SUMIKI'S PAST 24 HOURS: A DRAMATIC LOG

Midnight: Reading in bed. Allergies begin. Reading ceases.

1:00 AM: Allergies still continue.

2:00 AM: Finally asleep.

3:30 AM: Wake up to a huge flash of lightning and massive crash of thunder. Walls shake and windows are vigorously rattling.

3:45 AM: Unable to return to sleep. Get up to close blinds and check the weather online. Mom comes up, awakened as well by the bomb-like sound of the storm.

4:00 AM: Back in bed, but unable to sleep. Lightning still bright, but thunder farther off.

4:15 AM: Startled out of grogginess by dad urging me to get to the basement after hearing a cadre of sirens wailing outside. TV in basement turned on, no local channels had storm warnings.

5:00 AM: Dad convinced of false alarm. Returned to bed.

8:00 AM: Alarm goes off.