, the upper part of Tornado alley), and stuff like that ask God to protect you. So I did. I said a very short prayer to feel more secure, and I KID YOU NOT, 1 second after I said Amen, BANG!A blinding deafining bolt of lightning came down our chimey, lit up the room to daylight (this was around 8 pm and it was dark out), and caused so much caos! Bricks started to fall into the chimney and out in front of me on the family room floor. I saw things falling onto the back patio (more bricks and cement), the lights went out, our home alarm went off very loudly, and all I could think was "OH SH*T! Better check upstairs for fire in the attic!" I stumbled to the kitchen where I knew a flashlight was, got it, ran upstairs, looked around. Nothing noticeable. So something told me the house could still be burning around the roof, so I called the Fire Dept (no 911 back then). They rushed two large fire trucks over, an ambulance, 3 cop cars, and two news crews!
But the first thing to happen was the Fire Dept. I heard a knock and opened the door. Remeber it's still stormy outside bad. I open the door and the first thing I see is a big guy with an Axe, and wow, that shocked me pretty good, seeing the axe in the flashes of lightning! Hehe. Anyhow to make a long story short, they checked out the house, no fires. They looked at me and could tell I was fine, just scared to death. Then the news crews talked to me to get my reaction. All in all it was very interesting.
Well, the second the last fire truck turned the corner along with all the other vehicles, and they just go out of site, here comes my sister! Boy did I have a story for her. I had all the bricks and damage to prove it. Then about an hour later my parents came home and same thing. Anything interesting happen while we were out?
Oh yeah! Have a seat Dad, you won't believe this.
Final note... the God part. The firemen all told me I was very lucky and must have been watched from above by someone who cares about me. They said many times the chimneys fall into the house, crushing anyone in there way... I was sitting right under it. Also, TVs blow up in peoples faces many times with lightning strikes, that didn't happen, and lastly there was no fire. So all in all, I'm very glad I prayed and am certain God took care of me 
PS - The power came back on at 10:50 PM, just in time to watch the news! They ended up mentioning me and they did show the exploded chimney, but non of the interview... so oh well.
[This message has been edited by Pete Hawk (edited 08-25-2000).]
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posted 08-23- 10:24 PM
