A tornado hit 3 blocks away.
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
August 19, 2009 4:19pm CST
Man, an unexpected severe storm hit HARD in Minneapolis Minnesota around 230 p.m. It was a rain storm with severe downpours then suddenly things got too quiet etc. A torenado hit South Minneapolis. It did a lot of wind damage in the Downtown area I've heard. This tornado did a lot of damage to trees and ripped a few roofs off houises and businesses. WellsFargo's offices lost a skyways windows due to this tornado as well and all 1500 employees ran to the basement for safety reasons. This hit 3 blocks from where my wife works and I was so scared at first. She never heard any sirens until after the tornado hit. The interstate 35W is uinder about 4 feet of water in areas due to heavy rain etc. So far no reports of injuries etc. I was lucky as the sirens went off but all I got was about 4 inches of rain in an hours time. Streets flooded here draining slowly though. So when was the last severe storm in your area along these lines?
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
10 people like this
24 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Goodness...it's scary how fast a tornado can form. Do you get tornadoes there often in your neck of the woods?
Well, believe it or not even though I'm in the NYC area yes, every once in awhile a tornado can hit. One struck in the Staten Island area of NYC---and then last year one hit in Brooklyn...and even though I'm in the Queens area we could feel it here as I never saw wind gusts as strong in my life and I've lived here just about all my life
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Yes we do but not often in my direct area. Within a 50 mile radius we get then a lot. Luckily they seldom hit the laRGER METROPOLITAN AREAS LIKE MINE.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Hi GB...a few days ago...straight winds did amazing damage during severe thunder storms, including killing a man when a tree landed on his car, but sparing his friend and his sweet toddler...trees uprooted...houses "totaled."
I am glad you were not injured. Be safe please.
Karen2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
This hit near my wifes work which is 14 miles from me so I just had severe rain at the rate of 4 inches an hour. My streets were flooded even though the sewerrs wqorked well as can be expewcted with the torrentail downpours.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
21 Aug 09
Those kinds of downpours are what used to flood my apartment and leave standing water!! I'm glad you were all okay. 
Karen
@GardenGerty (162227)
• United States
20 Aug 09
We have them so often I do not really pay attention. We have only had sirens maybe three times this summer, but at least twice that many times we have had trees torn up and roofs damaged and powerlines down.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (48563)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Aug 09
Any farmhouses falling down on wicked witches wear red shoes?
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I sure hope there were no injuries or deaths. I haven't heard about it yet but I am sure it will be on the news after awhile. We don't normally have problems with tornado's down here, mainly hurricanes and haven't even had any of those in a long time.
That was a lot of rain in a short time you got. I am scared that is the way it will be here when we finally start getting rain, too much at one time and it will just run off and not soak in the ground.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I heard one hitting in Beaumont yesterday I think in Texas. Anyhow I've been watyching the news coverage of this tornado and a lot of damage and hundreds of old treese down. The Convention Center suffered roof damage. A 200 year old church had damage including their Steeple and Cross partially ripped from the roof etc. No injuries reported as of yet thankfully.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
1 person likes this
@Wyldrose (1216)
• United States
20 Aug 09
I used to live in Beaumont, Texas and yes, a freak tornado hit day before yesterday.. It went right down Dowlen road hitting the mall and Walmart. Barne's and Noble and Petco were damaged as well. It was wierd how it just went down and hit those stores. I live in Missouri now and there have been tornadoes all around us. We had thunderstorms last night and strong winds but no damage. Although some people in my town had some trees down and some other light damage.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
19 Aug 09
Well I'm glad that nobody got hurt in that storm, they can be so scary, we live in tornado alley too, and in the spring it can get bad around here. I can't remember when the last severe storm was probably back in May, we've just had thunderstorms here all week, just a light shower coming down, I like those kinds better than the severe ones, its cooled it off alot though, we've been in the 80's, a few weeks ago we were in the 100's everyday, think I like this weather better.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
It as just a couple years ago that one hit right in my neighborhood. It ripped the neighbors pine tree straight up from the ground. My son and I had to run into the garage as we were outside watching the rain and lightening when suddenly the sky turned green then the sound of a train. We knew a tornado was coming upon us. I lost a few large branches of trees but no damage that yar to my house thankfully.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Yes, those things are scary, just last night we had a big storm here and we were in a tornado watch, we didn't get one thank God, but we had alot of dangerous lightening, thats not good either.
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Hi Grandpa Bob: Sorry to hear this, those darn things do pop up suddenly don't they?
I heard that happened in TX yesterday;
I've been without power most of the day today I just posted about that, and then
saw that my photo wasn't attached to my discussion...I HATE IT WHEN that happens!!
I'm glad your wife and you are ok, sure hope no one was killed, lots of flash
flooding is going on all over the place with these storms passing through;
take care and be safe...
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Intewrstate 35W has a lot of construction as the rebuild it. That area was under a few feet of water. Saw on the news a city worker in waders was in water up to his waist trying to clear a sewer out so the water could drain. Ugghh! All fine here thankfully.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
1 person likes this
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
20 Aug 09
EEEWW!! I wouldn't want his job that's for sure (G)!
I heard about the Tornado's this morning on the news Yesterday
was a very active day for them it seems I think they said about
20 or 22 of them cropped up in several different states???
That's One too many of the darn things that's for sure;
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
21 Aug 09
Wow Grandpa Bob I bet you where scared and your Wife was so lucky
We do not get the Storms that bad, thank goodness but there has been a bit of a concern a couple of times as we have started getting what they call a mini Tornado but never to the extend to what you have got there
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
20 Aug 09
That is scary. I hope Debbie got home safely and you guys remain safe. We do need a better warning system for these things..no doubt about it.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
She works till 10 p.m. That's one reason I didn't drive in that area to get photos as I have to pick her up later and did not want to stay in that area all afternoon/evening. HAhaha! bUT SHE IS GOOD AS IT JUST MISSED HER WORK BY A MERE COUPLE BLOCKS.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@BarBaraPrz (48563)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Aug 09
We had flooding in various areas of the city here in Hamilton about a week or two ago, but luckily, not in my area. I think about 5000 homes were flooded. A few years ago, a tornado took out a primary school and a few homes not too far from here, maybe a mile south of me, but again, I was spared. The closest I've come to being affected by a "natural disaster" is when my neighbor's tree split apart and took a bite out of my garage. It had three trunks and one fell into the other neighbor's yard, took up the whole length of the yard. Usually the girls would have been playing out there, but luckily, for some reason weren't at the time.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
20 Aug 09
I saw some of the pictures on the six o'clock news...my sister had two house in Mpls....one near the va and another one in north mpls...anyway glad everyone is okay! We had over an inch in about a half hour! The wind blew and it looked like a snow storm! It was unbelievable.....right now the sun is shining again but more storm cloud on both sides of us...east and west!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163773)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Aug 09
hi Grandpa Bob that was scary I am sure,a lotof damage'
but I am glad nobody was hurt. is your wife okay? A lot'
of people must have been really afraid. once several
years back I stopped at Disneyland to change buses then'
took the one to GardenGrove regional library.saw a number of
'large black clouds but never thought of a tornado as we
'just do nothave tornados in California. I got to the
library in a veritable downpour A cloud burst.I learned'
that a tornado had hit the bus stop with its covered seating
place just minutes after my bus left there .one woman was injureand A bus was blown on its side. All I suffered wAs being soaked
'clear through.that must hAve been my lucky day.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
It went right over here area evidently as it hit 2 to 3 blocks away. Theres a 4 square block area that has a lot of damage. Been waqtching it on the news. Tempted to drive out there but too many roadsa closed as they clear trees and other debris from the streets etc.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@bookreadermom08 (5614)
• United States
20 Aug 09
We just saw this on the news... that is so scary it was that close to you, but I am glad to hear that you are doing well and you still have power and that your wife is well also!!
we had some storms hit here last week but it wasnt by our area and it was just a bad wind/rain storm...they lost power but no real major damage.
take care and stay safe!! happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
20 Aug 09
14 miles away from me but a few blocks from my wifes work.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
21 Aug 09
Fortunately for us we do not have many severe storms. We are prone to have ice storms. About 20 years ago we were hit really hard. Many people were without power for weeks. It was in October when the storm it and it caused trees to break and power lines to go down. Once the ice and snow melted we had a lot of flooding. Schools were closed for a week too.
@AmbiePam (96023)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Probably last month. In the spring and summer horrible storms and deadly tornadoes are way to common. We've been pretty lucky so far this year, but the summer isn't over yet! 
I'm glad to hear your wife is okay. That is the trouble with tornadoes. If the sirens go off, you've got like 5 to 10 minutes to do something. And then sometimes there is no time for a siren at all.
I'm glad to hear your wife is okay. That is the trouble with tornadoes. If the sirens go off, you've got like 5 to 10 minutes to do something. And then sometimes there is no time for a siren at all.1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
23 Aug 09
We had a severe storm here as well but not as much damage as in your area, Grandpa Bob. Since the ground was so dry, it soaked most of the rain up rather quickly. Didn't affect the river/creek/lake levels though. The creek out back is just about dried up in spots still.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
22 Aug 09
Hi Grandpa Bob! I'm glad the tornado didn't get your house!! Wow.... that's a bit too close for comfort, huh? Believe me, I know about tornado's because hubby and I had a few close calls and one actually hit us and torn the hell out of our shed and our neighbors truck top was ripped off. Needless to say, it scared the living sh!t out of us but luckily, no one was hurt. I hope you don't ever have to experience one first hand. It's no fun, let me tell you.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
21 Aug 09
That sounds pretty severe. 3 years ago we had a very harsh storm. It knocked out our power for over a week. Trees were down. Roofs damaged, it was just awful.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Hey Grandpa Bob! I'm glad to hear that you and your family
are all ok! That must have been really scary to be so close
to a tornadao! I can't imagine how that must have felt! Lately
since June we have had some unbeliveably strange and severe
storms where I live and the surrounding areas! I don't ever
remember having such severe storms with wind and rain and
hail like this before! The weather this whole summer has been
very strange and unexplainable all over the country! We are
now finally getting the very hot temps that we should have
gotten all summer long! It is hot and humid and miserable!
And we are still having some severe thunder storms too!
