In the past, any time I thought of Oklahoma, I’d think of tornados. I
wondered how people could live in the state when, according to the news, it
seemed like tornados popped up out of the blue and from every direction. I
never dreamed one day we’d be living here.
Since mid-March, we’ve only been in the closet once. Hubby
had to rouse me awake because I didn’t hear the alarm warning go off at 2:30
a.m. Once in the closet (for only seconds) I realized we didn’t
have any of the supplies we need in there: pillows, flashlights, a
weather radio,snacks. Snacks? I’m still not sure what one takes to a closet to wait out a tornado.
We’ve had several tornado threats since we’ve been here. On April 14, 2012, an EF-3 tornado struck
Woodward, Oklahoma causing 6 deaths. Approximately 150 miles away from us. We watched it in action thanks to the
local news and storm chasers. I say we watched it in action but not really. We
knew it was going to happen because storm teams gave us up to date, minute by
minute plays. It’s frightening to hear/watch them. It’s like witnessing
something horrific happening but being totally helpless to do anything about
it.
If I get on
twitter during these tornado warnings, I see people tweeting: Take Cover Now.
Tornado on the ground in Norman!" or "People in Enid, take cover-twister on the ground!" It’s enough to make me want to tear my hair
and shriek, “Ruuunnnnnnnn!”
In 1947, Woodward
was hit hard by a tornado with devastating results. Read about it HERE.
But citizens of
that small town dealt with more than the devastation of a tornado. Watch this video to see the mystery that evolved.
The case of JoanGay Croft aired on May 22, 1993. She was never found.
7 comments:
They sure do scare me. We hear of them around a lot but haven't seen one where we live now. I'm very thankful for that.
I can't imagine living on a place where tornados are a regular thing. They scare me bad.
From Diary of a Writer in Progress
Charles - they've always scared me. When my dad was a baby, a tornado came through and he was found in a rose bush near by.
Gina - I can't believe I'm living here. I'm constantly watching the weather, driving myself nuts!
I live in MA now. I saw my first tornado last year. It's unheard of here, so no one was prepared. I couldn't imagine living among them all the time. Stay safe. :)
There was an F5 tornado that hit in Joplin, MO last May and luckily my dear friend made it by hunkering down in his bath tub. I wrote an article and submitted it for Storm Country (all proceeds go to the Joplin School libraries for all they lost). I'll be thinking of you Jess... get to that closet and be safe.
My writing partner and I have used a water-spout tornado at the beginning of one of our books. They're certainly dramatic. Thank you for sharing your emotion about being in one. Blog on!
Http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com
Woodward Oklahoma produces the cream of the crop!
I spent last Thanksgiving with a family from that area that had also once been wiped out in a tornadoe in 1999. Their tale of recovery was almost too much to hear. Heartbreaking to say the least.
"T" is for tornadoe!
Their tale of being "T-boned" by a hit-and-run driver on Thanksgiving day was something else,two. While one turned his back to call the poice, the middle-eastern fornegners picked up their bumper and fled the scene before the police could arrive.
And, now I hear that the storm chasers are doing the same to the recovering survivors in that area today.
Wolves in sheep clothing they are.
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