Last updated 10/27/97

A Little Excitement - 5/31/97

The Palouse was treated to an unusual weather event Saturday. We looked outside into a cloudburst. Out the front of the store, we could see the rushing water level creeping slowly up the sidewalk toward our front door. At the back of our building, water was rushing down the alley so fast that it lapped the top of the bottom step

Needless to say, the customers who were in the store during the cloudburst stayed in the store. Nobody had anywhere to go that was more urgent than staying in out of the storm. And since there was also a tornado watch announced on the radio, everyone decided that staying inside a 100+ year old building was a very good idea.

Left is a view of the sidewalk outside the front of Cactus Computer. (Click for a larger photo.) Miller and Lori went out in the storm and took some photos with our digital camera (brave!). Miller shot these from underneath his hat brim so the camera wouldn't get soaked. The camera stayed dry, but the rest of him suffered.

After the brief storm, the sky lightened enough for the picture at right of Friendship Square under water. (Click the photo for a larger view.)

Traveling home after work, we skirted the city backhoe ensconced at the bridge on "D" street. The crew was seining debris out of the water to minimize the backup at the bridge. Now, a week later, the streams are back to normal, but the debris line is about four feet up on the bank of the stream.

I think we're sold on digital cameras. Once you've paid for the camera and some extra RAM for it, pictures are free. No film cost, no developing cost, and instant gratification to see your results. I carry mine with me most of the time. I'd hate to miss the picture of the moose crossing the road or the Canada Goose pair by the stream.

-- Monica