Oklahoma Family Hunkers Down as Tornado Roars Quarter-Mile Away -- My family will certainly not forget May 24 anytime soon. We live in Moore, just south of Oklahoma City, and the home of the famous May 3, 1999, tornado. Today we were under the gun again as super cell thunderstorms ripped through the metro area
Fortunately for us, we have fantastic local weather coverage, especially with the National Weather Service in Norman, just eight miles away. I had spent a portion of the day preparing for the storms to make sure my family and I would be safe if tornadoes did form. I am glad I took the time.
At 5:55 p.m., the tornado warning sirens started sounding in Moore. Doppler radar indicated a mile-wide tornado was heading straight for us. My son, daughter, and wife headed for the closet. We do not have a storm shelter, so the closet was the safest place. I had prepared an emergency kit that included flashlights, water, a first-aid kit, a weather radio and cell phones. Shortly after we entered the closet, a tornado touched down on 149th Street in Moore, the street we live on.
Lots of cloud-to-ground lightning - Lots of cloud-to-ground lightning accompanied the storm, as seen in this photo shot with a camera phone
The thunder, lightning and hail was intense during the storm; then, barely a minute after the thunder started, the power went out and plunged us into darkness. We took our safety positions, making sure that our heads were properly protected.
We had family members in other parts of the state keep us updated about the storms via text message and Twitter. (I just do not know what we would do with technology these days.) Fortunately for us, the tornado tore through some fields less than a quarter mile from our home and caused no damage to any structures. Even better, none of my good friends and neighbors lost their lives.
We emerged from the closet unharmed, but many in Moore, and the surrounding areas were not so lucky. According to KOCO.com, officials say at least four were killed in today's storm. The tornadoes have caused widespread damage throughout the Oklahoma City metro area. Many homes have been blown away, diesel trains were picked up from the tracks and were thrown to the ground, and more than 30,000 people are without power.
We have been very lucky. I pray for those who have been affected, and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones to the wild weather that roared through our state today.
There will likely be more storms over the next 24 hours, especially for eastern Oklahoma. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s tomorrow and Thursday, and then temperatures will rise into the 90s for the weekend. Fortunately, no more severe weather is expected in Oklahoma past Wednesday. ( yahoo.com )
Fortunately for us, we have fantastic local weather coverage, especially with the National Weather Service in Norman, just eight miles away. I had spent a portion of the day preparing for the storms to make sure my family and I would be safe if tornadoes did form. I am glad I took the time.
At 5:55 p.m., the tornado warning sirens started sounding in Moore. Doppler radar indicated a mile-wide tornado was heading straight for us. My son, daughter, and wife headed for the closet. We do not have a storm shelter, so the closet was the safest place. I had prepared an emergency kit that included flashlights, water, a first-aid kit, a weather radio and cell phones. Shortly after we entered the closet, a tornado touched down on 149th Street in Moore, the street we live on.
Lots of cloud-to-ground lightning - Lots of cloud-to-ground lightning accompanied the storm, as seen in this photo shot with a camera phone
The thunder, lightning and hail was intense during the storm; then, barely a minute after the thunder started, the power went out and plunged us into darkness. We took our safety positions, making sure that our heads were properly protected.
We had family members in other parts of the state keep us updated about the storms via text message and Twitter. (I just do not know what we would do with technology these days.) Fortunately for us, the tornado tore through some fields less than a quarter mile from our home and caused no damage to any structures. Even better, none of my good friends and neighbors lost their lives.
We emerged from the closet unharmed, but many in Moore, and the surrounding areas were not so lucky. According to KOCO.com, officials say at least four were killed in today's storm. The tornadoes have caused widespread damage throughout the Oklahoma City metro area. Many homes have been blown away, diesel trains were picked up from the tracks and were thrown to the ground, and more than 30,000 people are without power.
We have been very lucky. I pray for those who have been affected, and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones to the wild weather that roared through our state today.
There will likely be more storms over the next 24 hours, especially for eastern Oklahoma. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s tomorrow and Thursday, and then temperatures will rise into the 90s for the weekend. Fortunately, no more severe weather is expected in Oklahoma past Wednesday. ( yahoo.com )
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