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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 12:03:31 GMT
Glad you are safe, must have been very very scary. I've just heard it on our news bulletins of the tragic fatalities in Alabama  |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Mar 4, 2019 12:37:41 GMT
You aren't all that far from me, OP. My husband's current job site runs very near you, too. We were reading the reports this morning of the tornado damage in Edgefield County. And the devastating news out of Alabama.
We had nothing this time, but like @patter, I have been through a number of them. The worst was as a child living on the Florida panhandle. On the street behind us, a whole row of homes was completely decimated. I remember hunkering down with my mama under the mattress in my bedroom while my daddy tried to get to us. He could not as many windows had burst due to the change in air pressure and the suction/wind in the house blew all the doors closed. I grew up with a healthy fear of the power of a tornado.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:05:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 13:14:55 GMT
I grew up with a healthy fear of the power of a tornado. Exactly! I have been in them in OH, AL, NM, TX, OK, SC, and NC. I was SO, SO fearful as a child. I too remember hunkering down in the bathroom with Mom and Dad many times, seeing funnel clouds, etc. The one I was just in 2 years ago came right through our subdivision. Two of my friends at church had damage to their homes. |
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Post by mikklynn on Mar 4, 2019 13:19:17 GMT
I lived through a major outbreak when I was 7 years old. Much of my neighborhood was destroyed. We were able to live in our basement until dad could repair the first floor. I still can't sleep through a thunderstorm!
Everyone should own a weather alert radio.
OP, I am so glad you are safe. An interior closet may have been a safer location for you.
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Post by jcm28 on Mar 4, 2019 13:19:34 GMT
Thanks everyone for the good advice. We did go stand in the hall because it came upon us so quickly. I actually opened the front door just to watch the wind whip up the trees. That’s when I heard it and it does sound like a train. We probably should have stepped into the bathroom because it is an interior room with no windows. We have never lived in a frame home before, always block masonry so I wasn’t sure where exactly to go. No basement.
Had a difficult time sleeping but got about 4 hours. DH got the generator running this morning. He is in a much better mood after a cup of coffee!
Now it’s supposed to be in the 20’s tomorrow so we’ll have to camp out in front of the fireplace!
Thank you all for the concern. A lot of people had it much worse than us. No fatalities here in Edgefield county.
Janet
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Mar 4, 2019 13:46:55 GMT
Thanks everyone for the good advice. We did go stand in the hall because it came upon us so quickly. I actually opened the front door just to watch the wind whip up the trees. That’s when I heard it and it does sound like a train. We probably should have stepped into the bathroom because it is an interior room with no windows. We have never lived in a frame home before, always block masonry so I wasn’t sure where exactly to go. No basement. Had a difficult time sleeping but got about 4 hours. DH got the generator running this morning. He is in a much better mood after a cup of coffee! Now it’s supposed to be in the 20’s tomorrow so we’ll have to camp out in front of the fireplace! Thank you all for the concern. A lot of people had it much worse than us. No fatalities here in Edgefield county. Janet That generator is outside, right? Just making sure  |
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
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Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Mar 4, 2019 14:10:31 GMT
I grew up with a healthy fear of the power of a tornado. My DS was at a very impressionable age (almost 8) when the tornado went through this area, affecting so many lives. To this day he is on it the minute the weather turns iffy. He his now 19 and as long as he's in my home he is my own personal weather alert system, letting me know what's up and when we should gather the critters and hit the basement. I don't have to ask or watch the weatherman for that matter. DD is 2.5 years older and still very aware but not to that extent. Just curious, how old were you when the tornado damaged your home? |
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Post by jcm28 on Mar 4, 2019 14:18:19 GMT
Yes, the generator is under a shed, about 30 feet from the house. Living in Florida all those years taught us to be prepared. As soon as the lights went out I headed to my candle box and DH gathered the flashlights. There must have been ten of them on the kitchen table. He also brought in two sidewalk lights and set them up in the hallway so we wouldn’t break our necks getting up in the night.
Janet
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Judy26 on Mar 4, 2019 14:36:07 GMT
What a nightmare! I’m so glad you’re safe!
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Mar 4, 2019 14:51:22 GMT
Just curious, how old were you when the tornado damaged your home? I was pre-school age. When I say "healthy fear," I mean I do have great respect for the power of tornadoes and the oftentimes surprise nature of them. But I'm not obsessed with weather or worry about it. That's not really my nature. In fact, I drive some of my family crazy with how blasé I can be about bad weather. |
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Post by hdoublej on Mar 4, 2019 15:59:14 GMT
So glad you're ok!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2019 13:43:34 GMT
Glad you're OK. Watching people go through the aftermath is so hard. I would stop tornadoes (and lots of other things  if I had the power. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2019 13:49:14 GMT
Heard this morning that the NWS confirmed 4 tornadoes in SC--two in Lexington County, one just north of Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, and one in Edgefield County.
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pancakes
Drama Llama
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Post by pancakes on Mar 5, 2019 19:28:18 GMT
I’ve been very close to several tornadoes, growing up in Texas. I think hurricanes sound scarier because after the storm is significant flooding.
My parents previous house had enough interior rooms where each person. could have their own tornado room in the house haha. I called dibs on the powder room so I could use the restroom if need be.
Glad you are safe!!
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Post by birukitty on Mar 5, 2019 20:04:17 GMT
I'm so glad you and your family are okay, but I'm so sorry you had to go through that. It must have been so scary and terrifying.
I too would rather take a hurricane (been through several of those) or an earthquake (been through three of these-2 in Japan, 1 here in Maryland). I've never been through a tornado but they scare me so much!
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Mar 5, 2019 20:17:26 GMT
How scary! I'm glad that you are ok.
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RedSquirrelUK
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Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Mar 5, 2019 20:32:28 GMT
Thank goodness you're OK. What an experience.
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flute4peace
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Mar 6, 2019 0:40:48 GMT
It’s so interesting to me how many of you say you’d rather have a hurricane or earthquake. I would much rather have a tornado because I’m prepared and alert and I trust my weather professionals. Not that I’m not afraid of them, I actually started spotting due to a significant phobia, but knowledge is power for me. The more I learn, the more safe I can keep my family.
Earthquakes have no warning and hurricanes go on for days and bring flooding. And there’s nowhere to run from either of them.
Does that make sense?
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Post by freecharlie on Mar 6, 2019 4:47:59 GMT
I grew up with a healthy fear of the power of a tornado. My DS was at a very impressionable age (almost 8) when the tornado went through this area, affecting so many lives. To this day he is on it the minute the weather turns iffy. He his now 19 and as long as he's in my home he is my own personal weather alert system, letting me know what's up and when we should gather the critters and hit the basement. I don't have to ask or watch the weatherman for that matter. DD is 2.5 years older and still very aware but not to that extent. Just curious, how old were you when the tornado damaged your home? my boy was 4 when a mile wide tornado went through near us. He hates wind and storms |
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Post by lauradrumm on Mar 6, 2019 8:30:44 GMT
Tornadoes are worse than hurricanes because you have no warning. Hurricanes do mean you have to evacuate but if you’re in a hurricane prone place like me you just have a go to plan. I feel for those less fortunate who don’t have means and help when I can. Glad the OP is ok! I’ve never been in one. Does it sound like a train?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2019 11:01:16 GMT
Tornadoes are worse than hurricanes because you have no warning. Hurricanes do mean you have to evacuate but if you’re in a hurricane prone place like me you just have a go to plan. I feel for those less fortunate who don’t have means and help when I can. Glad the OP is ok! I’ve never been in one. Does it sound like a train? Yes, it sounds like a train. I have been in tornadoes that have hit within 0-2 miles of my home in OK, KS, TX, NM, AL, OH, SC, and NC. I was terrified as a kiddo and into my early adult years because I had been through so many. I have seen funnel clouds form right over my head. I have heard "the train." I have seen the damage they leave behind. I also went through Hurricane Hugo. It was a Cat. 2 when it went over our apartment. Hubby and I had just gotten married 6 months prior. If you can't evacuate in a hurricane, you also have to worry about tornadoes because they cause tornadoes too so it's a double whammy. They are both as scary in my book. |
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Mar 6, 2019 15:39:26 GMT
How unbelievably terrifying. So glad you're ok.
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flute4peace
Drama Llama
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Jul 3, 2014 14:38:35 GMT
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Post by flute4peace on Mar 6, 2019 16:39:16 GMT
Tornadoes are worse than hurricanes because you have no warning. Hurricanes do mean you have to evacuate but if you’re in a hurricane prone place like me you just have a go to plan. I feel for those less fortunate who don’t have means and help when I can. Glad the OP is ok! I’ve never been in one. Does it sound like a train? Actually, tornadic conditions can have a lot of advance notice. Here’s an overview. www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/forecasting/Yesterday someone started a thread on a chaser board that I follow about conditions for the 9th. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Mar 6, 2019 16:44:48 GMT
Glad you are okay!!!
I've been in a direct hit of a tornado before.. It hit my grandmother's house. Took off the chimney and flooded the main floor. The big old tree right next to the house was split in half and it landed squarely on top of our car.. smashed it in 1/2. I was probably about 12. The tornado didn't scare me but going into my grandma's basement terrified me more than anything. Weird.. lol
The second one hit our neighborhood but minimal damage. Living in the Midwest I guess I am just used to the sirens (heck we get them in Colorado all the time as well).. I much rather go through a tornado than an earthquake or hurricane. (I've been through 2 earthquakes and that was SO much scarier than the tornado).
The worst I have seen first hand (wasn't IN the tornado) is Joplin, MO when the town was wiped out.. and a friend's neighborhood in Kansas City.. saw both first hand.. It's devastating.
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Post by mellyw on Mar 6, 2019 19:57:52 GMT
Tornadoes are worse than hurricanes because you have no warning. Hurricanes do mean you have to evacuate but if you’re in a hurricane prone place like me you just have a go to plan. I feel for those less fortunate who don’t have means and help when I can. Glad the OP is ok! I’ve never been in one. Does it sound like a train? Yes, it sounds like a train. I have been in tornadoes that have hit within 0-2 miles of my home in OK, KS, TX, NM, AL, OH, SC, and NC. I was terrified as a kiddo and into my early adult years because I had been through so many. I have seen funnel clouds form right over my head. I have heard "the train." I have seen the damage they leave behind. I also went through Hurricane Hugo. It was a Cat. 2 when it went over our apartment. Hubby and I had just gotten married 6 months prior. If you can't evacuate in a hurricane, you also have to worry about tornadoes because they cause tornadoes too so it's a double whammy. They are both as scary in my book. I’ve been thru a lot of weather phenomena. Typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes. They all suck, unfortunately, but tornadoes do scare the life out of me. Yes, detection has advanced greatly, but they sure like to spin up quick without a lot of warning. Like patter, I’ve watched funnel clouds form over my head, Mother Nature is a powerful b*tch at times. But I’ll admit, my top scary is Tsunamis. My heart speeds up watching any videos of the ocean disappearing, because I know what’s coming. Those tsunami alerts when I lived in Japan gave me a healthy fear of the ocean, even more than this poor 70’s child had from growing up with Jaws! ETA- our neighbors love to regal us with the story of how we moved into our house a year after a tornado hit the neighborhood, every spring. We’ve been here years, and they still like to go on about it. Yes, neighbors, we live in tornado alley, I get it! |
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Post by MichyM on Mar 6, 2019 20:20:37 GMT
It’s so interesting to me how many of you say you’d rather have a hurricane or earthquake. I would much rather have a tornado because I’m prepared and alert and I trust my weather professionals. Not that I’m not afraid of them, I actually started spotting due to a significant phobia, but knowledge is power for me. The more I learn, the more safe I can keep my family. Earthquakes have no warning and hurricanes go on for days and bring flooding. And there’s nowhere to run from either of them. Does that make sense? I think a lot of us who don’t live in tornado and/or hurricane prone areas say that. And I think it’s due to what we’re used to over the course of our lives. One of my very first memories was crouching under my brothers crib (i was 3 months shy of 4years old) during the 65 quake. I’ve been through a few more, the worst of which was in 2001. I was in my car at the time which was beyond bizarre. My poor husband was working from home that day and it was the first earthquake his Wisconsin born and bred self had been through. He freaked, and actually did just about everything “wrong” during it. For me, I think the unpredictability of earthquakes is preferable over days of prepping for a hurricane and/or the acute fear of an impending tornado. With an earthquake it’s over and done before it really even registered. By the time it is over, the fear really hasn’t had a chance to settle in and the relief of making it through ok takes over. |
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if I had the power. 
