Deadly storms and tornadoes that ripped through several Midwestern and Southern states over the weekend included a tornado that hit the central corridor of St. Louis, Mo., on Friday afternoon. Kris Kleindienst, owner of Left Bank Books, wrote that the bookstore, "which resides exactly in the central corridor, emerged relatively unscathed. If you don't count the vehicles of at least 3 of our staff. Feline staffer Orleans, who came on board just in time for our floods three years ago, took a dim view and went off to hide and pout. In other words, he is just fine." Euclid Hall, the more than 120-year old building where Left Bank Books is located, might have sprung a gas leak but that has been remedied.
Left Bank Books staff "were absolute heroes, and I couldn't be prouder of them than I am," Kleindienst noted. "The spirit of community in the immediate aftermath was testament to its inherent resilience, courage, and kindness."
In the store's End of Day Report, general manager Danielle King wrote, in part: "Well, you know, it was a pretty typical Friday: For the first few hours that we were open, anyways... (click the link for a view of today's surprise guest).
"If you haven't seen our Instagram post, the tornado came basically right down McPherson this afternoon. At last glance, it looks very much like the aftermath of a natural disaster, in large part because it is the aftermath of a natural disaster. All of our people are ok, and home, and I'm not sure I've even fully appreciated how remarkable that is.
"A thing that I noticed, though, is that a lot of the community power that we talk about all the time, about how in times of crisis the only real thing you have is the support of your community, and how we can and must hold tightly onto one another to survive, because that's the only ways humans have ever survived anything (including the ill will of other humans)... it is all true, and you notice it in particular when Something Happens.... I work with the greatest booksellers on earth, and it keeps being true."
Other booksellers checking in with post storm updates:
Subterranean Books, St. Louis: [Friday] "We will be closed the rest of the day today Friday, 5/16 due to a power outage from the storm. We hope all are okay and stay safe during the severe weather. We send our thoughts to those that have suffered damage and have been affected by the high winds, hail and tornados.... [Saturday] Our power is back on and we are open, but please be careful for fallen trees and debris out there. There are roads that are still closed. We feel very grateful to have made it without damage. We are sending our deepest condolences to those that lost loved ones and whose homes and businesses were destroyed. Thank you for our first responders and our community and neighbors that immediately are out helping each other."
Deadtime Stories, Lansing, Mich.: "I don't mean to alarm anyone, but what in the ever loving hell is this? (Watch with sound up.) I was flipping through cameras to check on the cats and the store during the storm when I saw this. I had the volume down the first few times I watched it and was creeped out enough, but uh... are ghosts afraid of tornadoes?"