A week in tornado alley

hot_rod · May 2003

my brother in laws home was hit by a tornado. They rode out the storm in their basement and made it out alive. It's unbelievable how much damage a tornado can cause in a mere 5 minutes.

His pole barn and shop are completly gone! Snapped off the 6X6 posts and carried it away. We still haven't found his 5X10 utility trailer! May be in the next county.

Pieces that were not carried away were blasted with glass. Every window in the home imploded. Yet, amazingly the fish tank was un-harmed. A paper back and reading glasses on the nightstand were un-touched!

We got all the family belongings gathered and stored, think we are down to the bulldozer portion of the job!

I had to cancel my RPA trip and a big thanks to ME who will present my "Plate Debate" seminar. Couldn't ask for a better person for the job. Thanks Mark.

hot rod

Bryan_5 · May 2003

Thank god they all made it out alive. Material things can easily be replaced but a family members life cant. I wish the best to your family.

Jim Walls_2 · May 2003

wow

Glad to hear everyone is okay.My thoughts go out to your family for their loss & to all those who were less fortunate. Tornadoes have to be one the most powerful & horrific forces mother nature can throw at us, yet puzzling how they can totally destroy something as sturdy as a building but not something as fragile as a fish tank, located in the same area.This just goes to show how your life can be turned upside down in an instant. Your a good man, thank goodness for family & friends, sorry you had to miss the RPA convention. Lord knows your area of the country has had more than your share of storms this week hope you catch a break soon.

Mike T., Swampeast MO · May 2003

You and yours certainly have my sympathy

I was in the thick of a tornado (1986 or 87) in Sikeston, MO. An aunt and one of her children's family had their business and homes destroyed in Ellsinore, MO two years ago.

Twister hit Jackson, MO (about 10 miles north of where I sit) Tuesday evening.

Your family will probably find that the Red Cross is EXTREMELY helpful in this situation. I was without power for over a week after the tornado in Sikeston and their food wagon was a true Godsend. Red Cross may have some problems (donesn't everything) but they're certainly there during rough times.

Maybe one of the volunteer "tree clearers" will be good enough with the chainsaw to do a rendition of "Lumberjack Love"!

GAverill_2 · May 2003

Thank goodness they were all ok.
We have been viewing pictures of our previous home area in Carl Junction, (SW)Missouri, and are amazed to see the destruction.
The storm did not seem to discriminate, causing damage to metal buildings, homes and commercial properties, and old brick buildings downtown.Two people lost their lives, but in typical midwestern spirit, the re-building has already started.

Richard Miller_2 · May 2003

wow

what was your aunt's business?

used to live just a few miles from Ellsinore.

Mike T., Swampeast MO · May 2003

The truck stop/restaurant

on Hwy 60 at Ellsinore turnoff

tombig · May 2003

Tornados

> Thank goodness they were all ok. We have been

> viewing pictures of our previous home area in

> Carl Junction, (SW)Missouri, and are amazed to

> see the destruction. The storm did not seem to

> discriminate, causing damage to metal buildings,

> homes and commercial properties, and old brick

> buildings downtown.Two people lost their lives,

> but in typical midwestern spirit, the re-building

> has already started.

Richard Miller_2 · May 2003

ok

The Log Cabin restaraunt if I remember right. Ate there many times. Also the truck stop was a check station for deer. Bummer! Did they lose it all? Did they rebuild?

Bob Bona_4 · May 2003

I noticed

you have been kind of silent this week here, HR..now I know why. I hope all works out for your family..

Is this the opportunity to get some Max Rohr Radiant under your brother in law's feet?

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Wayco Wayne · May 2003

Glad everyone is OK

The work a tornado creates is awful. They will be a while recovering. My Aunt and Uncle, who live North of Syracuse NY and South of Oswego, had a tornado come through their back yard between the house and barn. Tore up 50 year old trees and threw them about but did only external damage to the house and barn. They were very lucky. Their neihbors garage was torn up and thrown leaving the car sitting where the garage once was. Holy Cow!

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DanHolohan · May 2003

Glad everyone's okay.

Did they have enough insurance to put it back together?

Paul Pollets · May 2003

Missed you...

at the RPA show. Glad to hear everybody's OK. Wow, such destruction. What a heartache. Had dinner with Mark E. (and the rest of the Wallies)Look forward to seeing you at ISH-Las Vegas

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Mike T., Swampeast MO · May 2003

Business (and aunt and one of her sons' homes) were just gone! Don't see her too often as she she's no longer married to my uncle but last time I passed by it looked like they were rebuilding up the road a bit.

[Deleted User] · May 2003

HR...

I'm glad everyone made it out alive. Pretty scary stuff.

You were sadly missed by all at REX. I started your Great Plate Debate out by saying "Hello, my name is Hot Rod Rohr..." to which EVERYONE cracked up laughing. I even held up my boots so's they could see the flames, but they STILL wouldn't believe me.

Anyway, I'm sure you would have made a better presentation in person. All in all, the discussion went very well, and now everyone knows the davantages/disadvantages and real thermal photographic evidence of what it looks like in person.

You obviously put a lot of time into the program, and it was very well received.

Thank you for your continuing effort in educating the masses HR, it is truly appreciated.

Give our best to your family.

ME

hot_rod · May 2003

Echo

Echoing ME's comments. We all were thinking about you & wishing all was going as well as could be for your family members.

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hot_rod · May 2003

Thanks to all

for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers, it helped!

Sounds like the RPA did a fine job, again. Thanks to all that presented, and a big thank you to Master Eatherton for stepping in and helping me out. I owe you again, or still!

hot rod

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John Felciano · May 2003

It's

great to hear noone was seriously hurt.

You were definitely missed at the RPA.Mark did a great job,and the video was cool.The class was very well attended.Just wish you could have been there.

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Mad Dog · May 2003

What can we do to help , Hot Rod????????

Mad Dog

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Amir Amir - Slant/Fin Corp. · May 2003

Well, thank god all family members are OK.

The rest such as stuff and equipment is minor issue.
It is unfortunate that in these areas , nobody is forcing buiders to build more sturdy houses, that may minimize the damage and risk of injury.
Anything we can help with ?

Mike T., Swampeast MO · May 2003

Stronger Structures

Having lived in tornado country nearly all of my life, been in the direct path of one, seen numerous, and viewed much damage first-hand, I'm fairly confident in saying that the only truly safe structures would be underground--and even then the top hatch/door better be DAMNED secure. (Storm pulled the latched door out of my hands in the underground shelter I was in.) Some homes in tornado country (particularly where basements are impossible) do though have small, internal, steel reinforced masonry "safe rooms". Brick/block/brick veneer is [usually] "flying debris proof" but tornados do REALLY strange things! Remember they are even known to remove the pavement from roads!

Remember that the winds are swirling, confined to a tight space and that the central atmospheric pressure is UNBELIEVABLY low! Even the middle-of-the-road (category III) tornados that seem to be the most common around here can obliterate extremely strong structures while leaving near shacks untouched!

The REAL video clips you see on TV where you can pick out debris swirling around the storm are NOT in slow motion! Boats, tin, signs, vehicles, etc. surround the storm core slowly circling and seemingly held by invisible strings!

Current dewpoint 67°, temp 85° bright sun and storms starting to "bubble." Yet another tornado watch quite likely in an hour or so.

A week in tornado alley

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