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Published on 05/04/1998 All articles from this issue

Tornado tosses HS athletic director 20 to 30 feet across school tennis courts

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By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

Monica Lodge said she was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a tornado touched down in Los Altos May 4. The Los Altos High School athletic director said, however, that she could have been in an even worse place.

"I picked the right tennis court to protect me," Lodge said. "If I was on one of the other courts, the fences would have fallen on me."

The Cyclone fences surrounding the first four tennis courts at the school fell inward as the tornado struck. Lodge happened to be in the fifth court, grasping the fence "for dear life," she said.

Moments earlier, Lodge was walking out to the courts to address the boys tennis team, unaware that a tornado was bearing down on the school.

"I didn't even see it coming," Lodge said. "The tennis players looked up at the sky, and I didn't. The kids said, 'Run, Mrs. Lodge, run!'"

As the players ran toward an alley way behind the school that leads to Jardin Drive, Lodge ran to the corner of Court No. 5.

"There's a coke machine outside that court, and I thought it would help shield me," she said.

The soda machine did help - until the powerful winds propelled it onto the grass. Lodge soon went flying as well.

"The wind pried me off the fence and I flew toward the center of the court," she said. "It must have thrown me 20 or 30 feet."

Despite spraining her ankle and shoulder on impact, Lodge said she quickly crawled back into the corner of the court for safety. By that time, the tornado was losing steam - much to Lodge's relief.

"I've never been through anything like that in my life," she said.

"I just sat there and cried afterward."

Lodge later went to the hospital for X-rays on her ankle and shoulder, which came back negative. She did have plenty of bumps and bruises, though.

"I look like I got into a barroom brawl," Lodge said a day after the ordeal.

"I'm black and blue all over." Black and blue, but alive.

"I'm lucky to be here," Lodge said.