Tornadoes

BigRedBeta · #1 03-15-2008, 02:01 PM

I find this thread funny...

As someone who grew up in Kansas, tornado drills were probably more common than fire drills at school. For sure the tornado sirens get tested every month from March to October. In my KC suburb hometown (probably most of KC) it was the first wednesday of the month at 10:30am. Same time in Lincoln while I was in college. Omaha for some idiotic reason does it the first saturday of the month at either 10 or 11am...I think it's retarded to do it on a weekend in the first place and then at a time when people are out doing stuff.

As far as "unique" places I've been in when a tornado has been around, I think the Lied Rainforest at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha probably qualifies. They literally had to take 100's of us into back hallways and basements for our protection.

And hurricanes are way more scary than tornadoes...I'll take one or two hours in the basement (and then you're about your business) over days of preparing/waiting out the storm...

The best time the test sirens went off was on a perfect April day in Lincoln my junior year. It was about 65 degrees without a cloud in the sky, and my then girlfriend at the time (who was from florida and had just transferred from South Carolina) was walking with me when the sirens went off. Needless to say she had no idea what they were and freaked out when I told her they were the tornado sirens. She didn't know they tested them and figured that if they went off, we needed to get inside right away. I found her hysteria hilarious.

Tom Earp · #2 03-15-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

I find this thread funny...

As someone who grew up in Kansas, tornado drills were probably more common than fire drills at school. For sure the tornado sirens get tested every month from March to October. In my KC suburb hometown (probably most of KC) it was the first wednesday of the month at 10:30am. Same time in Lincoln while I was in college. Omaha for some idiotic reason does it the first saturday of the month at either 10 or 11am...I think it's retarded to do it on a weekend in the first place and then at a time when people are out doing stuff.

As far as "unique" places I've been in when a tornado has been around, I think the Lied Rainforest at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha probably qualifies. They literally had to take 100's of us into back hallways and basements for our protection.

And hurricanes are way more scary than tornadoes...I'll take one or two hours in the basement (and then you're about your business) over days of preparing/waiting out the storm...

The best time the test sirens went off was on a perfect April day in Lincoln my junior year. It was about 65 degrees without a cloud in the sky, and my then girlfriend at the time (who was from florida and had just transferred from South Carolina) was walking with me when the sirens went off. Needless to say she had no idea what they were and freaked out when I told her they were the tornado sirens. She didn't know they tested them and figured that if they went off, we needed to get inside right away. I found her hysteria hilarious.

You are correct as They Tested the sirens on Tue. not the normal Wed. and never heard a one!

For those that have never been in one or seen one, it is horrific and devastating.

Yepper, Kansas used to be the Tornado Alley and still is, but it seems to be doing more damage in the SW States as has been seen.

PM_Mama00 · #3 03-15-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSig RC

This has to be the largest city ever hit by a tornado, right?

For years, we thought that something about how cities affected the environment made them "tornado-proof" - that wind had trouble gathering in the city. I think Oklahoma City had a tornado in the suburbs, but there's never been one downtown in a major city, as far as i know. Watching the highlights from last night was pretty sick - that's insane, really.

Not only is it scary, but it's groundbreaking, in a bad way.

A tornado hit not too long ago in a neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. It wasn't too far from my family, I believe in Bay Ridge? (my family is in Bensonhurst for those familiar)

I thought it was a known fact that tornados are attracted to low flat land?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

I find this thread funny...

As someone who grew up in Kansas, tornado drills were probably more common than fire drills at school. For sure the tornado sirens get tested every month from March to October. In my KC suburb hometown (probably most of KC) it was the first wednesday of the month at 10:30am. Same time in Lincoln while I was in college. Omaha for some idiotic reason does it the first saturday of the month at either 10 or 11am...I think it's retarded to do it on a weekend in the first place and then at a time when people are out doing stuff.

We don't get many tornados in my area, but our sirens are tested every first Saturday of the month.

carnation · #4 03-15-2008, 07:11 PM

The storms kept coming back. We were at the mall after the storms and Ballerina called from metro Atlanta, saying that she and her fellow employees were headed for the basement. Then we got back here and found that the tornadoes that had gone through south of here had smashed houses left and right on this road where our friends live. We can not get in touch with them.

ETA: CRAP. I just found out that tornadoes touched down in a third county, the one where I teach. A school is damaged and it's either ours or the elementary across the street. I am not believing the last 24 hours.

UGAalum94 · #5 03-15-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnation

The storms kept coming back. We were at the mall after the storms and Ballerina called from metro Atlanta, saying that she and her fellow employees were headed for the basement. Then we got back here and found that the tornadoes that had gone through south of here had smashed houses left and right on this road where our friends live. We can not get in touch with them.

ETA: CRAP. I just found out that tornadoes touched down in a third county, the one where I teach. A school is damaged and it's either ours or the elementary across the street. I am not believing the last 24 hours.

That sounds pretty bad. I hope that no one was injured.

At least we can be pretty sure the schools would be closer to empty than on a school day.

ZTAngel · #6 03-15-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

I find this thread funny...

I'm confused. I guess I'm not seeing why this thread is so funny. We're discussing some pretty substantial tornadoes that have ripped through the Atlanta area in the last 24 hours and destroyed numerous homes and buildings and killed 2 people while injuring many others. I guess I'm not seeing the same humor as you.

I get that tornadoes are pretty commonplace in the Midwest where you're from so you're probably use to this unlike us but I still don't think a tornado going through a well-populated area is anything to snicker about.