Storm Rescue by Laurie Halse Anderson Read Free Book Online Page A

evacuation information. People in low-lying areas should prepare for evacuation.”
    Brenna frowns, patting Sneakers, who has settled down on top of her feet. “I don’t get it. Why would they need to evacuate here? We’re not near the ocean.”
    â€œThat’s why.” David points at the TV screen. “Look!”
    The picture has switched to show a row of homes. At least I guess they’re homes. All we can see are their roofs—the rest is underwater.
    â€œThat’s Oakwood!” Maggie exclaims. “I recognize that gas station sign. But that’s right outside of town! I can’t believe it’s so flooded there!”
    â€œShh!” I say anxiously. “I want to hear what Jacqueline Jermaine is saying.”
    â€œToo late,” Zoe comments. “They’re back to the anchor guy.”
    A few seconds later, the picture switches again, and David gasps. The camera is scanning a row of stalls with terrified horses inside. Water in the aisle outside the stalls looks like it’s at least a foot deep.
    The anchorman is explaining that the pictures were taken this morning at a horse show outside of Philadelphia. The fairgrounds flooded overnight, and rescue workers are trying to get the horses out.
    The camera zooms in on one stall, where a gray horse is tossing his head and rearing, his eyes rolling back until the whites show. He lets out a noise that doesn’t sound like it could have come from a horse at all.
    â€œPoor guy!” Zoe says. “He’s terrified. I hope they get him out of there!”
    We hold our breath as we watch several people try to approach the horse and grab his halter. He keeps rearing, flailing his front hooves. Nobody can get close to him.
    â€œCalm down, dude,” David whispers, his eyes locked on the screen. “They’re just trying to help you.”
    â€œHe’s too scared to realize that,” I say, remembering how weird Mittens, Socrates, and Stormy acted yesterday. If dogs and cats can be freaked out by a storm, I figures horses can be, too.
    The horse continues to thrash around in his stall, whinnying in terror. As I watch, I feel real fear creeping over me, too. What if my father is wrong? What if my house, the clinic, our whole town is in danger from the rising waters, just like Oakwood? What would I do if I were trapped in the flood, just like that poor horse?
    I turn my face away from the others. I definitely don’t want my friends to think I’m scared. David might tease me again. But it’s no use. I can’t help thinking about Lucy. I really hope she’s okay. I remember what my father said last night about Willow Street getting flooded out ten years ago, and I think about that deep puddle in Mrs. Clark’s front yard.
    On TV, someone finally manages to fling a towel over the horse’s eyes. “Cool!” David says with relief. “A blindfold. That should help.”
    Sure enough, once the towel is tied over the horse’s eyes, he calms down a little. Someone leads him out of the stall and up to higher ground. We all cheer. The announcer reports that all the horses were evacuated from the fairgrounds safely.
    Unfortunately, our cheer sets Sherlock howling. “Yikes!” Zoe cries, clapping her hands over her ears as Sneakers lets out a startled yip. “Forget the hurricane. That dog is a natural disaster!”
    â€œWas that the phone?” Brenna says, interrupting whatever Maggie starts to say in her dog’s defense.
    I hurry over to the phone on the end table as David mutes the TV. The button for the clinic line is blinking. I pick up the receiver, praying that whoever is on the other end can hear me over Sherlock’s howling. “Hello, Dr. Mac’s Place,” I say. “Can I help you?”
    â€œHi, this is Bill Jermaine.”
    â€œOh! Hi,” I say. “It’s Sunita. Is Stormy all right?”
    â€œI hope so.” He