Sunday February 3rd, 2008
We were driving from Riverside into PS and were excited to see the open blue sky beyond a big beautiful rainbow as we entered the 111 off ramp.
We left the Inland Empire’s dark black rain clouds behind us.
The wet dangerous 10 freeway was finally in our past.
The multiple accidents on the 60 freeway now a reminder of how crazy it is to live in the “city”.
White knuckles finally getting back to normal……
On the 111 finally, happy to get to watch the big game.
But then,
The road of the 111 disappeared below us. It looked like we were driving through a sand-wash. The wind blew so hard it became difficult to stay on the road. The road we couldn’t even see.
We felt as though the wind would pick us up and take us away.
I remembered the Wizard Of Oz. I remembered the movie Twister.
Going 20 miles per hour felt dangerous.
We turned the bend and saw the clearing.
Beautiful Palm Springs right in front of us.
Finally. Safe. Happy.
We drove into town. Passed Racquet Club. The wind picked back up. The palms bending. Snapping. Breaking. Palm fronds swooshed passed us. We saw tourists running for cover.
We drove passed Azule and saw they were closing their open bar. There were no people to be seen. A usual busy spot for this time of the day we thought.
We continued down 111 and pulled into the parking lot across the street from the Falls and the Matchbox.
We got out of the car and ran around the corner passed See’s Candies.
The wind was so strong we held up our hands to hide our faces from being hit by anything flying by us.
Electrical boxes exploded.
There was a smell of metal in the air.
A tree snapping across the street falling onto a parked car.
Alarms sounding.
We made it up the stairs to the old Blue Guitar now called Mixies.
Patio furniture a mess. Tables and chairs stacked together to stop them from blowing away.
Electricity out. No football today.
The wind was howling and windows rumbling.
A bar full of people moaning and upset their football party was interrupted.
Then came the sound.
A sound like a hundred horses heading our way.
We all became quiet.
The roar of the wind ripped down 111. Huge palm fronds crashing into the buildings. Tree branches hitting the roof.
The windows shook as we anticipated their explosion.
Pieces of roof being lifted right above us.
More cracking of electrical boxes.
The building shook and rumbled.
We all stayed in. We couldn’t leave.
It lasted what felt like forever. Total fear. There was nothing we could do.
We waited.
Finally. The constant roaring of the wind ceasing for seconds in between.
We all scurried down the back exit. An open courtyard down stairs between small businesses. We got through to the back of Dales Lost Highway restaurant.
There was a suction of wind as if we were trapped in a tunnel.
Hanging lights crashing up against walls. Shattered bulbs
Cracking like eggshells under our feet.
Get to the car. Fast. Just get to the car.
Walking close to the buildings, wind forcing us to squint. Finding the car.
Finally.
We drove down Indian Canyon. Passed the antique car dealer.
Driving carefully not to run over any sharp palms in the road.
Fences blown down, trees blown down. Siding of buildings blown off.
A parked car with a tree on top of it. Another with the front window smashed by a fence.
Temporary Construction fencing lining the corner of the Spa Casino, on the ground, wrecked.
A tree down, blocking Alejo Road.
The winds literally destroyed the Art Fair on that corner.
Dozens of local artists lost many thousands of dollars worth of their work.
We made it home.
We got out of the car.
The wind died down.
The sky was clear.
There was a double rainbow over Palm Springs.
It was beautiful.
There had been a lot of damage done to our beautiful Palm Springs.
As I drove to work this morning I intentionally left the house early. I took a drive through the town.
The shop owners, restaurant managers and street cleaners picking up the remains of palms and trees. I spotted a couple with trash bags in one hand and coffee in the other, smiling and carrying on.
“Small town”, I thought to myself.
I do love it here.
I’ll never forget this Super Bowl Weekend in Palm Springs.
There were no reported injuries, but about 20 residents were without power at noon Monday.
Maintenance crews were also out Monday cutting downed trees into smaller pieces.
Broken tree limbs littered streets in Palm Springs after the high winds whipped through town Sunday afternoon.
Despite the scattered trees at Mesquite Country Club, several golfers went on with their tee time.
"No one's complaining so far," said Peter Bulatovich who works at the country club. "We have 160 people ready to play today."