Tornado hits Springfield - 02/10/2009

coppercoins · Site Admin

An EF-1 tornado hit Springfield. MO last night around 11PM. The first touchdown was about 2 miles from my house, and the path ran northeast for about six miles. Not all in the path were affected, which means the tornado skipped through town.

There was no warning, and most in the area not affected by the storm didn't even know until today that there was a tornado - myself included.

Anyhow, in case you hear about it on your news, I am fine, no damage, and no knowledge at the time that we were being hit.

Dick · Expert Member

That didn't surprise me. I was listening to the weather channel, when they were tyalking about baseball-sized hail, in the Norman/Okie City area. It is nice to har you are okay. Do you have a "tornado cellar"? They seem to be part of the standard equipment for that part of the country!
Dick

fiddle-fart · Veteran Member

glad to hear that your ok
I'm a weather spotter for this area and tornadoes are not fun, pretty, but not fun..
My prayers go out to those that was injuried, lost property and to the families that lost loved ones...

I hope you have a safe place to go, God forbid, if one hits your area......

Mike

Dick · Expert Member

Hi Mike, while I'm not a weather spotter for the area, I do have the weatherbug, and keep a close eye on the wx. I don't like "surprises", and Mother Nature can give you a big one! I just wanted to second your thoughts, and wishes.
Dick

Teryble · Veteran Member

Welcome home, I guess. Tornado's are scary, at least w/ hurricanes we can prepare. I've never been through a tornado & hopefully never will. I did live on a sailboat (33') & while anchored over night near Boca Grande, "night" being the key word. Husband & I were playing backgammon & started hearing what sounded like a train, no trains out there. It kept getting louder, couldn't see anything, it threw our boat on it's side, it flipped right back up (6' draft alot of tonage below) then spun us around a few times....over that quick, but scary! Tornado, waterspout? It was one or the other, close as I want to get! Hope your move went smoothly and you're happy!
Teryble

coppercoins · Site Admin

Like a large number of people around here I do not have a storm shelter...too expensive, and it went away from being a normal part of home constuction more than 40 years ago. Our ground here is nearly solid rock, and just digging the hole for a shelter would cost over $10,000.

What I have is very reliable radar sources and a fast getaway. I have highways very near my house that run in all directions. I know they say not to try outrunning a tornado, but if you time it right, know which way to go, and have a good plan, it's the best bet for surviving one - not being where it hits.

In seven years there has been a tornado within 5 miles of my house eight different times. They really don't bother me. The only reason I brought it up here was in the event someone saw it on the news and worried. I didn't know whether the tornado here would make the national news or not.

There were half a dozen homes left uninhabitable, a few trees snapped, a couple of businesses damaged, and that's about it. We saw more damage by far in the ice storm.

Dick · Expert Member

Chuck, I remember that very well. I have a mental picture of a hansone young man with a chainsaw, that I wouldn't care to meet in a dark alley! There are quire a few who have joined since, and haven't seen it. Can you post it again? Thanks,
Dick

coppercoins · Site Admin

This one?

coppercoins · Site Admin

Although I think this one is more intimidating...even though it wasn't meant to be.

Dick · Expert Member

YEP!!! that is the one1
Thanks dor posting it again. I am sorry about all the trees you had to remove, but an ice storm does things like that. You will agree, that you didn't have to worry about that, while in Florida, I'm sure!
Dick

Robert · Senior Member

Glad to hear you're OK. A Feb tornado in SW MO is unusual, but not unheard of, right?

I was in/near the May 3, 1999 outbreak in OKC so whenever I hear the word tornado it grabs my attention quickly.

Dick · Expert Member

Robert, I was going to Aircraft mechanics school in Norman, OK., and we had the pleasure od being able to stand in mud up to our knees, and have to put up with a dust storm. our uniforms were blue, on the leeward side, and red on the windy side! This was in '43/'44.
Dick

fiddle-fart · Veteran Member

Chuck, here is a site that makes above ground shelters
http://www.stormsaferoom.com/?OVRAW=tornado%20shelters&OVKEY=tornado%20shelter&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=2001918021&OVKWID=18832003521

Dick.... If you go to NWS, http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ ,and on the left hand side there is a skywarn section .. browse thru it and learn the sky and clouds for any immediate weather that may occur...

Chuck.... If you are going to run found a safe building near by or if your neighbors might have a shelter... I have the same problem with rocks being 6 ft downbut my neighbors are on 15 ft of ground under them so they have a basement....

I know one of these yrs. I'm going to take a 2 wk vacation out west to chase some big one

Mike

Dick · Expert Member

Mike, that is pretty nice, but I like the "weatherbug.com". Iy gives a good view of either Radar, or satellite, or both. I have used it for yeartd. I don't pay any attention to the "Weather guessers on TV! Try it, it is free, unless you want the "PRO, then it costs<( Last I heard) $20.00 a year. No commercials, etxc. I just ignore the commercials. None of them interest me.
Dixck