Tornadoes

[rodan70]

<font color='#810541'>I was in the Big Tornado that went through Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. It was an F4. 200mph+ winds. I saw several cars, Semi trucks and a charter bus all turned over. A Grain Bin fron 10 miles away was wadded up and stuck in a tree. I really wanna be a stormchaser. That tornado last year was one of the strongest in the nation last year.

[Melkor]

The only storm tale I can remember was in 1995. I was stuck all day at home, with nothing to do. The rain had just stopped, and I wanted to go outside and ride my bike, but my parents cautioned me from going out, to my annoyance. Well, it got the better of me, and within half an hour, I was walking along the sidewalk, where it was unusually quiet, save for some chirping birds. I was headed for a nearby store along with a friend. It was a serene scene which I enjoyed with one of my good friends, to my enjoyment. Suddenly, I saw a thunderbolt flash across the sky, and being a kid then, I covered my ears as I was afraid of thunder. To my shock, amazement, relief and utter bewilderment, the tree which, two minutes ago was standing right before us, had fallen. Yes, fallen, and missed us by a good five feet. Thank God, or else who knew what could have happened.

I and my friend then quickly scampered back to my house, for the best.



Peace,



Melkor



http://www.kaijuphile.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/darklord.gif

[rodan70]

<font color='#810541'>Dang, that was a close call.



I was &nbsp;around 1/2 of a mile from the F4 tornado last year. that was close enough

[Mechasoukougeki2]

I survived a F1 tornado before, and it went straight through my backyard, I'm not joking!

[rodan70]

<font color='#810541'>We had a tornado go by 5 miles from my house today. Pretty cool.

[Raptor]

Quote[/b] (henry_venetta @ May 22 2004,08:32)]The winds were extremely strong, and when I was outside I nearly lost my balance because of the powerful winds and I had to grab onto a tree so I would not be blown backwards!!!!! Me and my family were watching out the window in shock as one of our favorite trees was torn out of the ground and was nearly swept away by the wind! Not only that, but our trampoline in our backyard got picked up by the wind and it almost came crashing into our house! My dogs were scared out of their wits and went to hide in the basement while I sat and watched the whole thing.
From the Weather Bug (available through AIM):

STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 320 PM CDT SUN MAY 30 2004 THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 11:00PM CDT
Sel6 spc Ww 302020 0400-

Urgent - Immediate Broadcast Requested Tornado Watch Number 336 Nws Storm Prediction Center Norman Ok 320 PM CDT Sun May 30 2004

The Nws Storm Prediction Center Has Issued A Tornado Watch For Portions Of Eastern Arkansas The Missouri Bootheel Northern Mississippi West Tennessee

Effective This Sunday Afternoon And Evening From 320 PM Until 1100 PM CDT.

...This Is A Particularly Dangerous Situation...

Destructive Tornadoes...Large Hail To 2.5 Inches In Diameter... Thunderstorm Wind Gusts To 70 Mph...And Dangerous Lightning Are Possible In These Areas.

The Tornado Watch Area Is Along And 120 Statute Miles East And West Of A Line From 50 Miles North Northwest Of Dyersburg Tennessee To 60 Miles Southeast Of Pine Bluff Arkansas.

Remember...A Tornado Watch Means Conditions Are Favorable For Tornadoes And Severe Thunderstorms In And Close To The Watch Area. Persons In These Areas Should Be On The Lookout For Threatening Weather Conditions And Listen For Later Statements And Possible Warnings.

Other Watch Information...Continue...Ww 330...Ww 331...Ww 332...Ww 333...Ww 334...Ww 335...

Discussion...Supercells Now In Wrn/Nrn AR Expected To Move E Into Ern AR/W TN And Nrn MS Later This Afternoon And Evening As Region Comes Under Srn Fringe Of Upper Impulse Sweeping Ene Across Ks/Ok. Moderate To Strong Deep Shear...Very Rich Boundary Layer Moisture Inflow And Absence Of Linear Forcing All Suggest Possibility For Strong And/Or Long-Lived Tornadoes.

Aviation...Tornadoes And A Few Severe Thunderstorms With Hail Surface And Aloft To 2.5 Inches. Extreme Turbulence And Surface Wind Gusts To 60 Knots. A Few Cumulonimbi With Maximum Tops To 600. Mean Storm Motion Vector 25035.

...Corfidi

Mississippi County, AR
Alert Type: Watch by County Outline *Advisory: # 3
Bulletin - Immediate Broadcast Requested Tornado Watch Outline Update For Wt 336 Nws Storm Prediction Center Norman Ok 320 PM CDT Sun May 30 2004

Tornado Watch 336 Is In Effect Until 11:00 PM CDT For The Following Locations:

0400-

Ar . Arkansas Counties Included Are

Arkansas Bradley Calhoun Clay Cleburne Cleveland Craighead Crittenden Cross Dallas Desha Drew Faulkner Grant Greene Independence Jackson Jefferson Lawrence Lee Lincoln Lonoke Mississippi Monroe Ouachita Phillips Poinsett Prairie Pulaski Randolph Saline Sharp St. Francis White Woodruff *
*
Mississippi County, AR
Alert Type: Non Precipitation Advisory *Advisory: # 2
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING
Urgent - Weather Message National Weather Service Memphis Tn 1150 AM CDT Sun May 30 2004

2300- Clay AR-Craighead AR-Dunklin MO-Greene AR-Lawrence AR-Mississippi AR- Pemiscot MO-Poinsett AR-Randolph AR- Including The Cities Of...Steele...Senath...Portageville...Malden... Kennett...Hayti...Caruthersville...Campbell...Wils on... Walnut Ridge...Tyronza...Trumann...Rector...Pocahontas... Piggott... Paragould...Osceola...Monette...Marmaduke...Marked Tree...Manila... Luxora...Lepanto...Leachville...Lake City...Keiser...Jonesboro... Hoxie...Harrisburg...Gosnell...Corning...Caraway.. .Brookland... Bono...Blytheville...Black Rock And Bay 1150 AM CDT Sun May 30 2004

...Wind Advisory In Effect Until 6 PM CDT This Evening...

South Winds Will Be Sustained Between 25 And 30 Mph This Afternoon With Gusts Over 40 Mph At Times.

Motorists In High Profile Vehicles Should Use Caution Until The Winds Subside. Drivers Of Vans...Campers...Trailers...And Other High-Profile Vehicles Should Be Alert To The Danger Of These Winds...Especially When Driving Along East West Roads.

Take Action To Secure Trash Cans...Lawn Furniture...And Other Loose Or Lightweight Outdoor Objects. *
*

Mississippi County, AR
Alert Type: Flood Statement *Advisory: # 1
0300- Flood Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 1018 AM CDT Sun May 30 2004

This Is Updated Information For Flooding Along The Mississippi River.

Mississippi River At Caruthersville... Minor Flooding Is Forecast. * Latest Stage: 26.4 Feet At 07 AM Sunday And Rising. * Bankfull Stage: 29.0 Feet * Flood Stage: 32.0 Feet * Forecast: Reach Flood Stage On Thursday Morning June 3rd. Crest Near 33.0 Feet On Saturday Evening June 5th. * Impact: Most Unprotected Farmland In Northwest Tennessee, Southeast Missouri, And Northeast Arkansas Will Become Flooded.

Stay Tuned To Your Weather Radio And Your Local News Media For The Latest River Information.

In the flatlands, you can bet there's a pretty good chance of something usually going on weatherwise.
Wind may not seem that much of a problem but when it gets ahold of something, there can be all kinds of problems. On a ROUTINE basis, even in town such things as &quot;green monster&quot; trash receptacles (especially when it's garbage day and the crews leave them with the lids open) *http://www.kaijuphile.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif and Wal-Mart/grocery store shopping carts get to be a potential *hazard. Two transformers (noted for their distinctive BANG! when they fry) have already gone out today, probably due to tree limbs knocking the lines around.
Know how your vehicles handle in ALL kinds of conditions, especially the blocky ones and pick-ups. Wonder why many *have their tailgates down on the Interstate if they aren't hauling stuff? Less wind resistance from the bed configuration from any direction.
There's all kinds of precautions ANYONE can take for a lot of stuff to keep a bad situation from becoming worse so be aware and be safe. We don't want to see any members posting in the &quot;Injurys and whacks&quot; topic now, do we?

[Rainbow_Mothra]

I live in north Florida so it has'nt gotten too bad yet, but yesterday when tropical storm Bonnie came through there were a couple of tornadoes.

[Burkion]

..........Oddly enough, I've NEVER seen a Tornado, nor a hurricane. Corse, I live in TN so that might have something to do with it.

[Archaic_Avenger]

glad to see you made it through. as for me, i've never seen a tornado or hurricane, but living down Tornado Alley,, i probably will sooner or later.

Rodan2000

[Killer-Croczilla]

I live on the edge of the ally and have seen a tornado

[Pug Puppy]

My Great Grandmother was born in 1890. When she was six years old, she was sitting out on the front porch of her farmhouse, with her family. This was after chores. Towards the direction of St. Louis, Missouri, they saw these ghastly dark clouds.
About an hour later, the local doctor passed them in his buggy. He said that the Outriders(horsemen who rode for help in time of trouble)had brought word
that a horrifying tornado had practically wasted downtown St. Louis, just as the factories and offices had let out for the day.
Up to 406 people were killed, and well over a thousand were wounded.
Now, the reason that tornadoes don't wreak that kind of havoc today, is due to radar, radio weather warnings, and shelters.
Now let's review some terms:
WATCH: Conditions are favorable for a tornado. Leave your radio on, but go about your business.
WARNING: The tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar. Take cover in a bombshelter, storm cellar, saferoom, basement, closet, or bathroom.
If outside, go to a community storm cellar or basement or subway. If that isn't possible, get in a cave or ditch or climb down a manhole cover.
DONOT try to outrun a tornado on foot, bicycle, horseback, ATV, or vehicle. The tornado may suddenly change direction, leaving you with no escape path.
DONOT take cover under a bridge or overpass. The wind will speed up like water through a house and blow you out at a speed fast enough to kill you.
DONOT take cover in a gymnasium, or other such area with load-bearing walls and without any roof supports. They almost always cave in during
a tornado.
If you have sports armor or a flak jacket, put it on. A sports helmet or an old army helmet will protect your head from flying junk. This is what causes most tornado wounds.
Stick your hands behind your head, and kneel facing with your bent back towards the wind.
After the storm has passed, check your radio to see if more storms are coming.
Stay informed, stay safe.

[Baragonrocks]

My hole state is in tornado waring I am scared.It is rainning and wind.Ivan is big as Texas.

[Baryonyx13]

Oh goodness... Wednesday at around 4 pm a tornado spawned from Ivan took out my power and killed one person, and several other tornados caused lots of property damage, mostly on the beach. I just got power back about 3 hours ago. Luckily, my home was spared, by many around me have some pretty serious damage, and a large street on the beach was demolished totally. This is all in the Panama City area, BTW. More death and destruction was caused near Pensecola, Mobile, and other areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and the Florida panhandle. It's a real mess down here.

[Raptor]

Tornado rips Cooter; 3 dead

By LINDA BARRON-Courier News

COOTER, Mo. -- Tragedy befell the small Pemiscot County, Mo., town of Cooter Monday evening when a tornado destroyed three homes, killing three people and injuring several others, according to Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell.
The homes were located on the property of local farmer Don Tims, and those whose lives were lost include Tims' father, Roy Tims, 86, known to the community as "Grandpa," Don Tims' sister, Joyce Crosskno, 61, and his brother-in-law, Jamie Smith.
According to Cooter Police Chief Ferrell Stewart, Smith's wife, Sharon, reported the tragedy from a cell phone just after 7:30 p.m. "We had sounded the alarm about 30 minutes prior to that call," Stewart said. Pemiscot County was under a tornado warning at the time the twister struck. The sheriff's office had received numerous reports of the funnel cloud after the tornado had struck the Tims' property as it continued east, crossing the Mississippi River into Dyer County, Tenn.
Cooter Fire Chief Charles Barger said he heard the tornado coming while he was outside under his carport across the field from the Tims property. "It sounded just like everybody says it does, like a freight train. I knew they were being hit, but it was dark and I couldn't see anything."
Stewart said within just a matter of seconds, the tornado touched down and was gone. "When I arrived at the scene, it was just awful. It was eerily quiet; then I heard the children crying out."
According to Stewart, the first house to be hit was Roy Tims', at which time Tims was thrown over 150 feet from his home and he and his daughter were killed. The next to be hit was a camping trailer occupied by farm worker Dillard Mooney who was the only one not injured because he was able to get into a large freezer that was used to store meat. The next thing hit was the farm shop and shed with several farm implements being damaged and a tractor-trailer rig being thrown over on its side.
Stewart said the next to be struck was Don Tims' home where Jamie and Sharon Smith were visiting. Tims, his wife, Debra, and her 11-year-old daughter, Katie Murphy, as well as Abbey Trammel, 11, and Amy Trammel, 8, were also in the home at the time. Jamie Smith was among those who were killed, while Don Tims, suffering from a broken back, and Sharon Smith, suffering from a broken pelvic bone, were taken to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. According to a hospital representative, Tims is listed in serious condition and Smith is listed in good condition.
The three children were thrown from the home and located as Stewart pulled up to the scene and placed them in his patrol unit. "They were later taken to the hospital for minor injuries, as was Debra Tims, but they were all treated and released."
For a while after the tornado struck, there were still some people missing and they had to search with flashlights. "It was very difficult and we didn't want to move anything because we didn't want to jeopardize the life of anyone who was alive and unaccounted for."
According to Stewart, search teams, rescue squads and search dogs were called in to help find those who were missing but before they could get to the site, everyone was found and accounted for.
"The last person we found was Roy," Stewart said. "We had probably walked right by him several times, but with only our flashlights, searching was not easy."
"I was amazed at the response and support we received from fire departments, rescue squads, police and sheriff's departments and volunteers who showed up to help within the hour following the tragedy," Stewart said. "For that I am truly thankful."
The Cooter Police Department received calls offering help from state Rep. Terry Swinger, U.S. Rep. JoAnne Emerson, Hayti (Mo.) Mayor Richard Ashbough and a representative of the Atmos Energy Corp. Stewart said he was amazed after seeing six cotton modules destroyed and strewn over the property. "It looks like a winter wonderland out there." Debris was located a mile and a half from the property, and there were propane tanks that were leaking, making the whole area reek of gas.
Greenwell said the tornado caused the most destruction he has seen in his 28 years in law enforcement in Pemiscot County. "Mr. Tims and his family are good friends to us all and very community oriented."
Stewart said his heart goes out to all the friends and family of those killed or injured in the tornado and that if they needed anything they only had to call. "These people were my friends and that makes it a little harder for me to deal with as well." Efforts are being made for local farmers and volunteers to assess damages to farm equipment and work "like they did in the old days" to get his crops out. "When you're farming, that's your livelihood and we've got to help him (Don Tims) with his crops," Stewart said. "This is a small community and I feel like we will all be able to pull together and help them." Volunteers from area farms were on the scene this morning to help clean up while neighbors searched for salvageable items from the homes.

[Raptor]

Since civil unrest in France is the current focus in the News Thread, I'll mention the tornado in Indiana here. Two days after, they are still searching for missing people. The aerial views vividly showed what happens to mobile homes in these situations. Apparently, "tie-downs" were in place but about everything except the frames got destroyed. Notice the small outbuildings that were still intact? Mention was also made that possibly the warning sirens were not effective, either in rousing people from sleep or otherwise.
If you think "tornado season" is over, forget it. West Memphis got hit by one on Christmas Eve one year.
It's November and 80 degrees around here. Get a cold front in and things could get hairy fast.

[Gorjirus]

Last night and this morning we had snow. The night before that, we almost had a tornado form (with 60+ degree weather).

Which is why it shouldn't be that warm during the winter.

[Raptor]

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9:00PM CDT. Carutherville, MO might have got hit.

[Raptor]

It did (http://www.dddnews.com/story/1146892.html), along with Marmaduke (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=4716817), AR. Braggadocio (http://www.dddnews.com/story/1146889.html), MO, for all purposes, got wiped off the map. Later, the storms proved outright deadly in Tennessee.

Local Links: The Dunklin Democrat (http://www.dddnews.com/) KAIT (http://www.kait8.com) (Jonesboro) Jonesboro Sun (http://www.jonesborosun.com/) Courier News (http://www.blythevillecn.com/Paper/Thisweek/monday/pages/1.html) coverage of Caruthersville. The local Rescue Squad immediately went up there, along with several police officers when the Caruthersville Fire Dep't. was "screaming for help." About the only way anyone can put it is "undescribable," even with the "human interest" vignettes the media always seems to be able to come up with.

[Burkion]

Well, TN's tossing in its hat for Tornado Alley title. Had a confirmed 35 tornados strike down yesterday, eleven dead due to it. Some struck down near here. (Power went out three times last night.)

[Burkion]

Yeah, TN has got some funky weather patterns...

Then again, many do not think it exists, so...

Also, apparntly Tornados have VERY mean senses of humor. A tornado struck last week or so, destroying several buildings and such. One of the buildings it left behind? A burial place. Know what it killed? The guy who runs the place's family. All of them. Guess who he gets to clean up soon?

[Raptor]

Some local pics and reports (http://ryansmorningblog.blogspot.com/), compliments of one of the Ch. 8 crew. Those interested in tornados and accompanying phenomenon can never have enough references IMO with the many variables than can come into play. Multiple twisters on the ground at the same time were also evident, I believe, from the Lafe, AR reports.

[Raptor]

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9:00PM CDT. Carutherville, MO might have got hit.Compare this (http://www.dddnews.com/story/1149562.html) to Katrina.

[EternalMothra]

I remember all the way back to 1995 we had a tornado not too far away from where I live. I was at my grandmas house when it passed. When I got home there was a mess, the house was fine but everything in the yard was a mess. A couple trees down, our tomato plants in our garden were twisted around their tomato wires and a barn across the road from where I live was completely destroyed. It was pretty hectic, but cool nonetheless.:D

[HolyGoji777]

ok this one goes way back..i was on a family trip with my parents we were going out to wyoming to stay with my uncle which was an AWESOME experience.

but on the way out were driving through nebraska which is basically nothing but corn, cows and prairie. anyways its was late afternoon but the sky was PITCH BLACK. like nighttime black. no joke.

anyways the land was SO flat you could see the bolts of lightning strike the ground, i could see a tree that was struck on fire in the distance. the radio was telling everyone to take shelter or evacuate the area. you could see the funnel clouds forming in the air and the radio reported tornados in the area...

the rain came down so hard you could barely see out the windshield but i was so curious rolled down the window a bit so i could see clearly.

we just kept driving because there wasnt really anywhere we could go. no shelter nearby...eventually we drove out of the storm. it was a scary experience but one of the neatest ones of my life.

not thunderstorm related but we almost stayed in yellowstone an extra day but then decided against it...turns out an earthquake occured that day!!! lol if we had stayed i would have experienced an earthquake too lol.

[OniGojira]

I didn't know this happened in 1999. Check it out http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6515&start=91 See the photo of Columbia at the pad with a tornado?

[King-Goji]

Is that picture actually real?

It looks like a bad matte painting...

[OniGojira]

Maybe, but according to the person who posted it, it isn't. Don't forget there was a tornado in Miami once. So this could have happened.

[godofPH]

Maybe, but according to the person who posted it, it isn't.

I haven't even looked yet, and my trust of this is dropping.

Even if it is real, who really gives a damn? It almost hit the shuttle, and it was back in bloody 1999! We were still worried about the Y2K bug bringing about the apocalypse! Besides, we all know that Columbia got her swan song on a stage with much more fire.

[OniGojira]

It still looks like a cool picture to me.

[OniGojira]

I don't know if there is a thread yet on this, but if not here we go.

Spring is here now, and so is violent storms. I am worried on what may happen this year as the weather during winter was warm for a while, then went back to cold. To me, I thin for spring and summer stronger storms will pop up.

I've been in some tornadoes. A couple I vividly remember. My aunt, uncle, brother, little cousin, myself, and uncle were watching tv when whoosh this storm blew in out of nowhere. I was 9 at the time this happened. I ran in the basement panicing. My aunt and cousin ran in with me, but for some stupid reason my brother and uncle wanted to se the thing. The trees in the backyard were bent over that they nearly touched the ground. The wind was howling, and from what my brother tells me the funnel looked like a rope hanging out of the storm. As quick as it started it was gone in a minute.

The next day being driven to school, the damage was ripped up trees littering the street, and close to where the tornado was a trailer-like those seen for construction crews, was knocked on it's side.

Another time during a nasty storm lightning hit my house. I even saw it, some weird flash on a wall. No damage from that, but a moment later the sirents began to go off, and like before i nthe basement everyone went. My grandma from the Philippines was with us. It was very bad. Thankfully again the tornado was not close enough to do anything, but instead the backyard was flooded. Some of the neighbor's basements were flooded as well.

The next day it was still flooded outside. Heh, a river in the yard. Too bad I don't have a boat. :) The result of the flood is still there, even now, a big ditch cut into the ground.

[Raptor]

We have a topic now, gleaned from the WEATHER thread. :D
Storm cellars and such are handly things in the flatlands and often incentives (http://www.adem.state.ar.us/documents/Preparedness/Mitigation/safe_rooms_first%20page.htm) are available to build them. Thing is, a lot of great programs like this don't get promoted.

[OniGojira]

Funding and public interest are the main factors in such things. The fools will learn when death is knocking.

[Raptor]

I don't care how much denial might be out there, hazards can be very real. Thing is, unless the sirens go off, most folks are listening to the rampant commercialism life seems to be directed toward rather than reality. Tornados being "in season", the media (for those who check it regular) has been doing its duty around here. Siren tests have been moved to Mondays, which I think is a good idea (rather than Fridays).
I would suggest everyone figure out where the closest one is and make sure it goes off during the tests. If it doesn't, let the police department or whoever is in charge of them know. Even better, attend a free Storm Spotter class. It's a great way to learn how to keep an eye on Mother Nature.
Funding shouldn't be a problem when it comes to public safety. Tornado awareness sure beats our City Council nearly accepting a Chamber recommendation to spend $15,000 on deserted Main Street's PLANTERS for another whitewash attempt... :angry:

[OniGojira]

Never trust beauricrats (forgive spelling) when it comes to safety, all they think of is arguing over each other than solve a problem.

Seriously, some money can be put to better use in saving lives than on something useless like a cencus on who has a better car.

You know an F-6 tornado with this global warming can happen. 301 to 120 mph is very powerful, asphalt torn out of the ground and entire houses thrown into the air.

The movie Twister shows in realistic detail what being through a tornado is like- I know from my own personal experiences.

[Cyndi]

Twister!? Don't make me laugh. The day two human beings can outrun an F5 that's almost on top of them WITHOUT BEING THROWN INTO THE AIR is the day monkeys will grow wings and fly.

I've never seen a tornado IRL and I know what happened in that scene is impossible.

[OniGojira]

That's the only fictional part,but what you see the tornadoes do i nthe movie is based on reality.

People who have survived being yanked into a tornado say it is clear inside there, like the eye of a hurricane, and it stinks of ozone.

Yeah the weirdest phenomena is how they can damage a house and the neighbor is ok.

Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_intensity_and_damage for the damage tornadoes can do. Also http://www.tornadoproject.com

[Cyndi]

Yeah, I know how a tornado can trash a house and leave the fine china untouched, or throw a crate of eggs without breaking one, or even leave chickens plucked but otherwise alive. They do weird ****. One distant relative of mine had her baby in his carseat thrown a hundred feet(sucked right out of her hands!) and the baby was fine. They found his carseat mangled and the baby sitting under a tree without a scratch.

[Zardac the Great]

We had tornados where I go to school last night.

I went to the next town for a Bible Study, and I was on the phone with my mother right outside the house when the siren went off. These people live right next to the siren, so it made no difference whether we were inside or outside.

I have no memory of running to their door. I just know that seconds later, I was outside of my car and banging on their door. I was panicking. (note:panicking is not a good plan) Within about a second, my panicked mind decided to try and open their door. Luckily, they opened it as I was trying to get in. If they hadn't I believe I would have busted the door down.

After the Bible Study and the storm were both over, I thouht about everything and realized how stupid my panic was. On the other hand, I didn't really choose to panic. It just happened. One second I was fine, the next second I heard a siren and tried to figure out what it was. Or it seemed like a second. I suppose it could have been quicker, but after I knew what it was, my mind shut off and panic set in.

However, panic makes you do stupid things. I believe I could have and would have busted my friend's door down with the ammount of adrenaline rushing through my veins. That would have caused problems. Though I did not choose to panic, I also did not choose to stop panicking. It would have been my fault.

Okay. rant over. My legs are feeling like jelly again with the memmory.

[OniGojira]

Here is a frightening video of a tornado http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2veLsNZrlSw A whole building desintegrates.

This may sound crazy, but despite me being scared of them, seeing one is rare. I've yet to see a tornado. I've been in such weather, but never saw one before. I have heard the sound they make, some say it sounds like a jet engine or frieght train.

[Raptor]

TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9:00PM CDT. Carutherville, MO might have got hit.

It did (http://www.dddnews.com/story/1146892.html), along with Marmaduke (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=4716817), AR. Braggadocio (http://www.dddnews.com/story/1146889.html), MO, for all purposes, got wiped off the map. Later, the storms proved outright deadly in Tennessee.
A moment in time captured and remembered (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6310352). Newspaper coverage (http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.php?ID=26878) is starting also.

[Raptor]

I figured the front would swing south and catch us... The forecasted low tonight is in the 40s while it's 81 right now. This appears to be the tail end of the mess over southern IL and IN. Northern Kentucky - best keep an eye on weather also.

Urgent - Immediate Broadcast Requested Tornado Watch Number 114 Nws Storm Prediction Center Norman Ok 310 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2007
The Nws Storm Prediction Center Has Issued A Tornado Watch For Portions Of Northern Arkansas Missouri Bootheel Parts Of Northern Mississippi Western Tennessee

Effective This Tuesday Afternoon And Evening From 310 PM Until 1000 PM CDT.

Tornadoes... Hail To 3 Inches In Diameter... Thunderstorm Wind Gusts To 80 Mph... And Dangerous Lightning Are Possible In These Areas.

The Tornado Watch Area Is Approximately Along And 70 Statute Miles North And South Of A Line From 10 Miles North Northwest Of Fort Smith Arkansas To 45 Miles East Of Jackson Tennessee.

Remember... A Tornado Watch Means Conditions Are Favorable For Tornadoes And Severe Thunderstorms In And Close To The Watch Area. Persons In These Areas Should Be On The Lookout For Threatening Weather Conditions And Listen For Later Statements And Possible Warnings.

Discussion... Air Mass Now Very Unstable With Mlcapes Aoa 2500 J/Kg Coupled With 40-50kt Of Deep Layer Shear... Conditions Are Favorable For Supercells Including Tornadoes. Severe Thunderstorms Across Srn MO Will Continue To Develop Across The Watch Area With Accompanying Threat Of Very Large Hail... Increasing Wind Damage Potential Along With Tornadoes.

Aviation... Tornadoes And A Few Severe Thunderstorms With Hail Surface And Aloft To 3 Inches. Extreme Turbulence And Surface Wind Gusts To 70 Knots. A Few Cumulonimbi With Maximum Tops To 550. Mean Storm Motion Vector 26030.

[Varan101]

I've seen a tornado before. Well actually it was a water spout. It went right past where I was at the moment - an amusement park filled with thousands of tourists. It looked like something out of a Godzilla movie with all the people running and panicking.

[Raptor]

The National Weather Service In Memphis Has Issued A * Tornado Warning For... Craighead County and Mississippi County In Eastern Arkansas... * Until 800 PM CDT

* At 710 PM CDT... National Weather Service Doppler Radar Was Tracking A Tornado Near Caraway... Moving East At 40 Mph.
* Other Locations In The Warning Include But Are Not Limited To Three Way... Dyess... Keiser... Marie... Wilson... Osceola... Burdette And Luxora
.In Addition To The Tornado... This Storm Is Capable Of Producing Golfball Size Hail And Destructive Straight Line Winds.

Keiser and Wilson (south end) advised to take cover. Gosnell sounded their sirens and the school prepared for sheltering. Possible funnel cloud spotted by the river as the storm leaves the area amid marble-sized hail and spectacular lightning display. The temp. has dropped to 60. The Wilson Jct. sub-station got fried but that should be about it.

[Raptor]

Locally, so far all we've suffered this year is a school bus from Gosnell getting its windows blown out as it departed Jonesboro and a coach got cut up. That evening, a uniform service's sheet metal building over there got half trashed. Seeing it on frequent trips is rather unnerving, like the stuff in trees and busted up business signs in West Memphis.
Now we have Kansas (http://www.kansas.com/197/story/62467.html). We had a big annual city street festival today and one of the merchants mentioned it as we were setting up, having caught the news in brief as "the town being destroyed." It is now being carried in detail on overseas online services.
The thing is, this is a smaller town where you're likely to only have "one of" many services and amenities. Being the county seat, many facilities serve other communities. The impact goes beyond what we see in the still shots. :(

[Cyndi]

OMG! I've been hearing stuff on the news about nasty *** weather and tornadoes going on in the middle of the country(Kansas I think). I hope everyone is okay and staying safe back there.

[EternalMothra]

Wow....tornadoes usually do not occur in January...but today we had a tornado warning right in my college town in MICHIGAN of all places. Right now I"m stranded in a hall (not a residence hall) with Sahra (ookami lol). It was scary, we parked at the hall and it started hailing and the tornado siren went off. Sahra and I eventually booked it out of the car. The entire road was flooded really badly and I twisted my ankle. So yeah, idk what we are going to do right now. I had astronomy class, but it is likely that it is cancelled. So yeah, yay for me right now. All of campus power is out haha. NO CLASS W00t.

[Hybrid Gojira]

I hope everything is alright! =)

[Jet Jaguar]

Missouri had Tornado mwarnings and watches as well

[EternalMothra]

Yeah things are a bit better now. It is so weird having that weather in January, apparently the power company suffered severe damage. There's still no power and won't be until late at night. No classes today YAY!

[Zardac the Great]

Stay safe.

No more KP funerals.

[EternalMothra]

Rofl, things are good now. Power is back YAY!

[Zardac the Great]

Woot for power!

I'm kinda addicted to it myself...

[EternalMothra]

Yeah...it makes me wonder what would happen if there was like a world wide blackout or something someday. We depend so much upon electricity.

[Raptor]

The local paper had a great shot of an Old Dominion tractor-trailer combo on its side over by our new Plum Point power plant being built to the south. You often hear how supposedly "safe" it is to be in a vehicle during bad weather but the big rigs seem particularly vulnerable to tornados and bad winds. More than one driver has injured himself bailing out of the things when they see a funnel cloud coming! :crazy:
When it's 70 degrees in January and there's a cold front moving in, you'd best be leery around here! The upcoming Storm Watchers class ought to have a full house! :p
Lots of downed power lines blocked roads so the TV vans probably didn't bother coming here. I believe only one town lost power for a bit. Jonesboro (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7594272) had some stuff to cover closer to home. Another (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7603022) scene. Craighead and Poinsett counties got state disaster area declarations by the Governor.

[Raptor]

Hang on tight! The winds behind the huge front that moved across the river are tearing the place up. Semis being blown over, lines and trees down. The sheltered back yard is now a parking lot (again) as trees and car port covers are taking off about everywhere down the streets (along with a few roofs in exposed areas).

HIGH WIND WARNING - until 8 PM
Tornado Watch - until 7 PM (the temp seems to have dropped 30 degrees already...). Expected low: Low 20s from a high of 67.

AND THIS AIN'T TEXAS!!!

[Raptor]

Checking on 'philes in VIRGINIA (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/severe_weather;_ylt=AnDK5.apwrwwT3S1ES4eqLis0NUE). Hope everyone was safe.

[Raptor]

The little town of Etowah (http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=8264858). Earle (http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=8263294). "Raw feed" via Topix (http://www.topix.com/forum/city/osceola-ar/TTJADTGU28OQBBIF6). Saturday, Springtime on the Mall and the Music Fest went on as planned, in the 60s and a bit windy but clear. Low tonight should be 40. By Tuesday, we could be into another go-round with the weird weather.

[Raptor]

"The ride of their lives (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=8293387)".

[EternalMothra]

We had 2 more tornadoes up here today. I spent all day cleaning trees up at my grandma's house. It got pretty bad, bad enough that the news was out town! lol


Oh yeah, we had a tornado yesterday too....

[Raptor]

From the Mena, AR forum (http://z4.invisionfree.com/Mena_Forum/index.php) from BearCatFan:
Posted: Apr 12 2009, 08:58 AM
Since the clean-up has started we have made great strides as a community. We all know that there is still a lot more to do and it is a for sure thing that it will be many yrs before our communtiy has the same look as it did prior to thursday.


I have been working the last couple of days with the clean-up in several different areas and capacities. The one thing that is evident though is the fact that we are going to come through this even stronger than before.


One really good story I have is yesterday I was passing out Plywood (OSB), 2x4s, tarps, water and anything else the folks needed. I had a guy come by our church where we were passing out supplies and he needed some things to cover some holes on the roof before the rains came this morning. He was from New Jersey and couldn't believe how we as a community have come together without any assistance from the fed govt to tackle such a devastating problem.


He said that all his relatives in Jersey kept calling and offering to send down food, supplies, geenerators and whatever else he needed. He informed them that we have all that and then some and most folks are willing to help each other and just give them the things that they need. Well the family members had a hard time believing that the stores here and the neighbors weren't trying to rob him blind and raising their prices 400 or 500 percent. They were pretty much dumb founded from what he said.


It's a good thing this guy was able to see how real people live here in the south. What is evident is the fact that we are all in the same boat and take the time to reach out and help our brothers and sisters. It has been really great to see how we have come together to jump in a grab this situation by the reins and take control. Too bad it took such a problem as this to get get us all together.


As afras FEMA is concerned we have proven that they are really not needed immediately after the initial problem begins. Sure they have a role in the overall big picture, if we let them have it, but we have proven that they aren't needed from the get-go.


I hope all of you get a chance to get out and help some folks. There are a lot of families that still need your help!!

That's how we do it in Dixie, as the saying goes! :thumbs:

Someone else had previously posted "Mena don't need FEMA!" Speaking of which, in today's paper the Mayor once again provided a cost update on our ice storm clean-up: $1,538,125. The city (meaning residents) will be paying about $192,262 via $10 charges on our water bills for 3 months. Guess what? I'm not seeing where we have 6,500 residential water accounts and the city is broke, as it has been for several years according to The Powers That Be!
About 25% of the clean-up cost is for "monitoring" because FEMA got ripped off after Katrina (according to the head monitor shill I talked to). Seeing THAT waste of money in action was worst than riding out the storm itself. :angry:

[Raptor]

An article on storm chasers (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12719436). The local tracker (http://www.kait8.com/Global/category.asp?C=5795) also went to Oklahoma (http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12455878).

[Cyndi]

I'm in California, and in January...WE GOT A TORNADO WARNING!

http://www.motionbox.com/videos/d497d4bb1a1de2c55b

There WAS a tornado on the ground, but it was miles from me. Still, we got the wind!