Tornado Trials and Triumphs

Honestly, my first reaction on hearing of the recent spate of massive tornadoes ripping through the United States was a racing heart and sympathetic fear for all the good folks who have lost so very much and sorrow for those who have died.

I grew up in Kansas and while I may not be there anymore, Kansas will always be in my heart so I know what tornadoes can do as I’ve seen the beasties first hand and never seeing one again would be too soon for me.

When I watched this video, I kept watching even though, like so many others who know what’s really going on with these monster twisters, I was growling at my computer screen yelling at the car driver and passengers to GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE!

Folks, when you see a twister coming, you do NOT hang around to get a better look.

Notice that at around the six minute mark when he’s realized that he has stayed around way too long, his car’s front windshield begins to crack from the pressure.

Yes, this footage is of the EF4 tornado that went through Tuscaloosa, Alabama on 4/27/11. It was taken from the University Mall parking lot. The same tornado system killed close to 300 people in the US with Alabama taking a very hard hit.

See http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/weather/chicago-weather-report-tornado-history-tuscaloosa-birmingham-20110428 and http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tornadoes-devastate-us-killing-at-least-290/150703-2.html for more coverage.

– Brian