Barely Dodged A Bullet

[roadwarrior]

Germantown, TN is on the eastern side of the Memphis metropolitan area.

That's where I live.

[Sam]

I saw a picture of the tornado on Fox this morning.

Man, was that a big tornado.

So glad Roadwarrior and family are OK and everyone else on this site.

I tell my clients, when we discuss property insurance deductibles, that the one thing we cannot control that will totally destroy a building is a tornado.

Once again, glad all are OK.

[roadwarrior]

The latest update is that we had 9 tornados touchdown in the metropolitan area and 52 people killed as a result of the storm. The regional destruction involves portions of 9 states! Total damage reports are still being tabulated, but Union College in Jackson, TN was virtually destroyed. The National Weather Service has determined that some of these storms developed #4 category status.

[Micro]

Glad you're alright.  Last night was nuts.   The remnants of that line of storms is rolling through VA and NC as we speak.  Not much to them now, though.  

[PaparockArk]

Glad to hear you're OK RW! I thought about you as the storms passed through here heading your way. One twister passed between Lakeview and Mountain Home as that front went through here. It came close enough I could hear the distant roar.

I don't need to be near another one as I was so close to one in New Mexico once it was like the scene out of "Twister were you see the telephone poles being pulled out of the ground" only in my case it was the larger three wire transmission poles and they came down on top of my car. It is days like yesterday that brings all that back and I do a lot of praying for people in those death machines paths. It was a miracle I survived that encounter in New Mexico so I always believe in trying to pass that miracle on to others. How about Union University all those dorms destroyed and damaged? That was a miracle that none were killed but I hear several are in critical condition so we need to remember them for healing everyone.

I would have posted on this sooner, however the tornado knocked out the DSL cable. It was just repaired a couple of hours ago.

[Glenn]

Daaaang.  Reminds me of the big windstorm we had 14 months ago. We had 110 mph winds clocked at our house.  Thought the roof was going to come off and windows were going to cave in.  Lot's of damage in the region, and up to 10 days without power for some people.  We got by with a downed fence and 3 days without power.

That was like a hurricane.  Can't imagine a tornado. Mother Nature sure has a way of putting us in our place, doesn't she?

[ejtaylor822]

Glad your OK, RW.  I saw the news this AM when I logged in and was thinking about you and yours.  Its been a real tragedy.  

We had some of the wind here in NC today form that storm - it was massive and I still hear it outside - and I know it's just breezy compared to what you guys have went through.

Hang in there and let us know how it's going out there.

[skunked_again]

tornados used to be a curiosity to me until i live smack in the middle of tornado alley in oklahoma. thats all gone now....lol.

im glad you and all are well. (when i say all, i mean your family, not the fishing gear.....)(ok, fishing gear too......)

[Zel]

Wow, saw all the damage down your way on the news last night.  Glad you dodged the bullet.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks guys.

The situation was life threatening. At the time, the feeling was surreal. I was not "scared" but concerned for the welfare of my family. Without a basement or truely adequate protection, we chose our best option. We have had watches and warnings before, so I am prepared as best I can be. I have a somewhat protected room off of my garage, my fishing room!

So, we have emergency provisions stored and ready. The National Weather Service and our local television stations tracted the storm on a minute-to-minute basis and everyone that was paying attention had plenty of warning. At around 5:30 we were told that the strongest cell would reach Germantown at 5:56 and it did! My wife, daughter, two cats and the dog were all in my room huddled together. It was REALLY quite an experience.

[fishfordollars]

Glad you and your family are OK.

[PaparockArk]

The Gassville/Cotter area was hit petty hard RW but had only one dead.