So we're sitting at home, Rochelle is watching Colonial House and I'm studying up on tube amp repair. I get up to grab a snack, and as I'm in the kitchen the wind picks up like crazy and it's raining sideways, lightning and thunder everywhere. Out of nowhere. Like instantly...
So I, being completely paranoid, immediately think there's a tornado coming. I go to the computer and click our Bloomington weather.com bookmark (which I have set up for just such an occasion), and I see two different tornado warnings at the top of the page. Here's one of them...
So I, being completely paranoid, immediately think there's a tornado coming. I go to the computer and click our Bloomington weather.com bookmark (which I have set up for just such an occasion), and I see two different tornado warnings at the top of the page. Here's one of them...
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 800 PM EDT MON JUN 14 2010 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN BROWN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...
SOUTH CENTRAL MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA...
* UNTIL 830 PM EDT
* AT 758 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTH OF BLOOMINGTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
* THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
CHARLES DEAM WILDERNESS AROUND 810 PM EDT...
WOODVILLE HILLS AND YELLOWWOOD LAKE AROUND 815 PM EDT...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
The words "TAKE COVER NOW" are extremely intimidating. Especially after reading the whole alert. I mean, if it's that urgent, don't you think they ought to put them at the TOP of the page??? I could have used that minute and a half to get out of the tornado's way already, thank you very much.
So we booked it to the closet under the stairs, grabbed flashlights and the radio and told Grant we were hiding and let him play with a flashlight. Henry got a little nervous. Rochelle was way calm. I was on edge the whole time. Maybe borderline freaking out is a better way to put it, under my calm and collected Dad-Facade. I'm not afraid to say, tornados scare me out of my mind. Earthquakes I can do. I kind of enjoy them in a morbid way. Tornados, no thanks. You can keep 'em.
Fortunately we're fine. We heard reports that there was a funnel cloud just down the road, but whether anything actually touched down we don't know. Anyway, tornado scare over. My heartbeat is back to normal. I think.
And then there was this insane sunset. Like nothing I've ever seen.
And a cool rainbow
-Ben
4 comments:
Glad you were safe. When I went home a couple years ago, everyone went out to celebrate Reid's graduation. I stayed home with Mattson who was pretty sick. I started freaking out b/c there were tornado warnings EVERYWHERE and a tornado had touched down in the same town my parents were in...with Hunter! Yikes!
Hope Grant had fun! :)
That's because Rochelle is from the Midwest. I know when the sirens go off here most of us look outside before we do much of anything. That happened a few weeks ago and it was sunny, so I didn't even worry, plus I usually have radar up when I know we have storms coming (gotta love NOAA.gov) so I know where it is and where it's going.
The few times we've actually felt an earthquake (they DO happen but nothing like California!) it's quite the adventure and the talk of the town for months. People STILL talk every once and awhile about the *3.0* we had here in *1985* (which I also remember!). I'm sure Californians wouldn't even notice!
And yes, thunderstorms produce some pretty cool sunsets when they move out at the right time. My mom told me after a tornado hit Kent back in 1973 (last time we got hit by one), the sky was green when she looked outside right afterwards. Very eerie.
glad you guys are safe! Tornadoes are my worst nightmare! We would always have tornado watches/warnings in Ohio...and not too long ago a couple of them touched down where I used to live...Toledo, Ohio. So, I know that kind of fear!
I guess anywhere you live, there is something. I think you need a bigger closet with a jacuzzi or something!
Love you!
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