A "Monstrous" Storm . . . a Frankenstorm

With weather today in Phoenix approaching 90 degrees - and in Salt Lake 70 degrees - we are bracing for what is being reported as the storm of the century . . . a Frankenstorm.  Everyone is glued to the Weather Channel.  Schools are closed, people are stocking up on food and water and preparing for power outages, and drains are being cleaned out to handle the flooding that is expected.  Three storm systems are converging, and people here are not taking the forcast lightly.  At the very least, we are expecting 60 mph winds, periods of heavy rain, toppled trees, and local flooding as Hurricane Sandy moves through the state.  It is reported that this storm covers an area of 700 miles.  

We are grateful to be back in Rochester from our weekend travels to Pennsylvania and are waiting to see what tonight and tomorrow brings.  Those along the eastern coast are in our thoughts and prayers.

Post-storm update:  Our area had only two significant outcomes of the storm:  wind damage with several downed trees throughout the neighborhood and wide-spread power outages.  Where we live, we were fortunate not to lose our power at all; but as of this morning (two days after the storm) there were still over 4000 customers without electricity in our county. The morning after Sandy, we operated at the temple on our back-up generator for a few hours; but the electricity was restored before the morning was over.  The main part of the storm came after dark and lasted only a few hours through the night; and although we heard the wind and the rain, it was not as severe as it could have been for us.