First tornado alert!

[ATX Homeboy]

OMG, the sky is falling. We're from CA what should we do???

Do what that great Californian President once said about nuclear warfare, "find a ditch and crawl in."

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by ATX Homeboy

OMG, the sky is falling. We're from CA what should we do???

Do what that great Californian President once said about nuclear warfare, "find a ditch and crawl in."

No thanks. I'll step into my sweet storm cellar and "ride out the storm" in it.

[dixierambler]

Well, I had a fine howdy-do last Thursday when I arrived in Longview. I hadn't been here more than a couple of hours when the tornado sirens went off. Of course, when they go off, that's just a signal for everyone to run out in the yard and look up at the sky. I mean, just about everyone up and down the street was out in the yard watching the sky, and I was right there with them. But all we got was some light winds and a few sprinkles.

I had forgotten how loud and unsettling those sirens can be. The warning siren, not the alert siren, sounded continuously for about 15-20 minutes. We're about a mile from the closest one and that thing is EXTREMELY LOUD!! And for anyone that has never heard one of these things, I can understand how they can inspire panic. We dodged a bullet this time, but one of these days it's bound to get us. This same storm went on through Arkansas and into Tennessee where it hit Murfreesboro, killing 2 and injuring numerous others.

[jasonfrom canada]

hello pepole of jasper tx i am from canada i was wondering if you have had tornadoes touch down in the past couple of weeks or even some that did damage to houses in out lying areas as i have talking with someone there and i am just looking to confirm what i have been told today is Oct 12 2009 any info about this would be great thank you very much

your friendly guy from the north eh

[Pontificator]

I'm sure any Texan moving the opposite direction would be equally (and unnaturally) fearful of earthquakes. My take is, hey, every place has its FAULTS! Ha! I've experienced both, having lived in Alaska for several years. I find both tornado warnings and earthquakes unnerving -- had to do the little kid thing and sleep with the lights on the remainder of the night.

Welcome to Texas, you'll be just fine! And you might learn to enjoy the energy of a storm, just be ready to head for the closet!

[catman]

I live in Fort Worth, and there is NO WAY I'll ever be complacent about severe weather. If someone wants to call me a 'weather wimp', I'm up for that. The downtown Ft Worth tornado of 2000 and the Mayfest hailstorm of 1995 were enough for me. Softball-sized hail will do a number on just about anything.

The best thing you can do is get a radio receiver that will pick up 146.94 MHz and listen to the SKYWARN Net which the ham radio operators (myself included) activate when severe weather threatens. They are out in the field and know about it first, and with the aid of a MAPSCO you can tell exactly where it is and if it's headed your way.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by catman

I live in Fort Worth, and there is NO WAY I'll ever be complacent about severe weather. If someone wants to call me a 'weather wimp', I'm up for that. The downtown Ft Worth tornado of 2000 and the Mayfest hailstorm of 1995 were enough for me. Softball-sized hail will do a number on just about anything.

The best thing you can do is get a radio receiver that will pick up 146.94 MHz and listen to the SKYWARN Net which the ham radio operators (myself included) activate when severe weather threatens. They are out in the field and know about it first, and with the aid of a MAPSCO you can tell exactly where it is and if it's headed your way.

There aren't many Texans like you, and it's nice to know you're honest. I certainly wouldn't consider you a "weather wimp." One must be sensible in severe weather. Those who aren't are not very smart. Maybe many deny the severity of Texas weather for fear of being considered wimpy. If that's the case, they're surely not playing with a full deck.

[catman]

Thanks. Perhaps I should make it clear that 146.94 MHz is specific to the Fort Worth area! Many cities and towns have a SKYWARN repeater, however, usually in the 2-meter band (144-148 MHz) but occasionally in the 70-centimeter band (440-450 MHz). Most scanners will pick them up.