The Dust Storm: A Haboob and a Monsoon

“What is a haboob, Daddy?  Is that a bomb?” Frightened by a news report, twelve-year old Lisa rushed into the kitchen, where her father was preparing a pizza.

“Where did you hear that word, sweetie?” he asked.

“It was on the news a couple of minutes ago. The reporter said a haboob hit Phoenix, Arizona. That’s where Mommy went in the airplane!”

“You’re right,” replied her father. His wife, Jessie, had left to attend a convention there the next morning. 

“Let’s see what we can find out about the word haboob. Our pizza can wait.”

“Don’t put mushrooms on mine, Daddy.”

"I remembered. Look up the word haboob and I’ll check the Phoenix news.”

Lisa was correct. A haboob or a massive, dust storm had gone through the Phoenix area.

Lisa typed the word haboob into a search engine and found the web site, About.com.phoenix. “The word haboob comes from the Arabic word, habb, meaning wind. I found information about monsoons in Phoenix, too. Monsoon storms start with a high wall of dust called a haboob.”

“I didn’t know there were monsoons in North America,” replied her father. “I'm happy you are learning to use the computer."

“Daddy, we have to find Mommy!”

The ringing phone startled them.

“You all right, honey?” Lisa’s father asked, immediately. 

“Our airplane was late coming in. The dust storm was very frightening. The huge wall of dust was horrible. Now, everything is covered with dust. I am safe in the hotel, but we’ve lost our power. I may spend the night in the dark.”

“They’ll have emergency lighting, dear.”

“Your mom is fine,” Lisa’s father said, several moments later, not wanting to get into details about the dust storm with his daughter. “She’ll tell you more, when she gets home.” 

“Daddy and I are having pizza,” Lisa said on the phone. “I am not having any mushrooms on mine.”