First tornado alert! (Fort Worth, Longview: 2009, houses, earthquakes)

[Scholar]

I'm so glad this intelligent and common sense post was made from a native Texan, an excellent point for the newcomers to Texas. Scholar, a great name for an "bright" post. [/b][/color][/quote]

AAWW! You just made my day! Thanks for your kind words!

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by Scholar

I'm so glad this intelligent and common sense post was made from a native Texan, an excellent point for the newcomers to Texas. Scholar, a great name for an "bright" post. [/b][/color]

AAWW! You just made my day! Thanks for your kind words![/quote]

You are very welcome.

I just really appreciated it because so many times on these threads and in the world in which we live, I hear just the opposite as was witnessed by the hotel clerk. I must say, it is a pet peeve of mine. Even my own nephew will put his car under cover before himself. Makes me crazy, and he's not a kid; he's 43.

[fritzjanine]

Originally Posted by Scholar

I am concerned that the hotel guy wasn't more proactive. If sirens are going off and weather people are advising people to take shelter, the warnings should not be ignored or minimized!!! Your perspective about weather everywhere is great, but please do not let others influence you to be too complacent. You were right to seek shelter! I'd rather be overly cautious than dead! Tornadoes do happen. There are Texans that take them very seriously, though we don't live in fear of them. We just prepare, take whatever precautions we can, and we heed the warnings. Our weather people in the state have excellent technology, and you are right about what a great job they do. The Red Cross has a great list of emergency preparation suggestions. Texas Tech has a wind study program that is leading the nation in tornado safety and studies. They have recommendations for in home shelters. I'm glad that you had a safe experience, but please make sure that now that you are a Texan, you make the proper preparations and continue to listen to the warnings!

Don't you worry,Scholar, I will never be "too complacent" about tornado warnings, I've seen firsthand,the devastation from them,in my past, plus I'm a worry wart anyhow. I've already researched safe rooms and "fraidy holes" as mums the word mentioned in an earlier post,for our new home.Like you said,it's better to be safe than sorry. Thanks for the welcome,all!

[Guingirl]

Hiya! Welcome to Texas We moved out from Northern CA February so we are old hat hehe NOT! We bought a storm radio at Frye's and it has really helped us out a bunch as we don't always have the TV or radio on.

The other night we ended up in our closet in Saginaw. I have been really quite impressed with out they have been able forecast the weather. They have really been on!

[mysamcat]

I moved here from Southern California eight months ago. I lived there all my life and couldnt wait to get out. I am in Jasper County now and am happy to see I am not the only one afraid of tornadoes. Seems like there is alot of tornado watches going on here lately. I was never terrified of earthquakes in California, but tornadoes scare me to death. My nephew told me that its very rare to have one here, but yet it seems like since I moved here, there are alot of watches. It amazes me how calm everyone else is around here, just go about their business like its another day... and I'm glued to the tv waiting for some horrible thing to take place. My husband is from Pennsylvania so he thinks I'm a little nuts about it. I do wonder also why homes around here have no basements if Texas has so many tornado watches. Are the watches getting more frequent than they were in the past??And the severe storms, wow!!!! Scary stuff for a callifornia girl like me... but I'm determined to get past my fear of tornadoes and lightening, because when they are gone, I look around at all the trees and green and am thankful to be here in this little piece of heaven. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get past this fear???

[Greg from Fort Worth]

I think that in time you'll become more accustomed to severe weather warnings. When I moved here 27 years ago I too was concerned when a severe storm moved in. I think part of why we've become so accustomed to tornado warnings is that each particular storm affects such a small area -- one street may be hit while the next street over receives almost no wind damage at all. We simply live with the odds. The chance of my home, property, or loved ones being affected is quite small. I've never actually seen a "live" tornado, replying on television and other media to acually see them.

Welcome to Texas. Now go head to Angelo's on White Settlement Road near downtown Fort Worth for some barbeque and a schooner or two of cold beer.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by mysamcat

I moved here from Southern California eight months ago. I lived there all my life and couldnt wait to get out. I am in Jasper County now and am happy to see I am not the only one afraid of tornadoes. Seems like there is alot of tornado watches going on here lately. I was never terrified of earthquakes in California, but tornadoes scare me to death. My nephew told me that its very rare to have one here, but yet it seems like since I moved here, there are alot of watches. It amazes me how calm everyone else is around here, just go about their business like its another day... and I'm glued to the tv waiting for some horrible thing to take place. My husband is from Pennsylvania so he thinks I'm a little nuts about it. I do wonder also why homes around here have no basements if Texas has so many tornado watches. Are the watches getting more frequent than they were in the past??And the severe storms, wow!!!! Scary stuff for a callifornia girl like me... but I'm determined to get past my fear of tornadoes and lightening, because when they are gone, I look around at all the trees and green and am thankful to be here in this little piece of heaven. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get past this fear???

I am also a Southern CA girl. I lived there for 28 years and now have lived in Texas for 28 as well. I can so relate to where you're coming from and how people can't understand how we cannot be terrified of a potential earthquake. I was in one in CA in 1971 and I was terrified. They hardly ever happen and there isn't a threat about them so often like with tornadoes. As the meteorologists say, "Remember, a tornado can form with little or no warning." That is precisely why I don't even take watches lightly, let alone the warnings.

I do have a storm cellar but have only had it for 10 years. I do feel much safer with it, but I still have not gotten over my fear of these storms although I am better than I used to be. You can overcome them; many do and many do not even worry one iota. I believe one must have common sense about them and not act like nothing can happen.

My children that are now grown tell everyone what I used to make them do when severe weather was upon us. It's kind of funny, but it wasn't funny then. I wish I had had the cellar when they were living at home. I think that's what keeps me somewhat sane when the storms arrive.

By the way, Jasper County has only had 33 in the past 56 years, so that's a bunch less than the metroplex area. That's good for you. There is the link if you want to view it:

http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/ww...wwevent~storms

Remember too, they don't only happen in the springtime although it's the most active time. They can occur any time of the year.

Good luck.

[lilypad]

I had lived in Texas all my life, and never encountered a tornado until moving back in 1979 from SoCal (another story). Got caught in the Wichita Falls tornado of 1979--not a mere funnel, but a huge black wall coming toward us. Of course we tried to outrun it on a gravel road, and got a flat tire! Thankfully, it passed out of our path and we got home safe and sound. Our neighborhood not hit, but we had to slowly wind our way through the debris, cars wrapped around posts, huge signs torn down and in the streets, terrible devastation. The story you hear about the green atmosphere after a tornado is TRUE! Not to be taken lightly for sure.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by lilypad

I had lived in Texas all my life, and never encountered a tornado until moving back in 1979 from SoCal (another story). Got caught in the Wichita Falls tornado of 1979--not a mere funnel, but a huge black wall coming toward us. Of course we tried to outrun it on a gravel road, and got a flat tire! Thankfully, it passed out of our path and we got home safe and sound. Our neighborhood not hit, but we had to slowly wind our way through the debris, cars wrapped around posts, huge signs torn down and in the streets, terrible devastation. The story you hear about the green atmosphere after a tornado is TRUE! Not to be taken lightly for sure.

I remember that one. I had lived in Texas for about 6 months at the time and had lived in Southern California. I was absolutely incredulous when I saw all the media about it. It totally freaked me out. I think learning about that one instilled the ever-present fear that still abounds in my mind. I can still see it on the front page of the Dallas Morning News.

I'm so glad you were safe, and you were fortunate to outrun that humdinger of a tornado, something they say we shouldn't do. Luckily, it changed course.

I remember the news saying if people hadn't taken shelter in their cellars, the death toll would been much worse than it was. Give me my 1971 earthquake in CA any day to that storm even though I wasn't even in it.

[antoinette14]

wow this is so awesome