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I hope you are typing this from your basement!

I'm about 10 miles north of this in my lab. It's gonna move just south of us. Sadly, they just announced that it hit an elementary school.

Jesus. This is looking not too good.

The big one just lifted, but there's another one further south.

Man that looks nasty. (I'm watching from your link.)

Dave said:

Man that looks nasty. (I'm watching from your link.)

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That's Gary England - same weatherman in the movie Twisters.

Pretty messed up, man.

You can just hear the chaos from the chatter. They are trying to pull people in and can't, they don't know where anyone is. It's interesting in a car-wreck sort of way.

It's the same area that was leveled a while back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Oklahoma_tornado_outbreak

And now a fire that they will have trouble reaching.

Lab mates don't know if their home is still standing. Won't know til they head home. [DOUBLEPOST=1369084056][/DOUBLEPOST]Fuck dude. Drop that microphone and help that lady.

Horribly tragic day for Moore, OK.

I think that 1999 Moore tornado was the one where a group of people got extremely lucky hiding underneath a highway overpass as the funnel went directly over them - thus giving the bad idea that highway overpasses are good shelter during tornadoes.

Seriously, I've said it before, noting creeps me out more than the sound of an EAS message alert coming over the TV or radio. Especially when followed by the robo-voice giving the alert info. I don't live near tornado alley, but I do live in KY, which sees its fair share of them. The only thing about the midwest that would make me feel better is that it is so flat & open, you can see a tornado from a great distance away.

The Greensburg tornado was just creepy big (wiped out the whole town) & the video of that Tuscaloosa tornado a couple of years ago are just flat out scary.

Apparently there were students inside the Elementary School as it got hit.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/20/us/se...n=Feed:+rss/cnn_topstories+(RSS:+Top+Stories)

It's as bad as we'd have imagined. Ugh....

Yeah, from what I heard listening to KFOR's stream this afternoon, two elementary schools, Briarwood and Plaza Towers, and a daycare were destroyed. At Briarwood and the daycare, everyone managed to get out or was rescued; but sadly,at Plaza Towers seven kids drowned in the basement from heavy rain run-off, and another 13 to 20 (and possibly more) were killed in the collapse and subsequent gas fire that burned itself out before FD was able to extinguish it. Sometime around 4:00pm or 4:30 PDT, KFOR announced that the search and rescue operation at Plaza Towers was over, and a search and recovery operation was taking its place; and at that time they said that only the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes were safe and accounted for, with the vast majority of K-3 students' locations unknown.

Also, the Moore Medical Center (a 100-doctor, 24-hour emergency trauma center) was destroyed, and there were early reports of looting at the site (and reports that the governor had authorized the National Guard to shoot looters on sight).

First let me say that this is horrible, the more I read about it the sadder it makes me.

Second let me say this here, because I can't say it anywhere else (it's more of a personal rant about people I know and their responses to natural disasters so I'm spoiling it since it's off topic):

Espy said:

First let me say that this is horrible, the more I read about it the sadder it makes me.

Second let me say this here, because I can't say it anywhere else (it's more of a personal rant about people I know and their responses to natural disasters so I'm spoiling it since it's off topic):

Spoiler

I find it interesting that none of my FB friends from the south who immediately call any sort of natural disaster in the north "god's judgement for x sin" never bring that line of thinking up when disasters in the south like this occur. In fact, what I hear instead is things like, "Just another example of the Devil controlling nature!" (I'm not kidding). Ugh. Frustrating, not only is it terrible, vile and shitty theology but it's completely hypocritical.

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Yup, thats exactly what drives me nuts sixpack.

sixpackshaker said:

Spoiler

A co-worker said that Hurricane Sandy was God's punishment. Then I asked him if the north is so wicked why does Texas get hit 10 times for every one hurricane in the north east.?

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Espy said:

First let me say that this is horrible, the more I read about it the sadder it makes me.

Second let me say this here, because I can't say it anywhere else (it's more of a personal rant about people I know and their responses to natural disasters so I'm spoiling it since it's off topic):

Spoiler

I find it interesting that none of my FB friends from the south who immediately call any sort of natural disaster in the north "god's judgement for x sin" never bring that line of thinking up when disasters in the south like this occur. In fact, what I hear instead is things like, "Just another example of the Devil controlling nature!" (I'm not kidding). Ugh. Frustrating, not only is it terrible, vile and shitty theology but it's completely hypocritical.

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I get torqued up when some fools say that kind of stuff. Last night, I made a smart-ass comment to my wife about "God judging Moore."

I also start eye-rolling when the local news stations say ridiculous things about how Oklahomans always pull together/Oklahoma spirit/Oklahoma values/ad nauseum - as if in other places people panic and abandon each other and just loot and steal.

Sure is lucky that the tornado hit here instead of Michigan - those heathens wouldn't know what to do. <- sarcasm

My wife came home in tears last night. Personally, I'm actively avoiding news about it. I feel horrible for this, and for all of the people effected, but when I try to read about it, my mind just kinds of...shuts down.

So is everything okay with you and yours, drawn_inward?

Dave said:

So is everything okay with you and yours, drawn_inward?

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Thankfully, yes. Thanks Dave!

My nephew was stuck at his school until 7pm b/c we were cut off due to all the closed highways. A family friend picked him up and took him to McDonald's. It took my sister and bro-in-law 4 1/2 hrs to travel 25 miles last night to get back home. But all that is certainly better than anyone getting hurt or dying.

I have some co-workers who haven't come in today. They were unsure about their houses yesterday. I've only heard from two of them so far, and they were okay.

It sucks that it doesn't seem like there is anything to do to help. We're going to drop off some water and supplies tonight, but it just feels a bit silly compared to the level of destruction.

The WVU baseball team is in Oklahoma City for the Big 12 tournament. They're doing their part.

Thankfully, the official numbers have been downgraded from where they were last night/early this morning, from 91 deaths including 40 children to 24 deaths including 9 children, due to double reporting of some fatalities and confusion from the ME's office being told to expect 40 more bodies late last night.

I did see some posts about how this tornado was God's wrath for re-electing Obama, but the internet is so overrun with trolls, it's hard to take comments like that seriously - especially since the comments were coming across just as the tornado was dissipating, and the same people were joking about the news chopper being CGI, or wishing that it would have crashed.

On the other hand, I find myself stuck in a weird little dichotomy. It really doesn't bother me when someone says "we ask for your prayers during this difficult time," but it really annoys me when those same people make comments like "all of these people volunteering to help out are God's answer to our prayers." I suppose it's because, on the one hand, the first statement is just a cry for help; but the second one implies that none of these people would have helped if you hadn't prayed for assistance - like people aren't good enough to help others out without some magical sky being telling them to. It annoys me on the same level as the people who believe that aliens built Machu Picchu and the Pyramids at Giza - because obviously stacking blocks on top of each other and being smart enough to use well fitting stones was way beyond the intelligence level of early civilizations.

Regardless, glad to hear that you and yours are safe and well, drawn_inward.

DarkAudit said:

The WVU baseball team is in Oklahoma City for the Big 12 tournament. They're doing their part.

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Yeah, people are really stepping up. Kevin Durant apparently donated $1 million. I say apparently because he didn't mention it. The nice thing about these events is that for all the assholes, theres just as many, if not more, people doing great things.

DarkAudit said:

The WVU baseball team is in Oklahoma City for the Big 12 tournament. They're doing their part.

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Now if they would do their part come football season! [DOUBLEPOST=1369160994][/DOUBLEPOST]

blotsfan said:

Yeah, people are really stepping up. Kevin Durant apparently donated $1 million. I say apparently because he didn't mention it. The nice thing about these events is that for all the assholes, theres just as many, if not more, people doing great things.

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[DOUBLEPOST=1369161465][/DOUBLEPOST]

Gared said:

I did see some posts about how this tornado was God's wrath for re-electing Obama, but the internet is so overrun with trolls, it's hard to take comments like that seriously - especially since the comments were coming across just as the tornado was dissipating, and the same people were joking about the news chopper being CGI, or wishing that it would have crashed.

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The Times of India comments on the story are as troll filled as any Yahoo news story.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...rs-as-91-feared-dead/articleshow/20173316.cms

My in-laws live in India so I check to see what kind of coverage they're getting.

There are loads of folks stating the it's judgement on the U.S. for Iraq/Middle East stuff.

As for God's wrath for re-electing Obama, Oklahoma is one of the reddest states in the union.

Thanks Obama!

I love the fact that the two Oklahoma senators who want aid to their state voted against Hurricane Sandy relief and against FEMA funding. NIMBY politicking at its best.

This has been upgraded to an EF5 tornado.

Dave said:

I love the fact that the two Oklahoma senators who want aid to their state voted against Hurricane Sandy relief and against FEMA funding. NIMBY politicking at its best.

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Well, the complete opposite of NIMBY...

There is shit all over my back yard! HALP!

sixpackshaker said:

Well, the complete opposite of NIMBY...

There is shit all over my back yard! HALP!

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Ah, the less pronounceable NWBMBY: Nowhere but my backyard.

I will make one suggestion if anyone know someone who was seriously affected and wants to help somehow: restaurant gift cards. It sounds silly, but it's good for several reasons. It's easier to accept for people uncomfortable taking money (something I really had problems with), it's a shocking pain in the ass to discover you can no longer cook for yourself for an undetermined length of time, and if they are eating out because of displacement like I was for a couple of weeks, the insurance company will reimburse them for the restaurant bill, turning it into a double gift.

Fun Size said:

I will make one suggestion if anyone know someone who was seriously affected and wants to help somehow: restaurant gift cards. It sounds silly, but it's good for several reasons. It's easier to accept for people uncomfortable taking money (something I really had problems with), it's a shocking pain in the ass to discover you can no longer cook for yourself for an undetermined length of time, and if they are eating out because of displacement like I was for a couple of weeks, the insurance company will reimburse them for the restaurant bill, turning it into a double gift.

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Nice idea! I'll do that for some co-workers!

This was sweet.

Interesting points:
- the tornado watch turned into a tornado warning 20 minutes prior to the tornado forming
- the tornado alert (ie, there's one on the ground) was given five minutes _after_ the tornado hit the ground (which is about what I experienced when a tornado hit Michigan last year. I heard the reports from the weather spotters about 5 minutes before they hit the TV and radio stations.)

stienman said:

Interesting points:
- the tornado watch turned into a tornado warning 20 minutes prior to the tornado forming
- the tornado alert (ie, there's one on the ground) was given five minutes _after_ the tornado hit the ground (which is about what I experienced when a tornado hit Michigan last year. I heard the reports from the weather spotters about 5 minutes before they hit the TV and radio stations.)

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If there is a tornado warning for your area, it's a good idea to head for cover unless you know it's not heading for you. The sirens went off a number of times during those 2 days, but the tornado wasn't "near" us or heading towards us.

Our emergency weather radio (which I think broadcasts from NOAA) gives us the fastest updates. There's an app for it too. Generally though, most folks here know when severe weather season is, and keep an eye on it. I usually have an Intellicast tab up, and have the radio alert set up if there are storms brewing near us. I use the local news for coverage and to catch something I might be missing.

Thats why some people go outside to see where it's headed because a bathtub or a closet won't cut it sometimes. It's better to jump in a car and move perpendicular (usually SE/NW) to the tornado. I won't hide in a bathtub if I can help it.

What?!? I hate to say it, man, but hopping in your car and driving is a really, really bad idea. EF5 tornadoes are pretty rare and in 99.9% of the instances you'd be better off staying put or getting in that tub. I know you're desensitized to tornadoes as am I, but your last post is possibly dangerous.

If

1. you can see the tornado clearly
2. know its path well enough to know it's going to hit your house
3. it's still 5 miles away

Then getting in your car and driving to a safer area outside its path might be a better choice than staying put.

Unfortunately when a tornado is 5 miles away then #1 and #2 are very unlikely. If the tornado is any closer then any place you can safely drive to in the 5-10 minutes you have before it reaches you is within the possible paths it has left before it gets to your area. Keep in mind that the storm is often ahead of the tornado, so you're going to be dealing with heavy winds, rain, hail, and debris the tornado is throwing ahead of it. You won't be able to go more than a few miles in the short time you have until the tornado reaches you. And you should always prefer to weather a tornado in a building than in a car.

Unless you are a storm chaser and know significantly more about tornados and forecasting storm movement than the average TV weatherperson, it's pretty foolhardy to try to outrun a tornado unless you have no other option.

No worries. I'm not crazy enough to try to out-run a tornado, but if an EF4 or 5 is headed my way, and I can get way then I am not sticking around without going below ground. You've seen the bare foundations right?

drawn_inward said:

No worries. I'm not crazy enough to try to out-run a tornado, but if an EF4 or 5 is headed my way, and I can get way then I am not sticking around without going below ground. You've seen the bare foundations right?

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Yeah, but you never know what type of tornado it is until it hits. You saw how fast it went from nothing to an EF5, right? Add in that most tornadoes even during the day are rain-wrapped or damned hard to see, and you have a recipe for disaster if you try and outrun it. Having good shelters is the answer, not hopping in the car and hoping nobody else has the same idea in front of you.

Dave said:

Having good shelters is the answer, not hopping in the car and hoping nobody else has the same idea in front of you.

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Absolutely agree. Running is NOT my severe weather plan. It's my "move or die" plan. If my wife and I buy a house here (we're likely to move out of state early next year), it will include a safe room or below ground cellar. Our nearest shelter at home is 1 mile from our apt. Our workplace has a basement. We have proper plans. Getting in the car is more a fight or flight kind of thing.

My severe weather plan is to stand on the roof of the tallest building and screaming expletives at the sky.

Chad Sexington said:

My severe weather plan is to stand on the roof of the tallest building and screaming expletives at the sky.

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Lt. Dan?

While wearing an aluminum foil suit.

My dad once out ran an F5 in texas. It was moving really slow and he was already heading away from it when it formed. Just kept on driving.

Holy shit, drawn_inward! You guys piss someone off down there? Looks like it's round #2.

Wowch, that looks bad. Stay safe!

Dave said:

Holy shit, drawn_inward! You guys piss someone off down there? Looks like it's round #2.

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Musta voted for Obama

redthirtyone said:

The Greensburg tornado was just creepy big (wiped out the whole town) & the video of that Tuscaloosa tornado a couple of years ago are just flat out scary.

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That literally went right beside where I lived. A block over and it would've been my apartment complex levelled. All my friends seriously thought I was dead 'til phones came back up. GF kind of has PTSD now and tornadoes absolutely terrify her and send her into panic attacks if you even talk about them.

Could be worse.