The first Tornado and the worst in our region came into view from our
house about 4:00 pm yesterday. A minute earlier I was looking at a hook
echo over us on Doppler radar and thought I better go outside and have a
look see. The Tornado was about 5 miles away to the southwest when I
first saw it. Probably near 52 and 127 highways. As it bore down on us I
could see it was getting much closer, larger, and louder with lots of
debris spinning as if in slow motion. Trish and the boys were in the
basement but I was compelled to stay outside, praying hard while taking four
pictures. Within 5 or 6 minutes it was upon us with 3/10th of a mile
between. Sounding just like Niagara Fall's (Canadian
side) and looking VERY large, I saw part of our
chicken barns disappear into it's dust and debris cloud. I prayed
continuously for everyone to be safe in our neighborhood but it wasn't going
to be the case.
Miraculously our barns were spared, save one small pocket curtain getting
tore away from two nails...........that's it!! The 1/2 mile wide Tornado
missed the chicken barns by 1/10 mile or less and our house by 3/10 mile.
Our neighbors to the south and east were not spared with as much damage as
one can image from a half mile wide F2 Tornado. I was told an F2 has sustained winds in the 160mph range. What spared some from total loss was the speed at which this beast was traveling, about 60mph. Less than two miles to
the east of us a lady was crushed by her mobile home as she was fleeing,
seeking refuge in her car. Apparently she safely made it, but was crushed
immediately afterward. She was found dead in her car shortly after.
The power just came on today about midnight. Trish and the boys are
spending the night at Best Western and I am keeping an eye on things here as
the generators at the chicken barns are earning their high price tag. I'm staying here to make sure our 144,000 chickens live to see another day.
Jeff
Here's a pic just as the Tornado passed: