Being Homo sapiens, we take a certain amount of pride in the fact that, for good or ill, we have evolved into a top level position in the biosphere. Indeed, as noted by the eminent biologist E.O. Wilson, we may actually be the first life form on the planet ever to have evolved into a position in which we are capable of wreaking significant damage to the biosphere as a whole. Because of this, we sometimes collectively forget that in truth, we are still completely at the mercy of Nature’s own forces.
I was reminded of this recently when on a warm and pleasant late spring afternoon the Emergency Alert System alert signal suddenly broke into the radio program to which I was listening. It told of violent thunderstorms, damaging winds and hail, and other assorted mayhem that was to presently descend upon the area in which I live. Before I could even have time to dismiss it as just another mistaken weather forecast (“violent” thunderstorms and damaging hail are not normal at any time of the year in northwest Oregon), the sky turned a sickening dark shade of purplish grey, the air became stale and thick, and all Hell proceeded to break loose.
The storm lasted a mere few hours. Half the city of Portland was said to have lost power. Three “funnel clouds” were reported as having been seen. Trees were laying across power lines and rooftops, others (like the one near our home and seen in these pictures) were snapped off half way up their trunks.
I sincerely hope that the damaged tree near our home is not removed by the land-owner. Not only for the reason that it will make an excellent future home for one of the many local species of woodpeckers, but becasue it is also a superb visual reminder of the fact that we humans are not quite as in control as we think we are.
