Tornado jitters.

[donaldduck352]

This has got me glued to the Weather Channel.This is the worst I have ever seen my lifetime in the share size of catasrophe it has done.The lifes the tornado outbreak effected and took has left me without words.

Early post's on this thread asked should I take cover?I was in wow.When they tell ya that tornado's are GONNA happen in your area,yes take cover no matter what!!

The Weather Channel warned of this a day ahead of time and they where spot on about the locations.They had a Tor-Con value of 100%,thats unheard of.

I know N Alabama and have alot of friends up there.I did get ahold of afew but not all.From the one's I did talk to they said it looks like a war zone.

Thoughts and prayers for all involved.

 

[maroo]

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!!!!

I am so very sorry!

We lived through this with Katrina - and it was something I will never forget.

If you can...get some cash and keep it with you. In the next few days you will probably have gas shortages - because you can't fill up for the time being and you are forced to all wait - and then EVERYONE goes to the gas station at once and it runs out. So get gas as soon as you can and try to keep your cars full.

I am trying to think of other things that helped us. We cooked everything in the freezer on the grill - all the meat and such - and invited the neighbors over to help eat the food. Then we went without for a while.

It is horrible - but you will get through it and one day tell stories and it won't see as terrible after some time passes.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I live in Tuscaloosa. My wife and I work on the campus of UA and she was not able to get home until 10:00 this morning. She tried for 5 hours to get home after the tornado, and was blocked by debris everywhere. After returning to her office, she stayed there for the night with no power, then wa sfinally able to get home today.

We lost power and water, but our home and family ware safe. But we have many friends who were not as fortunate. The reporters say this was a once in a lifetime event. They better be right!

 

[crazelion]

Let's see. I finally got power back on. All my food is lost. I tree in the house. I 3 tress down. I have been up for 24 hours. Can any one say wire.

I had go work on my seasonal job because they had power and food for us to eat.

My job is close. The kids daycare is close. School is today and tomorrow. Did I mention we is out snow days.

 

[laurie31]

bless you!!!!

I am so very sorry!

We lived through this with Katrina - and it was something I will never forget.

If you can...get some cash and keep it with you. In the next few days you will probably have gas shortages - because you can't fill up for the time being and you are forced to all wait - and then EVERYONE goes to the gas station at once and it runs out. So get gas as soon as you can and try to keep your cars full.

I am trying to think of other things that helped us. We cooked everything in the freezer on the grill - all the meat and such - and invited the neighbors over to help eat the food. Then we went without for a while.

It is horrible - but you will get through it and one day tell stories and it won't see as terrible after some time passes.

Thank you for these suggestions!! DH asked me earlier to get cash today and I forgot! I'll do it ASAP! I hadn't thought about gas here, but yes, I'll get gas on the way home from work tonight, just to be safe.


Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.

I live in Tuscaloosa. My wife and I work on the campus of UA and she was not able to get home until 10:00 this morning. She tried for 5 hours to get home after the tornado, and was blocked by debris everywhere. After returning to her office, she stayed there for the night with no power, then wa sfinally able to get home today.

We lost power and water, but our home and family ware safe. But we have many friends who were not as fortunate. The reporters say this was a once in a lifetime event. They better be right!

AMEN!!!

Glad you guys are safe!

 

[live4christp1]

Our area had 3 come through Tuesday. First one came early morning.....kids were at school and had to go into tornado mode before even dismissing to their homerooms (CST). Didn't do much damage in the county were the school is. Nieces live in another county about 15 miles away. Youngest had lots of trees down, siding torn off, girls swing set uprooted and tossed across the yard, and power pole snapped in half. Many others in the area with lots of downed trees, power lines, etc. The elementary school in this county was hit and has some substantial damage but thankfully no one was hurt. It moves on hitting another community and causing a lot of destruction. (as I later drive home and to the school I see where the tornado crossed the interstate in this area)

About 10:30 EST I got a call at work from DDs teacher that they were dismissing early in anticipation of the next front coming through......did I want to pick them up or send them on the bus. Clocked out and went to get the kids. Got to our road and train had stopped blocking our crossing. We waited for an hour then neighbor came out and said we were under a tornado warning again, to come inside. So we went inside and waited, at one point the weatherman was showing 8 areas of rotation in the system - 6 of them clustered together. That one blew through with lots of hail and hard rain. Finally the train moved and we were able to get home.

Put potatos in oven to bake as I had told nieces they could come to house if they needed to - they have no power and won't for days. Here what sounds like rumbling thunder......except it never ends......just continous-the kids and I all grabbed our shoes and flashlights, unplugged the electronics, grabbed the battery radio and head to the basement. Power goes out. We open the basement door so we can see out, it's hailing and pounding rain.

My sister calls and says oldest nieces house is gone but they are okay. She is unable to reach youngest (they had intended to go to my dads who lives right below me but the train had blocked them and they have 2 girls under age 3 and had gone back home).

Storm passes. We are very fortunate with the loss of power being the only aftermath. We go to dad's and take baked potatos, salad and bread as the soup didn't get completed before power outage and eat by candlelight awaiting news.

Youngest niece texts back to say they are okay. Can smell gas leaks. Total devestation all around their community (also were we go to church). Sister arrives at dad's and has talked to oldest daughter. She had gone to the neighbors house with her husband and son to wait out the storm as they live in a mobile home and thought they'd be safer at their friend/neighbors. They had just gone inside when it hit the house - it knocked them to the floor - all that's left is the bathroom and laundry room - they all are uninjured. When they are finally able to get back up to their trailer it is untouched. This small community was hit by all three storms. There are houses completely gone. Two people lost their lives in this community. Seeing the pictures of all my church friends posting on FB and everything on the news - it's devastating.

Knowing that there are other areas that were hit even harder than our immediate surrounding area - please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all. DS and I will be heading out Saturday morning to see if we can lend a hand in the clean up efforts, take bottled water and clothes. Many families have lost everything.

DH finally was able to get in touch with us yesteday morning - he is deployed and was so worried.

 

[laurie31]

I'm so sorry to hear about your oldest niece's house. I'm glad you are all okay.

 

[C.Ann]

Checking in late - didn't have cable/internet hooked up at the lake until Tuesday and I have been incredibly busy ever since then..

However, I did want to quick check in with all of our fellow DISer's before I head off to bed soon.. Is everyone okay? Everyone accounted for? Anyone suffer any injuries or serious loss of property?

I have a friend in AL I'm still trying to make contact with - so far, no luck..

My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with all of you..

I'm heading off to bed in a few minutes, but I'll check back in when time allows..

Good thoughts to all - and I will continue to keep you in my prayers..

 

[crazelion]

Checking in late - didn't have cable/internet hooked up at the lake until Tuesday and I have been incredibly busy ever since then..

However, I did want to quick check in with all of our fellow DISer's before I head off to bed soon.. Is everyone okay? Everyone accounted for? Anyone suffer any injuries or serious loss of property?

I have a friend in AL I'm still trying to make contact with - so far, no luck..

My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with all of you..

I'm heading off to bed in a few minutes, but I'll check back in when time allows..

Good thoughts to all - and I will continue to keep you in my prayers..

I got home to live in. It damage but not two bad. No injurees to report. The kids and everyone is fine.

The whole southeast was hit hard. Alabama is worst off then TN at the moment. We have been declare a Federal Disaster area.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Double post...Internet issues

 

[HsvTeacher]

Checking in late - didn't have cable/internet hooked up at the lake until Tuesday and I have been incredibly busy ever since then..

However, I did want to quick check in with all of our fellow DISer's before I head off to bed soon.. Is everyone okay? Everyone accounted for? Anyone suffer any injuries or serious loss of property?

I have a friend in AL I'm still trying to make contact with - so far, no luck..

My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with all of you..

I'm heading off to bed in a few minutes, but I'll check back in when time allows..

Good thoughts to all - and I will continue to keep you in my prayers..

Have you been able to get in touch with your friend in Alabama?

If not, it could be due to the power/phone situation. AT&T just brought generators around a few minutes ago, so we now have access to phones. We are still without power and internet is spotty, at best. We have a generator going in our house, so we're at least able to use our wireless internet router.

 

[C.Ann]

I got home to live in. It damage but not two bad. No injurees to report. The kids and everyone is fine.

The whole southeast was hit hard. Alabama is worst off then TN at the moment. We have been declare a Federal Disaster area.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have damage to your home, but relieved that you and your children are safe and uninjured..

Have you been able to get in touch with your friend in Alabama?

If not, it could be due to the power/phone situation. AT&T just brought generators around a few minutes ago, so we now have access to phones. We are still without power and internet is spotty, at best. We have a generator going in our house, so we're at least able to use our wireless internet router.

Thank you so much for that information..

I was able to make contact with her today - via the internet (from the prison where she works).. She was able to get back to her home (where she lives with her adult son) before the most serious of the storms hit and they huddled in his storm cellar until it was safe to come out.. They had some damage - but nothing like the areas that were so badly devastated - thank God!

The one thing that bothers me when there are devastating weather events being reported on the news (regardless of the type: tornado; hurricane; floods; etc.) the news people tend to describe areas by counties, rather than stating the names of the cities/towns/villages, etc.. I have friends and family scattered all over the country and while I know what towns they live in - and the largest cities that are near by - I don't think I know of a single "county" that any of them live in.. I guess it's time I made a point of getting that info from each and every one of them.. The "not knowing" is terribly nerve wracking..

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I just haven't had the time to read this entire thread - or really be on the computer much at all - but to anyone else who has suffered any type of damage and/or injuries, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you - as well as all of those folks in general who were touched by this devastation..

Hopefully the weather will settle down now.. Enough is enough..