The Derecho
A Story of Death and Survival
In this compelling narrative, O’Hara skillfully intertwines the experiences of survivors and the lost, giving readers a broader understanding of the profound losses — both in lives and property —resulting from the historic storm. Perseverance shines as they strive resiliently in the face of inevitable disaster.
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A Word From The Author
This story has haunted me for more than thirty years. Not that I think about it all the time, but during a strong thunder-storm, when lightning is close and thunder explodes, I’ll calm myself by saying that’s not so bad, thinking back in my memory to when it was worse. When the wide river behind our home gets roughed up, white caps buffeted by strong winds, I’ll think, That’s not so rough. I’ve seen much worse. Certainly, when I pick up the aging scrapbook sitting in my sunroom, filled with yellowing pictures and newspaper clippings from thirty years ago, the memories return in a flood.
Context allows us to put things into perspective. Things happen to all of us, but that one event that is the biggest, the best, the saddest, or the most frightening becomes the definitive experience in life by which we measure all others. And this was mine.
