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Friday, April 29, 2011

What A Difference A Day Makes

 

What a difference a day makes or a few days for that matter! Wednesday we knew the huge weather system that was wrecking havoc in the mid section of the country was heading in our direction. We watched the weather channel and it appeared as though the worse part might be north of us. We watched cautiously.

Around 7:00 we began to see just how ominous this system moving toward us really was. We quickly turned on our weather radio, Midland, and made sure we had the necessary items to take with us to our basement. Now our basement is not what you probably envisioned. It has a nice door in the laundry room with stairs leading to the unfinished rather dug out basement that is used strictly for storage….until this particular evening.

We kept watching and listening to the awful damage that was taking place just west of us in Alabama. There appeared to be several large cells pushing east. Several times the tornado sirens went off warning us that a tornado had been spotted and then around 10:00 we saw a huge weather cell heading through LaFayette, Alabama heading directly toward LaGrange. This cell contained more than one tornado. We gathered our “stuff” and the doggies and headed to the basement. Thank goodness we have a few chairs stored there and this area has electricity…..which we miraculously never lost. There we waited for several hours until the worse passed us and the warning was lifted to a watch.

What an awful night!

It wasn’t until Thursday that we were aware of the damage that occurred in south Troup County (LaGrange). We also heard there was damage in parts of Harris County (Pine Mountain, FDR and Callaway area) as well as Manchester and Warm Springs. We aren’t sure to what extent at this time. Of course nothing can hold a candle to the damage and devastation in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and other areas of Alabama, northern Georgia, Tennessee and some areas of Mississippi.

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So many lives lost and so many lost everything they owned….such a terrible thing!  Let us remember all those in our thoughts and prayers.

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20 comments:

  1. MerikayApril 29, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    I thought about all of our blogger friends that might be any where near the storms. I have been glad to read posts by many of them, but a few still have not posted.

    I'm glad to hear you are both OK.

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  2. Jim and SandieApril 29, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    So grateful to hear that you guys are okay. I cannot imagine how scary it must be, to have to go to the basement to wait out a tornado. I watch the news and am amazed at the power of these storms. So much damage and lives lost. Thank goodness for our belief in our Father in Heaven.

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  3. Travels with EmmaApril 29, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    So glad you made it through the storms. It's hard to comprehend the devastation. :(

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  4. Sue and DougApril 30, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    glad to hear that you are all safe and sound..such terrible devastation!..hope you don't need to spend any more time in the basement!

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  5. The Gypsy G-MasApril 30, 2011 at 12:48 AM

    Glad to hear you're safe and unharmed. My hearts and prayers go out to everyone who was not so lucky.

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  6. Carol KApril 30, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    This devastation was sobering for all of us. I'm thankful that you were protected, Mike and Gerri!

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  7. Al BossenceApril 30, 2011 at 6:21 AM

    I wondered as well if there were any fellow RVing blogger folks in the path of that weather. Glad to see you folks were alright. This time of year is always a very scary bit of business down there & is one of the reasons we scurry home so quick through that Arkansas, Oklahoma & Missouri corridor. Good thing you at least have some below ground protection.

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  8. Sam&Donna WeibelApril 30, 2011 at 6:25 AM

    I will also post a couple of pictures Donna took yesterday on the way home from work, The Lord was watching over St Louis on Good Friday as there were No fatality's and only minor injuries, for a Category 3 tornado that is really being lucky,Imagine airliners being blown across the parking area. At least if I have to head to the basement I can play with my trains, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

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  9. Karen and AlApril 30, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    I'm glad to hear you have a basement to go to. There are no basements here in south Georgia and I'm sure a lot of people wish there were! We keep a few things in our "hidey hole" so if we have to go there quickly, we are prepared.

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  10. PhyllisApril 30, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    We have just narrowly avoided several storms in the last few weeks. One in OK, then went were in AR last weekend and one hit about 30 miles south of us. Now in MO. Our sons lives in Cullman, AL. His house is fine but do no except to have electric for another few days.

    Glad you are all safe.

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  11. RickApril 30, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    Glad to hear you are all o.k. and the storms missed your home. What devastation in some of those places.

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  12. ~MApril 30, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    So glad to hear you're fine. What a mess for so many folks and yes we'll keep everyone in our thoughts and prayers! ~Merri

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  13. squawmamaApril 30, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    Glad you guys were safe and it is a very scary situation... Our daughter lives in Arkansas and we are alway biting our nails...
    Stay safe
    Donna

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  14. Donna KApril 30, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Those pictures are really sobering. So tragic and my heart goes out to those affected by all teh storms. Glad you are safe.

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  15. Roadrunner ChroniclesMay 1, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    Gald it missed you guys and that you are safe. My heart goes out to those that were not so fortunate...

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  16. Dennis and DonnaMay 1, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    We have spent some "basement time" here on many occasions...And our weather radio sits right beside our bed at night...AND we have a Bearcat scanner in our kitchen that is on 24/7...This is the result of the police/fire persons in our family...So glad you are OK..but such a huge loss!! I remember driving through Plainfield IL when a tornado tore up that town in 1991, just 20 miles from us...Let's pray there are no more like last Wed and Thurs...

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  17. Max ParkerMay 1, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    Oh my goodness! What a devastating couple of days. So glad to hear that you made it out OK, hope that all the victims are also staying well. My thoughts and prayers have definitely been with all of them. Hope you have a great head of you.
    Warm Regards,
    Max against dangerous driving

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  18. Wayne and RobertaMay 3, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Glad to hear you are safe and your home didn't have any damage. The devastation is awful and our thoughts and prayers go out to all effected.

    Have a good day!

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  19. squawmamaMay 6, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    How devastating for all those poor families....
    So Sad!!!
    Travel safe
    Donna

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  20. pidgeMay 7, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    Very glad you made it through those terrible storms. We have friends in mid Alabama and were worried to death till we heard from them. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for my health.

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