Dang!!! Mother Nature can be a beast when she wants to be.
It seems like there are more natural disasters the past decade or so then I remember in the years before that.
Between hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, fires, etc...its crazy.
I have a theory (based solely on my own thoughts, hahaha) that Mother Nature is ticked off that we're ruining her planet by over populating and therefore tearing down her land and building on it. She's angry and natural disasters are her way of warning us to cut the crap. The human race better start heeding her warnings...
Anyway, Zina, I'm glad you and your animals are safe!!! That must have been pretty spooky to realize how close it was without you even knowing.