Tornado jitters.

[Feralpeg]

We are OK too, but we are all exhausted. We lost power for several hours last night and our stupid weather radio does not take batteries. What the crap is that?! So I was on the phone with my mom who lives an hour and a half from us who was giving us updates from her weather radio. Her power was also out.

Our schools didn't delay opening this morning, but I have not taken my kids yet. They are getting ready right now and we are heading in.

I am coming home and plan to watch TV to see just how bad it was. I did here that we had a large number of fatalities last night here in Alabama. It's just awful.

So glad you made it through okay. So many in Alabama did not. This is the worst tornado outbreak I can remember and I've been around a long time! Over 230 people lost their lives and this number will most likely rise. My heart breaks for all those hurting this morning. I hope this is the end of the terrible weather this season!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Things have been crazy in northern NJ the past hour. We have been under tornado warning and the rain has been heavy.

We have friends in Harvest, Alabama in Madison county and it looks like they town got hit.

 

[LilyWDW]

We made it through with no damage too. I heard that Glade Springs in VA got hit really hard too. It was really scary last night. I am glad to hear that you and your family are safe. I have a friend in Johnson City that she wasn't watching the news and didn't realize how bad it was.

Glad to hear you made it through safe too.

I had a friend who was stuck on campus at the library last night (ETSU). They ushered everyone to the first floor bathrooms as the storms passed. The emergency sirens on campus did go off because they wanted those in the dorms to get to safety instead of just sitting in their rooms. Lucky, I am not hearing of any damage on campus or at the VA (the VA was hit with a tornado the last set of storms).

I guess what is really getting to me is the thought of how I can just get up, go to class, and just go ahead with my life when there are so many people who have lost so much. I mean, I feel bad when things happen in other countries, but this has hit me harder because I can drive over to where people died. It's just really odd for me.

Also, I want to thank everyone on this thread who was here for us last night. It really helped to know people were thinking about us and hoping us well. It also really helped to have somewhere to go to talk as we were waiting. So thank you and I appreciate all of you so much.

 

[Feralpeg]

The local news announced that Central Florida will have a chance for severe weather with tornadoes this afternoon. Lovely! I was hoping this one would pass us by. We really need rain, but I could do without the severe part!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Oddly, things have been very calm here in Kansas. My heart goes out to everyone in the south, and of course in St. Louis too. As my mother would say, the devil was out to play last night. This has been a horrible spring!

 

[marcyinPA]

Praying for you all. We don't get severe weather in PA (normally), just the occasional tornado every couple of years.

Today, we had a tornado warning for my area, and my DS15 texted me to let me know that all the kids in his HS were sitting in the hallways. As of 11:30-12:00, everything was back to normal and they were back to class.

It is frightening, especially when you don't really know what you are dealing with.

 

[n2dzny]

Things have been crazy in northern NJ the past hour. We have been under tornado warning and the rain has been heavy.

We have friends in Harvest, Alabama in Madison county and it looks like they town got hit.

Harvest did get hit. I work in Huntsville (just south of Harvest) & I was able to make it to my moms this morning (an hr & half away, she had power). There is a mass power outage & it looks like it could be up to a week before it is restored. I hope they are ok, I'm sure you will hear from them when they get power. Just thought you would like to know.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I'm in southern Illinois and we've had a lot of rain and flooding over the past week. I've been through a tornado before. My heart goes out to all involved.

 

[mandy200587]

A friend in N. Alabama just said they are cutting off her water in 2 hours.

 

[Kycha]

Praying for you all. We don't get severe weather in PA (normally), just the occasional tornado every couple of years.

Today, we had a tornado warning for my area, and my DS15 texted me to let me know that all the kids in his HS were sitting in the hallways. As of 11:30-12:00, everything was back to normal and they were back to class.

It is frightening, especially when you don't really know what you are dealing with.

I know there was a possible tornado in Lebanon Co. $1 million worth of damage. And their damage was like .0001 percent of what they got in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. I can't imagine the loss there, not just in terms of dollars but lives lost.

 

[hereyago]

Here in Southeastern part of Va. waiting for the storm system to come. put away everything that was outside. weather radio ready.

 

[laurie31]

I don't even know where to start. I didn't leave work until nearly 2am last night. We got 24 critically injured patients from the tornado, and two have since passed. I have no idea how many other (not critically injured) patients there were in the ER.

I have a co-worker from one of the devastated suburbs of Birmingham who found bodies in her yard.

I myself have no power, phone, cable or WATER. We won't have water again until the power is back on, as the water plant has lost power. We've never lost water before, because even though our own power was out, the water plant still had power. Now they don't, and their back-up generators have failed.

My parents are in Cullman, which was devasted. My home church, where I was married, has serious damage. The *entire city* is without power. Their main feed from the power plant was destroyed; they say it will be 9 days before it can be restored. There are no grocery stores, no restaurants, no gas staions open. So it's not like people can just go out to eat somewhere since their power is off. They will have to make do with what's in their pantries. The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is where most of Cullman's power comes from and it is shut down. http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/04/28/nuclear-plant-in-alabama-is-shut-down-after-storm/

At least we aren't dealing with a nuclear disaster on top of our natural disaster the way Japan is.

 

[tink20]

I don't even know where to start. I didn't leave work until nearly 2am last night. We got 24 critically injured patients from the tornado, and two have since passed. I have no idea how many other (not critically injured) patients there were in the ER.

I have a co-worker from one of the devastated suburbs of Birmingham who found bodies in her yard.

I myself have no power, phone, cable or WATER. We won't have water again until the power is back on, as the water plant has lost power. We've never lost water before, because even though our own power was out, the water plant still had power. Now they don't, and their back-up generators have failed.

My parents are in Cullman, which was devasted. My home church, where I was married, has serious damage. The *entire city* is without power. Their main feed from the power plant was destroyed; they say it will be 9 days before it can be restored. There are no grocery stores, no restaurants, no gas staions open. So it's not like people can just go out to eat somewhere since their power is off. They will have to make do with what's in their pantries. The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is where most of Cullman's power comes from and it is shut down. http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/04/28/nuclear-plant-in-alabama-is-shut-down-after-storm/

At least we aren't dealing with a nuclear disaster on top of our natural disaster the way Japan is.

Bless you, your family and friends. I live in Mobile and I have been watching all the news coverage. I will keep you all in my prayers, I wish there was more I could do.

 

[heatherwillmom]

It's a miracle but our county seemed to be spared from damage. 3 counties surrounding us had heavy damage including 8 deaths in Greene County. One of my co-workers who lives in Greene COunty didn't come in to work today because 2 of the dead were her cousins.

 

[minkydog]

I don't even know where to start. I didn't leave work until nearly 2am last night. We got 24 critically injured patients from the tornado, and two have since passed. I have no idea how many other (not critically injured) patients there were in the ER.

I have a co-worker from one of the devastated suburbs of Birmingham who found bodies in her yard.

I myself have no power, phone, cable or WATER. We won't have water again until the power is back on, as the water plant has lost power. We've never lost water before, because even though our own power was out, the water plant still had power. Now they don't, and their back-up generators have failed.

My parents are in Cullman, which was devasted. My home church, where I was married, has serious damage. The *entire city* is without power. Their main feed from the power plant was destroyed; they say it will be 9 days before it can be restored. There are no grocery stores, no restaurants, no gas staions open. So it's not like people can just go out to eat somewhere since their power is off. They will have to make do with what's in their pantries. The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is where most of Cullman's power comes from and it is shut down. http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/04/28/nuclear-plant-in-alabama-is-shut-down-after-storm/

At least we aren't dealing with a nuclear disaster on top of our natural disaster the way Japan is.

Such sad news. I'm sorry for you and your community. It must be much like when a hurricane hits. Except that you get a few days to prepare with a hurricane. I'm glad y'all made it through and I hope your power and water are restored quickly.

 

[minkydog]

Sorry to be checking in so late, but just wanted to let everyone know we made out okay. Several tornadoes touched down north and south of us, but nothing in my community. We have a lot of debris down, but nothing a wheelbarrow and a good hot fire won't take care of. When I watch the news footage of the devastation in my home state(AL) I could just cry. I *am* crying. Where do you even start when you've lost everything AND your neighbors and your city and your county have lost everything, too. How do you overcome something like that?

 

[Nancy]

I don't even know where to start. I didn't leave work until nearly 2am last night. We got 24 critically injured patients from the tornado, and two have since passed. I have no idea how many other (not critically injured) patients there were in the ER.

I have a co-worker from one of the devastated suburbs of Birmingham who found bodies in her yard.

I myself have no power, phone, cable or WATER. We won't have water again until the power is back on, as the water plant has lost power. We've never lost water before, because even though our own power was out, the water plant still had power. Now they don't, and their back-up generators have failed.

My parents are in Cullman, which was devasted. My home church, where I was married, has serious damage. The *entire city* is without power. Their main feed from the power plant was destroyed; they say it will be 9 days before it can be restored. There are no grocery stores, no restaurants, no gas staions open. So it's not like people can just go out to eat somewhere since their power is off. They will have to make do with what's in their pantries. The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is where most of Cullman's power comes from and it is shut down. http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/04/28/nuclear-plant-in-alabama-is-shut-down-after-storm/

At least we aren't dealing with a nuclear disaster on top of our natural disaster the way Japan is.

Oh my. I don't even know what to say to this post.

We had a snow/ice storm that knocked out power, I was without for 8 days, but we didn't have all the other damage and deaths to deal with on top of it. I just have no words.

 

[ilovejack02]

A friend in N. Alabama just said they are cutting off her water in 2 hours.

I am getting the same info as well for Huntsville area , heard the gas being shut off too . Getting my ducks in a row , just sent out texts to my family there , offering up our guest room . My inlaws are elderly I'm not sure how long they can camp out and my bil has a baby.

 

[mandy200587]

I am getting the same info as well for Huntsville area , heard the gas being shut off too . Getting my ducks in a row , just sent out texts to my family there , offering up our guest room . My inlaws are elderly I'm not sure how long they can camp out and my bil has a baby.

I hadn't heard about the gas. My best friend lives close to the TN border. I offered up my place even if it's a couch.

 

[ilovejack02]

I hadn't heard about the gas. My best friend lives close to the TN border. I offered up my place even if it's a couch.

Mil said they want to come , now for them to find gas for trip which with curfew can't do until tomorrow . Hopefully they can make it , hubby tracking road closures, gas shortages etc. This brings back horrible flashbacks from Katrina . Minkeydog asked how do you come back from this ? From experience , the human spirit always overcomes , won't be without scarring , but the goodwill of others usually helps to heal as does time .