Huddled between pinball machines

Dana cooks hot dogs and checks the weather as the storm quickly approaches.

Anxious campers wait out the storm from the game room shelter.

Kerrie saves the chicken, and Dana comforts our kids.

   We knew the storm was coming. Fellow campers at our campground in Dundee, Michigan were talking about it all morning. Fast and furious was the word.
   So around 6 p.m. last night we all anxiously watched the storm approach. Rugs, shelters, awnings, outdoor kitchens, etc. were put away in anticipation of high winds and heavy rain. We nervously watched the dark clouds from the south as I quickly cooked chicken breasts on our small grill while Dana Googled the weather.

   Then the winds and lightening came and the tornado siren sounded, so we ran to the game room,  a small concrete building with a single pool table and pinball machines that lined the walls. My family huddled between two pinball machines. Quinn and Jolee were crying; Dana held their hands as I stood nearby...documenting the experience with my G11 until the electricity went out, leaving us in the dark.
   The storm passed quickly, but it left behind a flooded campground and two very emotional little girls who begged to go home. So we did.
    I was surprised there were only a few dozen campers (out of the hundreds who where there) who sought shelter in the game room. Don't people realize that tornadoes pick up campers and throw them around like Tonka toys?
   Maybe I'm a more aware of the power of tornadoes because I've covered quite a few tornado aftermaths, including the last one that ripped through Xenia years ago.
     Warning: If tornado sirens go off, find shelter in places other than campers, cars and under trees. We hid between two arcade games. Oh, how ironic is that?

This girl watched the storm from a pool table. Moments later the lights went out and she huddled with others on the floor.

Quinn, Jolee and Dana head back to the camper after the storm passes.

Too wet for fun. We went home 30 minutes after the storm passed.

Flames, fun and firefighters

This is what I first saw.

   I was running at Swancreek Metropark this morning when I saw black smoke arising. My first thought was that my house was on fire, even though I live miles away. Then I remembered area firefighters were training at two abandoned brick homes nearby.
   Today is my day off, but as I pulled away from the park and passed the training site, I couldn't help myself. I turned around, grabbed my Canon G11, and started shooting.
   I plan to share these photos with the firefighters. These guys are lifesavers, after all.
   If you've read my previous posts, you might know I'm a huge safety freak when it comes to fire prevention and safety. So, don't forget to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors everywhere, and change your batteries on the ones you do have.  
   Now that my public service announcement is complete - enjoy the photos.

This is the first house.

This is the second house.

Thank you, firefighters!
By the way, this photo is not staged, as some have thought. It's called attention to detail.