Storm Rescue Read Online Free PDF Page B

notes that most human emergency shelters of any kind won’t let people bring their pets.
    I guess that’s why it’s so important to plan ahead. I wonder how many people in Ambler have made plans for their pets in case there’s flooding from all the rain. Probably not many. We don’t have too many natural disasters here.
    I don’t realize Mother is standing behind me until she clears her throat. “You’d better turn off the computer now, Sunita,” she says. “The lightning is getting closer, and we could lose power at any moment.”
    â€œMom, do we have an emergency plan?” I ask.
    She looks at the site I’m reading. “We have a fire escape plan,” she says. “But don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll be fine here.”
    I quickly scan the rest of the site. “But it says here that inland flooding is one of the deadliest parts of a hurricane, even if the winds aren’t that strong,” I tell Mother. “The heavy rains and flooding can affect people hundreds of miles from the ocean. See?” I point to the paragraph I’m reading. “It says here that Hurricane Floyd killed fifty-six people when it hit the eastern U.S. in 1999. And out of those fifty-six people, fifty drowned due to inland flooding.”
    â€œYes, flooding can be very dangerous. But our house is built on high ground.” Mother puts a hand on my shoulder as thunder rumbles again. “Don’t worry, Sunita,” she adds with a little squeeze. “Please turn off the computer now. I need you to help me check the downstairs windows to make sure they’re all closed. That’ll be the first part of our plan.”
    I do as she says. As we walk from room to room checking the windows, I’m still thinking about what I just read. I guess Mother is thinking about the hurricane, too, because neither of us says much.
    â€œI hope your father gets home from the hospital soon,” Mother comments as we check the living room.
    We stand together staring out the front window. There’s so much rain that I can hardly see to the end of the driveway. “Me, too,” I agree.
    Mother hardly seems to hear me. A little furrow creases her brow. “The roads must be terrible. Sunita, could you check the upstairs windows? I want to bring my cell phone in from the car in case our regular phones go out.”
    â€œSure.” I head upstairs. My little brother and sister are playing in the hall, racing some toy cars up and down on the smooth floorboards. They look up when they see me.
    â€œSunita, your hair is wet!” Jasmine exclaims. “Did you take a bath?”
    â€œNo,” I tell her, running a hand over my damp hair. It’s so thick that it takes forever to dry. “I was outside in the storm. It’s really raining hard.”
    Harshil nods, looking excited. “It’s a hurricane,” he tells me. “Daddy says that’s a really, really big storm. Daddy says the storm’s name is Feligs.”
    â€œThat’s Felix,” I say, smiling. “With an X .”
    â€œMaybe we should go see if our yard is flooded yet,” Jasmine says, looking worried.
    â€œYeah!” Harshil jumps to his feet. “If our house floods, will all our toys float away?”
    â€œNo, of course not. We don’t have to worry,” says a reassuring voice behind me.
    I turn around. It’s Daddy. “I’m so glad you’re home.” I sigh, and smile.
    The twins run to hug his legs.
    He rubs their heads and says, “Our neighborhood is on pretty high ground. Most of this part of town is. The only ones who need to worry are the people over in the Oakwood area, outside of town.” Then he adds, “Oh, and maybe houses down on Willow Street. One of my patients lives in one of those old homes down there, and they got flooded out about ten years ago.”
    For a second I’m so relieved to hear that our