Chapter eleven
When It All Comes Together
Two hours earlier………………In the air over Oregon
Mason and Julie relaxed on their Alaska Airline flight traveling at 32,000 feet over central Oregon. They had just finished a soda and some snacks that were offered to them an hour before. George was near the window asleep.
It was getting dark when the Captain announced that they had crossed the California border and they were receiving reporters of really bad weather in the Los Angeles area.
Mason asked Julie, “Did you get any indication that the weather would be bad in LA?”
“The forecast said cloudy with some rain showers and a little wind. Why do you ask?”
“The captain said it’s really bad down there right now. That new plane is out in the weather waiting for us. Bad wind could play havoc if they weren’t expecting it.”
“Yea, I understand. Just relax, Mason. Everything will be alright.”
“I know but….”
An hour earlier…………………………LAX
“Joan, I can’t believe we actually made it on the ground. I have never seen a landing this rough and scary.”
“Daddy, look at the rain…It’s raining sideways and the wind is so strong. Can we get off the airplane…I’m scared.”
“What a sissy…little brother…just a little wind.”
Joan inserted, “Sissy, leave your brother alone…It is kind of scary to me too, Nick.”
“Well, they will get us off of here as fast as they can and we will get our baggage…..Maybe.”
Nick looked out of the little window as the baggage carriers were attempting to load bags on the carts to bring them inside the terminal. Suit cases and clothes were flying all over the apron of the taxi-way. Some of the baggage handlers had given up and headed inside out of the wind.
Nick commented, “This looks really bad. Don’t think we will have any bags waiting for us in baggage.”
“Nick, what will we do…? I’m really scared.”
Finally Nick and his family were allowed to exit the plane but they weren’t sure what awaited them when they stepped into the terminal.
Two hours earlier…………………………Los Angeles
Glenda asked, “Josh, these people aren’t listening….Have you heard any recent forecast?
“I don’t know about you but it’s almost time to find shelter for us. That wind is really picking up.”
“We have a few more stops to make. Maybe if they look out the window they can predict the weather better.”
“Yea, for sure…Around that corner to the right is suppose to be Channel 3’s main studio…Run in there and I’ll stay with the car.”
“OK.”
Josh watched as thousands of cars went about their business on this Friday evening not aware of the impact this storm could do to their lives. The rental vehicle he sat in was rocking like a little toy. The reporter turned on the radio and couldn’t find a station that was reporting the weather.
Josh thought to himself, “They will be talking about this storm tomorrow…if they are on the air.”
Just as he finished his thought, in the distance Josh watched as a small compact car was blown across a street in front of him and several cars piled into it.
Glenda hurried out from the TV station covering her head with the color of her long coat. She opened the car door and it blew out of her hand and almost shut on her leg. Josh quickly turn the car on and started driving.
“Josh, we have got to get out of here….Look ahead of us, there is a big pile up.”
“Yea, I watched it happen. I wonder which way we should go to get out of here….and then take cover.”
“I don’t know that much about this area but let’s see if our phones still work.”
As Josh cautiously drove out onto a main street, Glenda dialed Pe and it rang several times. Finally someone answered it. Glenda asked, “Is that you, Sarah? Where’s Pe? We are here toward downtown. We need shelter soon. Have any ideas? We are in La Habra.”
Sarah told them to try to get to the Imperial Highway which is a main street and to head east.
“Hit the next main street and head east which is a left, I think.”
Glenda continued to talk to Sarah, “Sarah, we are within a few blocks of that street but the one in front of us is blocked by an accident…..We are on Imperial, now… Now where?...Orange Freeway? Josh do we want the freeway? Sarah…are you there? I lost her.”
“I don’t know about a freeway but I don’t think so. Look, Glenda, a huge warehouse…over to the right. It looks like people are taking shelter in there….Let’s try.”
Josh pulled the rental car off the main street and took the next right. He parked in front of what looked like a storage facility or distribution center.
Glenda suggested they get out of the car one at a time. Glenda pushed with all of her might but the wind was so strong she couldn’t open the door. The car started to rock.
Josh was finally able to get his door open and pushed his way out. Suddenly the wind caught the driver’s side door and blew it right off its hinges and it landed several feet away from their car.
Holding on for dear life, the young reporter walked around the car to attempt to help Glenda get out. Just about the time he was ready to open the door a large gust of wind hit the car and it tipped over on the passenger’s side. Josh barely escaped being crushed by the vehicle.
Glenda screamed, “Josh, get me out of here. I think I’m hurt.”
“Hold tight I’ll get you out.”
Josh quickly assessed the situation. He was trying to figures out how he could climb up on the car and then pull Glenda out. About that time, Glenda poked her head out of the driver’s door opening and Deerly helped her get down on the ground.
“Are you OK, Glenda?”
Josh, very carefully and fighting the wind, walked Glenda to the warehouse entrance. As soon as the reporter open the steel door, the wind blew it out of his hand and it lamed against the wall to the right.
The two friends enter the huge metal building and looked around. It was filled with large racks loaded with boxes. The sound of the wind in the warehouse was almost deafening. Peering into the dim light they could see at least a couple dozen other people huddled in the middle of the cement floor between the racks.
An hour earlier…………………………LA
“We have to get out of here quickly, Sarah.” Pe hollered.
The two friends were holding on to each other as they walked to their car. They looked around and could see trees breaking apart and flying through the air. Suddenly a large tree branch landed across the front of Sarah’s rental car crushing the whole front end.
Sarah muttered, “Looks like I won’t be returning that car any time soon. Pe, over there. Across the street is a church. It looks safe. Let’s get over there if we can.”
“Great idea.”
Slowly but surely Pe and Sarah crossed the big main street and stood near the entrance of the First Baptist Church.
Before they could get to the door, someone carefully opened it for them. When they got inside, the door slammed shut from a massive gust of wind.
Sarah was the first to speak, “Thank you, sir. It’s very dangerous out there. By the way, I’m Sarah and this is Pe.” Sarah reached out her hand to the elderly gentleman, and she continued, “We… I mean I am a reporter from New York. Pe, here is from Miami. We came down to LA to follow this storm and report on it.”
The older gentleman, who was the caretaker of the building spoke, “I’m Joe…Joe MacCarthy, I take care of this place…Keep it clean and all that. Listen to that wind blow. No one told us we were going to have a hurricane in LA.”
Pe responded, “We have, .... there is five of us…We’ve tried all month to get the TV stations to let the population know and have been all over the city today trying to warn people but no one would listen.”
“Well, anyway, I think you’ll be safe here.”
Sarah inserted, “I believe we are safe here but we need to find our other friends. Pe, I haven’t heard from Dr Cochrane all day. Joe, is the land phone working in here?”
Joe turned around and walked to the first door on the right. He pulled his keys out and opened the door. As he opened the door the overhead lights dimmed and then went completely out.
Joe came out of the office with a large flashlight and shined it toward Pe and Sarah, then he said, “Come with me. There are others downstairs taking a shelter from the storm. We have some hot coffee and food as well.”
Sarah responded, “I could use some hot coffee. Come on, Pe. Let’s go meet the other refugees.”
Sarah and Pe followed Joe down the dark hall and down a darker flight of stairs to what they called the fellowship hall. There were several families camped out in the huge room lit only by a few emergency lanterns.
Joe commented as they entered the dim lit room, “Well, we have no electricity but we have plenty of food and beverages for those who are stranded. Introduce yourself to some of our friends after you get your food.”
On one end of the fellowship hall was the kitchen and large coffee maker. Sandwiches and other beverages were on the counter of the kitchen area. Many in the room were eating the available food.
Pe and Sarah were invited by those in charge to share in the small feast as they waited out the great storm. The duo introduced themselves to many of the families.
Sarah was still thinking about Josh, Glenda and Dr. Cochrane while she drank her coffee and devoured a bologna and cheese sandwich. “Pe we can’t stay here and wait this out. We have to make sure the others are OK. Did Joe say if the phone was working?”
Pe didn’t hear Sarah because he was too busy watching the kids in the room play hide and seek in the dark. Then he spoke, “Sarah, did you say something?”
“Pe, what’s the plan? I’m going to ask Joe if the land phone is working, in the mean time try your phone and call Josh.”
“OK, but I don’t…” Pe dialed the phone and almost immediately the phone went to voice mail. The young meteorologist tried a second time and this time it rang, several times but Josh didn’t answer.”
Pe walked through the crowd looking for Sarah. He couldn’t find her anywhere. He asked several people if they had seen a short blond but to not avail.
Finally Pe ran into Joe drinking a cup of coffee. “Joe have you seen my friend, Sarah? I got a hold of the other two. They are in La Habra, wherever that is.”
“La Habra is about fifteen miles south of us. It’s a long way on foot. Oh, Sara. She went to the office with the flashlight to try the land phone.”
“Thanks, Joe. I’ll be right back.”
Pe walked out into the dark hallway. He wasn’t sure which way to go in this large building but he thought he remembered. Just then, Joe stepped out of the fellowship hall and pointed to the left. Pe thanked Joe and cautiously walked along the wall until he got to the stairway.
He could hear the muffled voice of Sarah upstairs. He assumed she was talking on the land phone. When Pe got upstairs he could see a dim light in the room that Joe called the office. He started for the light and suddenly the front door of the church blew wide open.
A tall, dark gentleman wearing a long trench coat entered the building and did his best to close the door behind him. Pe watched as the stranger stood in the doorway without making a move. Pe stopped in his tracks near the top step.
Sarah, with flashlight in hand, poked her head around the corner to see who just came in the door.
At the same time…………………………LAX
“Nick, Sissy is slowing me down. Do you have Junior?”
Nick hollered back in the dark, “Yes, I’m carrying him and he is crying. We are almost to the terminal.”
“I’m right behind you, dear.”
The family from Minnesota finally stepped foot into the terminal at LAX. There was chaos everywhere. Many panicked passengers ran toward the exits only to find that they could not go outside due to the torrential rain and hurricane winds.
Nick thought, just like thousands of others, that he and his family could get downstairs and find a taxi to get to their hotel. The officials and Airport police, who were swamped with the chaos, had the exits blocked and warned all the passengers of the danger outside.
The family of four huddled together away from the crowd and watched as passengers trampled other passengers in their panic. Nick looked out through the large glass windows in the terminal, and watched as the wind swept the rain like a torrent into the glass. It looked so powerful that he thought that maybe it would break through the glass and fill the area where they took refuge.
Joan held her twelve year old tightly while her husband attempted to soothe Junior’s fears. As the storm beat against the terminal glass, Nick mulled over in his mind a plan that would assist him and his family to weather this storm.
An few minutes earlier…………In the air over CA
“OK, Mason, when we land in Fresno we will get a rental and drive to LA?”
“That’s if we can make it…. That is if the highways are still open. According to the Captain there is potential for widespread flooding and landslides. I heard about that highway that goes over what they call the Grapevine. We will prepare for the worse and pray for the best. Get your belt on it looks like we are landing. Did George sleep through all this?”
Julie shook George who had slept the whole trip with his head next to the little window of the airplane. He opened his eyes and stretched his arms into the air. When his head had cleared from waking up so suddenly, he stare out the window and watched as the rain pound the outside of the aircraft.
“What’s this, Mason? Where are we?”
Mason smiled and said, “This, my friend, is the northern edge of a hurricane that just hit LA. We have been re-routed to Fresno. I guess we will rent a car and drive down to get our airplane…that is if it still has wings. I heard there were gust of 150 miles per hour.”
George, who was still half awake inserted, “As long as we can get some food in Fresno, I’ll be alright. When do we land?”
“Right now.”
The wheels of the aircraft touched down and they taxied toward the little terminal in Fresno, California. Many of them grumbling, one-hundred and eighty passengers de-boarded the aircraft, far from their intended destination, Los Angeles, California.
A few hours earlier…………………………Los Angeles
Through the whole church service, Jim Norse noticed that something was going on outside. He, as well as others, could hear the howling of the wind as the evangelist preached his sermon. Suddenly, as the message was concluding the lights in the sanctuary blinked twice and finally went out completely.
The pastor, who was sitting in the front pew, hurried in the dark to the pulpit on the stage and retrieved a flashlight that was on the shelf in the podium. He asked everyone to sit still for a minute or two while the evangelist ended in pray. Then they would help everyone get to their cars.
The pastor didn’t realize that the outdoors was not a safe place to be, right now.
When the service was completed the pastor took the light and walked to the door. He opened it and the wind blew it right back him and knocked him to the floor. Several men, including Jim Norse, ran back to check on him.
Many in the congregation were in a panic as they looked out the windows and saw the torrential rain and wind. You could hear the sound of babies crying and old women praying as the men huddled in the dark entry way trying to decide what their next move would be.
Jim Norse and another gentleman helped the pastor to a pew, laid him down and Jim covered him with his jacket. He then asked if anyone in the room was a nurse or a doctor. An elderly lady stepped forward and looked at the pastor’s wounds.
The nurse could see he was barely conscious so she asked if someone to get her a cold, wet towel. It also looked like the door slammed into his face and broke his nose. Someone in the crowd tried to call 911 but there was no answer.
Nadine looked around in the darkness to see if she could spot her two children. Garth was sitting right next to her when the lights went out but now he is nowhere to be found. Just as she started to panic, Garth grabbed her from behind and said, “Mom, there you are. I couldn’t find you in the dark.”
“Where’s your sister, Garth?”
“I don’t know…I saw her find her friend and they were giggling…Now she’s gone.”
Nadine found Jim and whispered in his ear, “Jim, I can’t find Emily. Garth said she was with her friend when the lights went out.”
“I’ll look around…I wonder if we have another flashlight in here somewhere.”
Overhearing the conversation, a middle aged man handed Jim a little penlight. Jim thanked him and turned it on. He scanned the crowd with the light, but he didn’t see Emily or her friend.
Jim Norse, doing his best not to panic anyone, asked, “Has anyone seen our daughter, Emily or her friend, Betty?”
A teen age boy spoke up and said, “I think I saw them go downstairs shortly after the lights went out…I think it was them. I heard giggling.”
Jin Norse spoke, “Thanks, son…I’ll look downstairs.”
Jim used the borrowed penlight to light the way as he walked carefully down the stairs. When in the basement he turned into the long hallway where doors opened into various classrooms. Norse did not hear anything but the wind howling outside.
The search in the basement was just a walk in the dark. He didn’t find the girls, but he did feel a gust of cold air coming from one of the rooms. He discovered that the window was wide open and rain and water were pouring in.
Jim Norse quickly closed the window and exited the classroom. He hurried back upstairs.
A t the same time…………………………La Habra
Josh and Glenda cautiously walked deeper into the large metal building. The young reporter called out, “Hello, is everyone OK in here? Can we join you?”
From the darkness a voice could be heard, “Come on in. It’s not warm but it is dry.”
The two friends walked into the dim light and saw what looked like two or three families taking refuge. They had a couple of old flashlights and the male adults were gathered in a semi-circle playing cards. The children clung to their mothers and stared at the strangers as Josh and Glenda came near.
Glenda was the first to speak, “Hi there, I’m Glenda and this is Josh. Kind of nasty outside. Our car just blew over on its side out front. My friend here almost got mashed by the car.”
One of the men playing cards answered, “Nasty isn’t the word for it. We also lost our van earlier when the wind blew a tree almost on top of us. We walked over here and broke in. You’re not the cops, are you?”
Josh answered, “No….We aren’t from here. We are …well I’m a reporter and Glenda here is a meteorologist. I’m from New York and she is from up the coast in San Francisco.”
Another stranger inserted, “Ah, a Giant fan, I bet. Those folks up there don’t like our team down here. Go Dodgers!!”
As the two friends visited with the strangers Josh’s phone buzzed and he quickly answered it, “This Josh…Sarah…Where are you guys…..Everybody is OK? We haven’t seen him for hours. Are car is on its side out front……Your rental? We are a half hour north of you by car? The streets are a mess around here. I don’t know about walking. .Sarah….Sarah… Where did she go? I lost her…I hope that was the tower and not something else.”
Glenda asked, “That was Sarah?”
“Yep, their car is toast. A tree got it. They are at a Baptist church in Montebello. But something else is wrong…I have a feeling. We need to somehow get up there.”
One of the strangers inserted, “I know that place…First Baptist? In Montebello? If you guys need a car…I hid my VW bug around the corner. It doesn’t have enough room for more than two people so I parked it. Got to be careful, though, those things are very light.”
Josh asked, “A car would be nice….You’ve been there? What’s the best route to get there in the dark with a VW bug?”
“It’s really easy…Take this street out in front over to Whittier Boulevard. Go east and it takes you right to Montebello. The church is two blocks off Whittier.”
Glenda inserted, “We really appreciate the vehicle, directions and the refuge from the storm. I wish we could bring you all with us but for sure we will send some people back as soon as we can.”
Josh asked, “You guys gonna be OK till we get back?”
“Oh, yea, we just worry about the children, but it shouldn’t take too long to get us help if you can make it there safely.”
Glenda spoke, “Bye, kids…We will see you soon.”
The two friends hurried to the big metal door that was still open. Josh led the way to the back of the building where the VW bug was parked. The wind had calmed down a little but it still took two people to open the passenger door of the little car. Josh hustled around to the other door and opened it just wide enough to squeeze his body in. Deerly found the key in the ignition and it started right up. Then he pulled the vehicle out to the street.
The rain still plummeted down at about two inches and hour and the roads ways were almost impassable. Whittier was vacant of cars except for the ones left that had been wrecked. The two friends could hear sirens and see flashing lights in every direction they looked.
Josh did not try to hurry as he drove east toward Montebello. His mind kept going back to his conversation with Sarah almost an hour ago. What if something is wrong and some bad people walked into the church and that’s why she hung up so abruptly.
Twenty minutes later after dodging wrecks and driving around fallen trees, the two friends were in the Montebello city limits. Now they searched for the church which was two blocks off Whittier.
They could see the big steeple from a distance away. When they came down the right street they noticed a little car on the right with a tree fallen over the hood. Glenda asked, “I wonder if that was Sarah’s car.”
Josh parked on the street in front of the church. He kept thinking of the promise he had made to the people back in the warehouse. He hoped he wasn’t walking into a trap and that he could fulfill the promise that he had made.
Josh got out first and then he helped Glenda with her door. They cautiously walked up to the front door and tried to open it but the door was locked.”
Josh wondered, “Why is the door locked. They said they went in the front door. This isn’t good.”
“Josh, listen, what is that noise. Could be the wind but…”
Suddenly the door opened in Glenda’s face and almost knocked her to the ground. Pe stood there, holding the door open so that his friends could come in.
Josh embraced Pe and said, “Sure is good to see your face. Is everything here OK? Where’s Sarah?”
“She’s downstairs probably sleeping like everyone else. It’s past midnight. I have my trusty flashlight… Follow me but quietly. Lots of kids sleeping.”
A t the same time…………………………Los Angeles
Jim Norse and three other members of his church walked block after block in the neighborhood of the church looking for Emily and her friend. They were soaked to the bone but they walked tirelessly from house to house asking if anyone had seen his daughter.
After an hour of walking in the wind and rain, Jim suggested to his friends that they should go back to their families at the church. Two of them decide to return, but one said he would continue to help Jim until they found Emily.
The two friends were about a mile from the church when one of the neighbors open his front door and poked his head out into the rain and said, “Hey, Jim, I saw your Emily running down this street toward your house a little while ago. She was soaking wet but it looked like she was determined to get home.”
Jim hollered out thank you as he and his partner ran at a full sprint toward Jim’s house, just around the corner. The neighborhood was still dark and the worried father did not see Emily immediately when he arrived at the house.
Norse came to a screeching halt at his front door when he spotted his Emily curled up in a ball next to the locked door. Jim leaned over and held her tightly. She stood up and reached her arms around him and they cried together. Jim’s friend turned and started to walk back to the church. Jim called to him, “Thanks, my good friend. I don’t even know your name.”
The friend called back as he walked away, “Just call me Jack.”
“Thanks, Jack. Tell my wife I’ll be back there soon. And we found the lost sheep.”
A t the same time…………………………Over LAX
Denny Denner was in constant contact with the Tower at LAX for the last hour as his United Airline aircraft circled around Los Angeles waiting for the weather to break. The passengers were cranky and irritated and so was the co-pilot.
Denny had called his wife and assured her that he was OK but his concern was for her and the kids. She told Denny that their church family had attended to her and had picked the family up and bought them over to the church along with several others who needed help.
Captain Kirk was resting with a huge bump on his head but the nurse said he would be fine.
Finally some good news came from the tower. They instructed Denner to land at Orange County Airport and the passengers would be shuttled to LAX when the weather was better.
Denny quickly let his wife know what was happening. She said the pastor offered to pick him up as soon as they landed. Denny suggested that his wife tell the pastor to wait until morning. The co-pilot said he would wait in the Officers’ quarters until the pastor arrived.
Co-pilot Denny Denner was just happy this whole ordeal was over. And the passengers were, too.
A t the same time…………………………LAX
Security guards walked all over the terminal of LAX. They were looking for those passengers who were stranded and huddled up in the dark. The airport had provided a place where the passengers could go to eat and have something warm to drink.
It had been almost an hour since Nick and Julie had seen anyone at all. The light from the Security’s flashlight was a welcomed sight. Nick stood up and waved his hands. The officer walked over and greeted them.
“You folks come with me. We have some food and warm coffee and other drinks for the kids. Does anyone need assistance? I can call for a cart to pick you up.”
Nick responded, “We’ll be OK. We will follow you. Come on Junior, I’ll carry you. Mom, can you get Sissy?”
Joan grabbed the hand of her oldest who was still half asleep. “Come on, honey. They have some food for us. Let’s go.”
The Castrol family slowly followed the Security agent down the huge empty hallway and into an elevator to the third floor. The elevator door opened up into a large poorly lit room filled with stranded people who were waiting in line to have something to eat. The Castrols smiled as they saw the feast but at this point the family was very happy and grateful just to be alive.
The next morning…………………………Montebello
Pe and Joe climbed into the twelve passenger church van. Their mission this morning was to go back to the warehouse in La Habra where Josh and Glenda left the stranded families. They would pick them up and bring them back to the church for some warm food and fellowship.
Joe knew exactly where to find the strangers that took refuge in the warehouse that Glenda and Josh had promised to send help for. Within an hour the three families were rescued and were eating breakfast at the First Baptist Church in Montebello. The children were playing hide-and-go-seek with the other children and the four men resumed their card game.
In the mean time, Glenda sat quietly as the others were eating their breakfast. Her mind kept wondering about the fate of their friend Dr. Cochrane. They knew he had his own car and he had planned his own mission during the storm, but no one knew for certain where he actually went.
Josh glanced over at Glenda and he could tell she was concerned and the young reporter knew what she was worried about.
Deerly slid into a chair right next to Glenda. He spoke, “Glenda, Are you alright? Are you worried about Jerry?”
“Josh, I am.”
“Did anyone call him? He had a phone.”
Glenda thought for a second then she said, “Don’t know. I don’t have it. Do you?”
“I thought I did. Let me check. Let me try this number…..I think it’s his.”
Josh Deerly dialed the number he had found and the phone rang several times with no answer. He hung up the phone and dialed again. This time someone answered. “Hello. Is this Dr. Cochrane? Which hospital? OK, thanks. We are his friends. We work together. He’s alright? That sounds good. We haven’t heard from him since the hurricane landed. Can you give him a message from us? Just tell him that his team is all well and all accounted for. Thank you.”
After hanging up the phone, Josh called Pe and Sarah over to the table where he and Glenda sat. Then he spoke to all of them, “Just thought maybe you’d all like to know… Jerry is OK in a hospital in Santa Monica. But I want to say something to all of you… I’m not speaking to you three as your leader because you all are leaders in my eyes, but I am so very proud to be part of this team. I’ve learned something in all this. It’s not about my big story. It’s not about the fame and our names on TV. It’s about teamwork and friendship. We fought a battle together and we made it through. It was touch and go for a little while there, but we discovered that we as a team can do so much more. We accomplished an insurmountable feat. As a team we survived Hurricane Blast.
