ADDENDUM: Two other points to the tornado story:
As Tara was trying to find the exit to look for shelter the "tornado chasers" troupe passed her along with the weather channel trucks and police---she then knew she wasn't in a movie this was real!!
I became so involved with the weather channel information, Tara on the phone and a hyped up stress level I found myself running around MY HOUSE closing all the windows and doors. Then Tara reminded me I WAS IN NEW YORK!!!
Monday, May 12, 2014
Tara's Mothers Day Gift
May 11, 2014
I have never been in a Tornado until last night (by phone). The circumstances that evolved were also strange.
Tara called about 5pm on Mothers Day to see how my Day was going. She happened to tell me she was driving back from Sioux Falls, SD as at the last minute she and boyfriend Jason were going to meet in the middle as they hadn't seen each other for some time. Her drive 4 hours, his 5 hours.
I was outside gardening and for some unknown reason decided to go in and turn on the Weather Channel to see what tomorrows weather would be and see if I could finish my planting tomorrow.
WARNING: Lincoln, NE caught my eye. RED all over the screen from the area of Sioux Falls, Omaha and Lincoln,NE---Tara's route. They said, strangely, you may not think this any more than dark skies, rain and a thunderstorm and may be too late to take cover. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM!!! 3 tornado's sited, flooding rain, lightening and 70-80 mile an hour winds. Now my stress level is rising. I texted Tara to get off the road--no answer. Called--no answer. I wasn't going to give up. After calling another 5 times she answered (was in a dead zone) and had no idea of this impending dangerous storm. I told her to turn on her radio and look for an exit on the highway. A strong voice came on and indeed a tornado, high wind warning. THEN the sirens started blowing--I could hear them in the phone, a very chilling sound. She saw the dark sky to the right of her but nothing more. Just thought it was a rain storm. Then the rains came and the wind. Not being able to see very well she was trying to find an exit. It seemed like an eternity when finally she spotted one a few miles down the highway. Getting off she found a gas station, parked her car in the safest spot she could and went in. He said a tornado had been on the ground for 40 minutes already but the storm was coming.
A few minutes later the soccer Mom, with some players came in with some other people close behind. There was no shelter in the building so they were up again a wall and waited it out (me too, on the phone). I was giving the report on the weather channel--which was a lot more information than they had there. RED filled the screen and the path was right on top of them --near Omaha. The women, Tara and I but mostly the weather man on channel 35 followed the storm with bated breath.
Seemed like FOREVER went by. They experienced those heavy winds, rain, lightening etc--scary!!
After Tara bonded with the soccer Mom and team they exchanged numbers to check on each other when they continued on their trip. All going in the same direction.
Car still there, Tara intact, bought a little treat for all the anguish and off she went. We hung up so she could gather herself and get on the road.
Seemed like again, forever, when I spoke to her. She was on the road and near Lincoln where she lives. She related a terrible driving story with scary weather but almost there. Then another tornado and high wind warning when she was in town. Trying to get home as fast as she could ,the rain let up---got out of her car---HOME!!! All this on Mothers Day!!! My gift---my Tara safe and sound!!! Thank God!! Also thanks to the weatherman on channel 35!
I have never been in a Tornado until last night (by phone). The circumstances that evolved were also strange.
Tara called about 5pm on Mothers Day to see how my Day was going. She happened to tell me she was driving back from Sioux Falls, SD as at the last minute she and boyfriend Jason were going to meet in the middle as they hadn't seen each other for some time. Her drive 4 hours, his 5 hours.
I was outside gardening and for some unknown reason decided to go in and turn on the Weather Channel to see what tomorrows weather would be and see if I could finish my planting tomorrow.
WARNING: Lincoln, NE caught my eye. RED all over the screen from the area of Sioux Falls, Omaha and Lincoln,NE---Tara's route. They said, strangely, you may not think this any more than dark skies, rain and a thunderstorm and may be too late to take cover. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM!!! 3 tornado's sited, flooding rain, lightening and 70-80 mile an hour winds. Now my stress level is rising. I texted Tara to get off the road--no answer. Called--no answer. I wasn't going to give up. After calling another 5 times she answered (was in a dead zone) and had no idea of this impending dangerous storm. I told her to turn on her radio and look for an exit on the highway. A strong voice came on and indeed a tornado, high wind warning. THEN the sirens started blowing--I could hear them in the phone, a very chilling sound. She saw the dark sky to the right of her but nothing more. Just thought it was a rain storm. Then the rains came and the wind. Not being able to see very well she was trying to find an exit. It seemed like an eternity when finally she spotted one a few miles down the highway. Getting off she found a gas station, parked her car in the safest spot she could and went in. He said a tornado had been on the ground for 40 minutes already but the storm was coming.
A few minutes later the soccer Mom, with some players came in with some other people close behind. There was no shelter in the building so they were up again a wall and waited it out (me too, on the phone). I was giving the report on the weather channel--which was a lot more information than they had there. RED filled the screen and the path was right on top of them --near Omaha. The women, Tara and I but mostly the weather man on channel 35 followed the storm with bated breath.
Seemed like FOREVER went by. They experienced those heavy winds, rain, lightening etc--scary!!
After Tara bonded with the soccer Mom and team they exchanged numbers to check on each other when they continued on their trip. All going in the same direction.
Car still there, Tara intact, bought a little treat for all the anguish and off she went. We hung up so she could gather herself and get on the road.
Seemed like again, forever, when I spoke to her. She was on the road and near Lincoln where she lives. She related a terrible driving story with scary weather but almost there. Then another tornado and high wind warning when she was in town. Trying to get home as fast as she could ,the rain let up---got out of her car---HOME!!! All this on Mothers Day!!! My gift---my Tara safe and sound!!! Thank God!! Also thanks to the weatherman on channel 35!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)