**tornado warning** !! (Johnson City, Kingsport, Morristown: 2009, mobile home, dangerous)

[Tennesseestorm]

Everyone in the Tri-Cities metro area - heads up!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a dangerous storm!!!!!!!!
Stay safe everyone!!!!!!

Tornado Warning
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
738 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

TNC025-057-059-063-067-073-090030-
/O.CON.KMRX.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-090509T0030Z/
HAMBLEN TN-GRAINGER TN-HAWKINS TN-HANCOCK TN-CLAIBORNE TN-GREENE TN-
738 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
GREENE...EASTERN CLAIBORNE...HANCOCK...HAWKINS...NORTHERN GRAINGER
AND NORTHERN HAMBLEN COUNTIES...

AT 736 PM EDT...STORM SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
TORNADO NEAR THORN HILL...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SNEEDVILLE...
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
BEAN STATION BY 745 PM EDT...
TREADWAY AND MOORESBURG BY 750 PM EDT...
KLONDIKE BY 800 PM EDT...
ST. CLAIR BY 805 PM EDT...
ROGERSVILLE BY 810 PM EDT...
MCCLOUD BY 815 PM EDT...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM THAT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE A
TORNADO! TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
LARGE HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE OUTFLOW WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR A STORM
SHELTER. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF
NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
STRUCTURE IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY...ROOM OR CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR
PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM.

[Tennesseestorm]

update

Tornado Warning
TORNADO WARNING
TNC059-073-163-179-090100-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0020.090509T0009Z-090509T0100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
809 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN GREENE COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
HAWKINS COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ROGERSVILLE...
SULLIVAN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF KINGSPORT...
WASHINGTON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JOHNSON CITY...

* UNTIL 900 PM EDT

* AT 804 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR
ROGERSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
SURGOINSVILLE BY 820 PM EDT...
8 MILES SOUTH OF KINGSPORT BY 850 PM EDT...
GRAY AND COLONIAL HEIGHTS BY 855 PM EDT...
8 MILES NORTHWEST OF JOHNSON CITY AND 9 MILES NORTH OF JONESBOROUGH
BY 900 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR STORM
SHELTER. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF
NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT SATURDAY
MORNING FOR NORTHEAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

[Tennesseestorm]

update....

Tornado Warning
TORNADO WARNING
TNC019-091-163-179-090145-
/O.NEW.KMRX.TO.W.0021.090509T0049Z-090509T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
849 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN CARTER COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ELIZABETHTON...
JOHNSON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MOUNTAIN CITY...
SULLIVAN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
WASHINGTON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF JOHNSON CITY...

* UNTIL 945 PM EDT

* AT 845 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD
NEAR GRAY...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF JOHNSON CITY...MOVING EAST AT
35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
JOHNSON CITY BY 855 PM EDT...
ELIZABETHTON BY 905 PM EDT...
MOUNTAIN CITY BY 945 PM EDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR STORM
SHELTER. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF
NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT SATURDAY
MORNING FOR NORTHEAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

[Tennesseestorm]

Thankfully the tornadic storm is east of the Tri-Cities and weakening, but more tornadic storms headed southeast out of Kentucky and Virginia! A rough night ahead!

[jabogitlu]

Ugh. We had a fullscale lockdown at Target. It was AWFUL. I didn't get to go out and smoke! UGGGh!!!!

[Beretta]

I was driving in this. Honestly, it was all around me and I could see the stuff in the distance but my pathway (40 and 81) was completely fine. How weird is that?

jab - smoking

[Bailey.]

So I had no idea about this until I saw this thread around 11 p.m. - I am so not used to this and it has totally freaked me out. I have no experience with tornadoes and I never want to. Apparently I need to keep a better eye on the weather when it gets rough.

[AliceT]

Originally Posted by Tennesseestorm

IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

I never understood why this would be good advice. Tornadoes bring heavy rains and hail and heavy rains bring rapid waters running through ditches. Doesn't sound like good advice to me. Is drowning preferable?

[mbmouse]

Usually a tornado will hit and be gone before rain/hail comes.

Yea, that was VERY strange for this area last night. Had three funnel clouds forming and swirling above the house in Gray last night. None ever got too low below the clouds to be a cloud to ground tornado, but sure was creepy to see. Reminded me way to much of the hurricane clouds in FL.
Careful out there, even more rain storms again tonight, but not to the extent of last night from my understanding.

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by AliceT

I never understood why this would be good advice. Tornadoes bring heavy rains and hail and heavy rains bring rapid waters running through ditches. Doesn't sound like good advice to me. Is drowning preferable?

For years, the National Weather Service has advised people to abandon their cars and dive in a ditch when a tornado is bearing down.

Now that advice is being questioned.

A week ago, the American Red Cross recommended that people would be safer staying in their vehicles. A ditch or low area should be the last resort, the Red Cross said.

The two agencies met Thursday at National Weather Service headquarters near Washington and - for now - agreed to disagree.
With a tornado bearing down, is a car or a ditch safer?