[brajoh81]

This is like the third or fourth time they have been hit in my lifetime. I mean the city is in a very mountainous region, doesn't tornadoes have a hard time with this type of landform??

[73-79 ford fan]

It's a myth and many people seem to believe that their town can't get hit by a tornado because of the way they think their town sits. Storm prediction center in Norman Oklahoma issued a moderate risk for severe storms for much of western of Ar too which only happens a few times per year anywhere.
Remember this from february of last year cause it was rated an Ef4 and crossed over many mountanious regions and was a dangerous long track tornado too.

[AllenKarber]

The cold air coming from the western mountain regions clashes with the warm moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico.

[Cassie5]

Very scary. Some places more prone than others.

[sarahv]

Tornados have the tendency to stay on the ground longer when they are in a valley. Two words dollface: Tornado Alley.

I remember years ago driving back to Searcy while home on leave on 67/167 talking on the phone. I looked down for a second and in that time what was once a blue sky was now dark and green and sounded like a hundred freight train were rolling by. I quickly go off the phone took the next exit and went to a friends house where I learned that there were 6 in the area.

[slingshot]

Although there have been many tornados in the area, the last time Mena took a direct hit was in 1993.

[ArkLexee]

I feel for those folks in Mena...it's a very pretty drive to Mena and I've met some really good people there in years gone by.

We live very close to Mt. Riante but last spring, we seemed to be directly in the path of one or another tornado. Things were skipping and hopping all around us. The one last week, missed us by a few miles. Hubby and I had IMPORTANT STUFF stashed in the bathtub..jst in case

Last year was much more scary than last week but it's only April. You kinda feel like it's gonna be your turn ... soon. I've lived in this area since 1971 and the closest I've been to a tornado was in '01, when I was visiting New Mexico..where I was born. You just never know.

[Capt. Dan]

The Mena Walmart security cameras got some great pics of the approaching tornado. My daughter works there and sent me the pics. It is a blessing that more people didnt die because judging from those pics it was a big one!

[AllenKarber]

I got some amazing before and after pics of Mena in an email. If anyone would like to see them I would be happy to send them to you. It's very sad,and I can totally relate as Arkadelphia has gone through the same thing.

[ArkansasSlim]

Originally Posted by slingshot

Although there have been many tornados in the area, the last time Mena took a direct hit was in 1993.

Nope, one hit about 1945 coming across the south side of town. I lived just north of where the high school is now located and it hit our house - with us in it. No one hurt but it took a while to clean the "brown stuff" off us.