I was so scared.

@dfollin (25351)
United States
July 24, 2008 1:57pm CST
Yesterday in the late afternoon there was a tornado warning in our area.We live in a condo building where the stairs are outside and we are on the second floor.Therefore there is no downstairs to go to and no safe way to get there even if there was.The only thing below us is another condo where the people were not home. A very large cloud cluster came,that I had never seen anything like.The birds all flew in the other direction,the winds got real heavy.I was petrofied,in tears and my daughter was very afraid as well.We waited it out listening to the winds and staying a way from windows. Last night they said on the news that no twister was ever spoted,but the wind gusts in my particular area were up to 100 miles per hour! I have never been so scared.I was told that when I was a baby we lived in Illinos and went thru many storms(tornados,hurricanes,whatever they have there).No wonder as a child I was so afraid of storms.But,yesterday was the worst I can remember.I now can really imagine what those people went thru that were in real tornadoes and hurricanes.
5 people like this
17 responses
@twallace (2675)
• United States
24 Jul 08
tornado - beautiful but distructive
I have only seen picture of them on tv and just from watching how they look and the distruction that they cause. I'm glad that I have not been in one. I'm glad that your fine and nothing happened to you and your daughter. I know that could have been a scary moment. We have had rain for the last to days here on the east coast. But nothing really bad. I hope that nothing really bad comes with the rain that we have been getting. Glad to hear that you and your family are fine. This was a pic that I found and from a distance they are so beautifully formed and shape. Yet they can bring serious distruction with them.
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Kind of reminds me of my favorite animal the panda bear.They are so pretty,but can be so mean and vicious too.Thank you we are all fine.
• United States
24 Jul 08
I'm sorry hun! We used to live in KS and I have been thru some good ones. The best thing to do is to get into a room in the middle of your condo with no windows or in a bathroom with no windows in the tub. Also under a sturdy table will do when nothing else is available. Any place on the lowest level of your condo is the safest place inside. I dunno what I would do if I didn't have any indoor stairs to get out without going outside. That is just scary! WOW!!! Stay safe....
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Yes,we went into the master bathroom,took blankets to cover from whatever,like the mirror breaking and the cell phone.There is no way to get into the lover level condo without going outside.Then those people would have to be home and welcome us in.I cannot wait to get moved back to the other county I lived in and get either a basement apartment or a house with a basement.
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
I also wanted to say that we are staying safe as possible right now.The rain ended last night.Just some severe thunderstorms came late last night.I was so scared.My youngest son was working driving a tow truck just a few miles a way.My oldest son,mother and uncle live in a mobile home about 5 miles away.Thank God they did not get the wind like we did.I was so happy that my grandaughter was not here.It was scary enough having my daughter here,age 11.Thanks for replying,giving me advice and wishing us to be safe.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I am glad you guys were ok. The weather is getting so weird. It is scary at the time.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Thanks.God makes the weather whatever He wants it to be.I suppose He is trying to send us a message.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Well I actually like seeing tornados. Not the destruction but the tornado itself. I have chased a few in my times as well. We have had a few this year that turned deadly and it's a shame. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Chasing them! Are you crazy?! Yes,it is a shame when they kill.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
24 Jul 08
My aunt was in a really bad tornado and people lost their lives years ago. she is very afraid of storms now because of that also. I am glad that you are okay and the sotrms passed without damage to your condo. I am scared of storms too. We have had some really bad weather this year. I get in the closet with my daughter when we have bad storms that can produce tornadoes. My aunt said the tornado tore her trailer up and put her toilet in a tree.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Hmmm,maybe we would be safer and more comfortable,while we wait in my walk in closet.But there are 2 wooden shelves in there.I was told that when I was a baby we went thru a lot of tornados in Illinos.Then my parents split up and we moved back to Virginia,where I have lived ever since.I must have had a subconcious memory of them because I was petrofied of storms as a child.Thank you.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Jul 08
hi dfollin a wind storm can be frightening indeed but you must learn a few safety precautions and know just what the weather really is doing so you can take necessary steps.you learn when you live in places liike north and south dakota that are in tornado ally just when to take to the storm cellar and you learn to 'control your fear so you can do what is best to improve your own safety.
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Iam just not used to this weather and so I got scared.I suppose I should learn what to do.I know to go to a cellar,but we don't have one.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
25 Jul 08
That really sounds scary. We don't usually have tornadoes here, but had one nearby this year that really tore things up. It makes you look at oncoming storms in a different way. Hundred mile an hour winds can cause some real damage!
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Sorry you were scared, but I am glad that you were not hurt in any way. I grew up in Illinois and we had quite a few tornadoes there. None of them were ever really close to my house, but I remember once a tornado ripped the front door off of my grandparents house. It was a big thick wooden door too.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
I was feeling so scared I was thinking to myself,Oh God,if we have a tornado and it doesn't kill me,maybe I'll die of a heartattack! Where in Illinos were you?When I was a baby we lived in Decatur and Kincaid,near Taylorville,where my fathers family is from and a lot of them still live there.That is too bad about your grandparents door.Were you there when it happened? Thanks,thank God no one was hurt.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
24 Jul 08
glad you are o.k. know u must have been petrified.i have neverbeen in a tornado , thank god, but we have alot of them every year close by. we have been blessed so far. they have touched down very close to me but so far so good. take care.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25351)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Thank you and thank God you are not near any tornados.We used to never have them,but the past 5 years or so we have been getting them here.Oh well, the is a reason for everything.God has His reason for them all of the sudden being here.But,it does not mean I have to like them.
• Philippines
25 Jul 08
Oh!! that was so scary!!! here in our country I don;t hear anything like that. We have thunder storms and typhoons here but seldom I hear about tornadoes we also have flood here that can carry houses to other places and even lives were destroyed. Those are the commonly disaster in our country. Typhoon,flood,heavy thunderstorms and earthquake. Good you were not hit by that tornado you said. You are fortunate.
@nobel85 (21)
• Indonesia
25 Jul 08
I can not imagine how scary was a tornado because I don't live in a country with such tornado but I can feel what you feel. Thanks God that you are still in good condition especially your daughter. God still take care of you. I ever seen the tornado in the movie but now when I read your story, I am very scared too, I cannot imagine if one day when I have a chance to go to your country and feel what you feel. May God strengthen you and your family.
@MaeTsuen (257)
• Philippines
25 Jul 08
o.0 i saw in national geographic they are actually building them already... i forgot what country... but they are in mass production they call it tornado house.. it was design to withstand tornado and flash flood... actually a Hurricane katrina victim benefited from national geographic sponsoring in purchasing the low cost tornado proof house because she was just leaving in the trailer after loosing everything. try to check tho you might want to purchase.
@zeny_zion (1283)
• Philippines
25 Jul 08
thank God we dont have that here. its only heavy rain. no hurricane, no twister. is it really scary. i really cant imagine myself seeing twister coming in our place.
@brunogar (32)
• United States
24 Jul 08
i live in the midwest were there are plenty of tornadoes, i never been in one but never was that scared, one time i woke up in the morning,went out side to go to school and the siding that goes on walls of peoples houses was evrywhere
1 person likes this
@shana123 (2095)
• India
25 Jul 08
oh my goodness how did you hold your life there if i were in your situation i would have damn fainted .Yes i never see those pictures of those tornado or hurriances or anything in the tv or internet because i'm too scared ..i just scream out even for a little thunder in our area i will sleep by holding pillows folded on my head.Thank GOD nothing has happened to you and your daughter ,theres no wonder why you got scared
@CharRay7 (1549)
• United States
25 Jul 08
tornado - photo of tornado and flying debris
Hi my friend, Well I live in Central Illinois so tornados are getting to be a pretty regular thing here lately. We get tornado watches and warnings all the time. Sometimes that's not too good because lately we listen to the warnings and watches, watch the weather on TV and the internet (if the power doesn't go out that is) and just stay calm. Well we stay calm, I have one dog that is a shivering mess when he hears the thunder and I end up holding him until it is over. We have a basement and we used to go down there when we got a tornado warning, and now it happens so often we don't even bother. Someday we may be sorry we don't go downstairs. Happy MyLotting, Char
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Hmmm try being in a mobile home with no where to go. We had a tornado warning here yesterday too when hurricane Dolly hit. My guy and I just sat here and looked at each other. All of us in this area are in mobile homes, the ground is flat, no basements, no ditches, not even a siren to warn us. At least in the condo you could get into a closet or such and I'm sure its sturdier. Hopefully you won't have any more bad weather for awhile. Best thing is to have a plan and be prepared.