Derecho

Derecho 

Derecho, Derecho, Derecho: The worst

weather Springfield has had since Easter  

1978 and the Friday my family chose

to drive down to Springfield! Two hours  

standing still above Lincoln then all traffic 

diverted to side roads Athens Petersburg  

etc. Then Springfield with no power not even  

street lights yet apparently every car out on the 

pavement threatening every other car, my own  

house without power all would need to crawl 

around bumping heads and butts but fortunately  

one of the few homes that had power offered

refuge so all family were saved! Even by

Saturday much power was not restored; many  

branches down even trees. I hear Chatham had it 

worse; where else? Emergency workers called in  

from all over. Businesses at a standstill but people 

everywhere, especially with chainsaws and all

have learned a word new to Springfield: Derecho!  

This article appears in Revitalizing Robin Roberts Stadium.