27? dead in Tennessee as MASSIVE Tornado strikes

DavidMn · #1 04-04-2006, 04:53 PM

SO I was watching the news about this and they went over the affected areas and I swaer it looked like a bomb hit with how bad the damage was. They showed video of t he TOrnado too, and it was huge. I'm sure it was an F5. WHat really sucks is that they think most of the people that died were in rural areas that might not have had the best warning systems.

sara1998 · #2 04-05-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMn

SO I was watching the news about this and they went over the affected areas and I swaer it looked like a bomb hit with how bad the damage was. They showed video of t he TOrnado too, and it was huge. I'm sure it was an F5. WHat really sucks is that they think most of the people that died were in rural areas that might not have had the best warning systems.

Hell, I'm in the CITY, and we don't have the best warning systems. They were going off the other night, and I couldn't hear them unless I stepped outside of my home.

David · #3 04-05-2006, 11:34 AM

Middle-of-the-night tornadoes are super scary because you're asleep, of course, & not paying attention to the weather & can't see it anyway even if you are awake.

But during the day (the majority of tornadoes occur in the late afternoon with the day's heat buildup), people should be paying *some* attention to the weather & taking steps to protect themselves in case of a tornado. Some people I read about in the news appear to have been totally oblivious to the advance of a severe thunderstorm or a supercell until it hits them in the face. Not everyone who is caught could have done something about it, but I think many people could have. Even today, I sometimes talk to people who are totally oblivious of what the weather is like in their area, or whether it's going to get bad.

You gotta pay attention, folks. Especially if you live in Tornado Alley & spring is approaching. Turn on your news or the Weather Channel, turn on the radio, read a paper, look at a barometer, do things to stay informed of bad weather. Don't put all your eggs into the siren basket.

chiliD · #4 04-05-2006, 11:45 AM

And, that's David's report from California...where three raindrops force the TV networks to scramble the troops for "STORMWATCH 2006"!!!!

strandinthewind · #5 04-05-2006, 02:12 PM

Try living in Atlanta and having the powers to be drive through your neighborhood at around midnight and bark out on a PA system "PLEASE EVACUATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY" during a MF'ing hurricane. Mind you, they give no details such as how far away or where to go. Yet, the Scotties and I hopped in the car and drove around for like two hours and then came back and they were gone.

sara1998 · #6 04-05-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Middle-of-the-night tornadoes are super scary because you're asleep, of course, & not paying attention to the weather & can't see it anyway even if you are awake.

But during the day (the majority of tornadoes occur in the late afternoon with the day's heat buildup), people should be paying *some* attention to the weather & taking steps to protect themselves in case of a tornado. Some people I read about in the news appear to have been totally oblivious to the advance of a severe thunderstorm or a supercell until it hits them in the face. Not everyone who is caught could have done something about it, but I think many people could have. Even today, I sometimes talk to people who are totally oblivious of what the weather is like in their area, or whether it's going to get bad.

You gotta pay attention, folks. Especially if you live in Tornado Alley & spring is approaching. Turn on your news or the Weather Channel, turn on the radio, read a paper, look at a barometer, do things to stay informed of bad weather. Don't put all your eggs into the siren basket.

I have a weather radio, and keep it up loud at all times, so that in the event of a tornado, I can get downstairs. They (tornados) scare the hell out of me.

David · #7 04-05-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara1998

I have a weather radio, and keep it up loud at all times, so that in the event of a tornado, I can get downstairs. They (tornados) scare the hell out of me.

Way to go, Sara!! That's what you gotta do! Keep that weather radio on when bad weather is a possibility. Monitor the situation. Have your game plan drawn up. The government sirens may not sound when you need them to. Take ownership of your own safety during bad weather. Know what to do.

Don't huddle under freeway overpasses if a tornado is bearing down on you. Lie flat in a field, preferably in a ditch of some sort if you can find one. The idea in a tornado is to avoid being impaled on an airborne missile.

DavidMn · #8 04-05-2006, 04:27 PM

When I saw footage of this tornado, it reminded me of the one that hit Wichita Falls Texas in 1979. I dont know if anyone remembers that or not.

Sarah · #9 04-05-2006, 04:52 PM

NEWBERN, Tenn. (AP) - Some people in northwest Tennessee
disregarded tornado sirens Sunday night.
Officials say the sirens may have been ignored because they go
off so frequently. Other neighborhoods were too remote to hear
them.
The death toll in Tennessee stands at 24 -- making it one of the most deadly tornado outbreaks in state history.
Dyer County's emergency management director -- James Medling -- said a warning would not have helped in some cases. He said most of the fatalities occurred in homes that were destroyed.
Congressman John Tanner of Union City was visibly shaken as he
toured the devastation yesterday. His cousin was killed by a
tornado that destroyed her home near Newbern.
Tennessee National Guardsmen have been helping remove debris
from the area.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

David · #10 04-05-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah

NEWBERN, Tenn. (AP) - Some people in northwest Tennessee
disregarded tornado sirens Sunday night. Officials say the sirens may have been ignored because they go off so frequently.

Same thing happens with tsunami warnings in the Hawaiian Islands. There are too many false alarms, so the public often ignores them.

DavidMn · #11 04-05-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Same thing happens with tsunami warnings in the Hawaiian Islands. There are too many false alarms, so the public often ignores them.

Hawaii has only been hit really hard by Tsunamis like 3 or 4 times right? I figured youd know.

Miss Vicky · #12 04-08-2006, 08:00 PM

Looks like there was another one that hit yesterday just north of Nashville. 12 more people died. Anyone know how long tornado season lasts? I have a trip booked to go out there for a few days next month and this has me very worried.

David · #13 04-08-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

Looks like there was another one that hit yesterday just north of Nashville. 12 more people died. Anyone know how long tornado season lasts? I have a trip booked to go out there for a few days next month and this has me very worried.

Tornadoes are more abundant in the springtime, but they can occur year round.

If you're traveling, best thing you can do is just check the weather beforehand on Weather Underground.

www.weatherunderground.com

I wouldn't sweat it, though.

Miss Vicky · #14 04-08-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Tornadoes are more abundant in the springtime, but they can occur year round.

If you're traveling, best thing you can do is just check the weather beforehand on Weather Underground.

www.weatherunderground.com

I wouldn't sweat it, though.

Still, I'm praying to whatever higher power that none strike the weekend of May 5-7.

At the moment, however, I'm more worried about the condition of the people I plan to meet on my trip.

PsychCat · #15 04-09-2006, 03:48 PM

Interesting to see y'all talking about our recent tornadoes. It has been mind-boggling how frequent they have become in this area... the "new" tornado alley, regretfully.
We had one hit downtown Nashville almost 8 yrs to the day. Amazingly, no one was killed from the storm however a Vandy student at the park was struck by a tree. It was because of his loss they installed the sirens here.

David is right on. You HAVE TO pay attention this time of year and treat every possibility as the real deal. These things are ruthless... to say the least.

Check out www.nashvilleredcross.org... they can sure use the help.
Peace!