Yep, they were close. Too close, but we lucked out. My son and his family barely made it.

We're 25 min. from each other and the biggest tornado in the state traveled from our area to my son's area!

There were many many tornadoes today, but the biggest one (our's) was over a mile wide.

We stayed in the cellar and had a radio where we could listen to the local weather.

My son and his family went to their cellar. While down there they heard the tornado, and they have the same radio we have so they knew it was only a half mile away from them!

After it was over, their house was just fine, but they had debris all over their yard from all the destruction in neighboring neighborhoods.

They said all the neighborhoods around them were destroyed except theirs.

The homes (large and nice) mostly sits on 3-5 acres each, so it had to take a huge tornado to wipe them out.

We were so blessed that they're okay. They don't even know if they can make it to work tomorrow because of all the damage, since they live in the country.

Right now a little 3 year old is missing, and the area is full of search & rescue.

Just heard someone was killed there, and many went to the hospital. :(

Glad to hear you're okay! My sister lives in Oklahoma, and I worry about this-

Thanks for reporting the good news, Oakley! I was worried about you too! Must have been very scary! So happy to learn that you are fine, but So sorry that there is such destruction and loss and pain nearby.

These tornadoes are just monstrous. The aftermath they leave behind is utterly tragic. There's nothing anyone can do but pick up the pieces and move on and rebuild (if they're lucky) and what a giant task that will be; especially in Missouri.

Nancy, hope your sister is fine!

The young woman across the street from me is from OK and she took her year-old baby for a visit to see her parents there a few days ago. Saw her dh this morning and he said the entire OK contingent are all fine! Whew!

Golddust, thanks for starting this thread!

As far as I know, they still haven't found the 3 year old. The mother and her 3 children were in bathtub, the safest place in there home, and are still looking for the 3 year old.

We were in the path of another tornado, and all of a sudden the tornado just vanished into the sky. We were safe in a neighbor's cellar though.

I was so grateful this morning, after taking DS to school and pulling into our street and our neighborhood looking so beautiful, but then, thinking how it "could have been", really humbles you.

I don't know if it's because I have lived here most my life, but I would still rather be where there are tornados instead of earthquakes. At least, in Oklahoma anyway, we have notice. Earthquakes just happen out of no where! For some reason my DS is afraid of going to California because of earthquakes (we do anyway), but he is fine with the tornadoes. Go figure.

Olliesmom, I didn't know you lived in OK too! Nice of you to let us know you are fine! SO glad you escaped the wrath of the storm. You must have truly appreciated the beauty of your neighborhood and street this morning, like never before!

Oakley, I was thinking about you last night, too, while I was shaking in the basement. I live in Joplin, Missouri---but outside the city limits and we are OK. However, my mother lives next to the high school, so if you've seen the pictures, you will know the whole area was a loss. We dug through her pile of a house the last 2 days for anything we could find--pictures, family items. The worst news was that her husband lost his life in the storm. He was in a nursing home that was also leveled. I don't think they had a basement level. My mom was at my nephews graduation in another town, so she would have either been home or visiting him.
It's a terrible time here, and I don't even want to look at the damage anymore, I'm dreaming of twisted trees!
Looks like we'll be watching the weather closely today, too. Take care everyone in tornado alley!

Sally - I had no idea where you lived! It is so awful what happened there in Joplin. So much destruction. I'm so sorry for your mother's loss and thankful that she and your family are okay. I am hopeful that help is on the way for your area. My brother and sister-in-law are in the Ringold, GA area - they were affected but so many in that area were. It is just so sad to see.

tina

Ollie, my friends in CA. are always saying the opposite, but I try to tell them that these storms are predicted a WEEK before they happen, so we have plenty of notice. lol.

Yesterday after the tornado left, my son and his neighbor went to the damaged homes to see if they could help anyone. He saw the mother of the 3 kids, who's missing her daughter, and said she was completely "mangled."

He's still in shock. Today he's leaving work early to help go through the rubble of his friend's home and see what they can salvage.

Sally, I was so sad to hear about Joplin. It's such a nice town too. Perfect size. Are you saying your step-father was killed? That's just awful. How is your mom holding up?

I hate when the Feds are involved in our lives, but this time I wish it were a law that if you build or buy a home in Tornado Alley, you MUST build a cellar, and then I'd like to see the Feds give grants to people.

Basements are totally worthless if you get hit by a tornado. The home caves in on top of it! It happened to a family last night, and the man had the forethought to go to another shelter because he knew how old his home and basement is. Then his house fell into the basement! lol

Sallymo - So glad to hear you're ok, but sorry to hear about your step-father. Prayers go out to your family. Dorothy9 was looking for you on the Discussions side. That's where I learned you were in Joplin and was quite worried. The pictures I saw were absolutely terrible.

Oakley - I was thinking about you when I heard about OK's tornado. Scary that it was so close!

I hope everyone in Tornado Alley stays safe. Its wild out there today.

Jennifer

OMG, Sally!! I've got CNN in the background and I can't tear myself away from the images of your town. Yes, I've seen the high school! I am so sorry about your mom and step father. ((Hugs)) What will she do now?

Oakley, I think trailer homes should also be outlawed in tornado country. I agree everyone should have a storm cellar. My family comes from Indiana and they all had storm cellars. The very presence of them scared me as a child. Of course, many relatives still had outhouses too. LOL!

Glad to hear all of you are okay. Sallymo, I am sorry to hear about your stepdad, but glad your mother was out of town.

MSNBC was running your local news and we just couldn't believe what we were seeing. Very scary and someone on tv also made the comment you did about cellars, oakley.

Sally, so glad to hear you are OK. I knw from past posts that you live in Joplin. I live in NW AR just an hour or so South of Joplin. People here are helping with donated necessities. A dear friend has 3 grandchildren living in Joplin and they were only blocks from the destruction.

Dorothy

After watching a lot of news stories on the tornado's today, I'm kind of angry.

I cannot believe how many people don't pay attention to the weather! Especially in Oklahoma in the Spring time!

They interviewed this one lady today who lives near my son, IN THE COUNTRY, although there's a lot of homes there...kind of... and she was angry because there are no sirens in her area!

She told the news guy that she had NO idea a storm was coming.

They only predicted yesterday LAST WEEK!

A lot of people used that excuse. They had no idea. Well, newsflash. If you're in OK. in May, and you see a cloud in the sky, watch the weather! lol

Don't they have tornados during the night too? I'm in CA and don't know about them. I don't think you can be looking at the sky all the time. So sorry for everyone.

So frightening and the destruction is so sad to see. Blessings to all of you that suffered from the storm.

NG, yes there are tornados at night, but we always know (if you watch TV) if there will be a chance of tornados during our sleep before we go to bed.

Nighttime is worse though, at least they don't come as often at night. And boy it's hard to sleep if you know you might get a tornado! lol

Many people have a weather radio that sounds a siren when the county they're in and surrounding counties are being threatened.

Our weathermen are constantly telling us to "stay weather alert," when there's a chance of tornadic storms. Unfortunately many people don't.

I'll be watching the grands today so I'll be in the area where the big tornado struck.

We travel from Arizona to Massachusetts (summer home) in May (this is our second time), and I am always concerned about tornados along our route. We listen to the weather and would try to avoid areas where storms were predicted, but that may not always be possible. Do motels in tornado areas generally have basements or storm shelters? Do you have any advice for travelers through these areas? Thanks.

Yes it would be a good idea to "stay alert", but I unfortunately, real life sometimes steps in. I would imagine some people get caught up in the "busy-ness" of real life and forget to keep an eye out, etc. If you are not one who watches alot of tv, again you would miss out. Weather radios area a good idea. I don't understand why all areas in Tornado Alley don't have sirens, to me, that would/should be a necessity?!

BTW, I don't know why you would LOL at someone's house falling into the basement. There is nothing funny about the destruction these storms have caused, not to mention the loss of lives. My heart goes out to those dealing with those losses.

It's so gut-wrenching to see all these people suffering.

I agree that LOL is very inappropriate in a thread like this.

You know, if you two didn't despise me so much, and go back and read what I wrote about the house falling into the basement considering what the homeowner SAID, it IS funny. HE even laughed about it!!! Every one around him was laughing!

He was also cracking up about how that morning his wife took their old pickup to work so she could leave her new car in the garage so it wouldn't get hail damage. Ooops! The house fell onto her new car while the old truck was just fine.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now stop yer preachin'.

Tina, I have no idea where you live, obviously you don't live in tornado alley, because if you did, watching TV is a MUST during tornado season.

As other's have said before me, you do go out of your way informing us you don't watch TV. We get it, okay?

These storms were predicted last week. Every.single.day the weathermen would tell us to be prepared on Monday and Tuesday.

A siren doesn't help all that much either. They go off right before a tornado hits, which can be too late to seek shelter.

I just wish more people installed storm cellars when they build a home. I wish the government could give grants to people who can't afford one.

But if you ever move here and had no idea a mile wide tornado was coming your way, you WILL get some really funny looks. :)

They even closed schools and postponed H.S. graduations a few HOURS before the storms came.

Because we're weather aware. The people who died didn't have cellars.

I reread it. There was nothing funny. I can't imagine anyone losing their home laughing about it.

Oakley, my response was not about tv. Obviously you didn't see my american idol post. But whatever. You've asked before where I live - I am in TN and we recently had tornadoes right here in our area. It is important to take precautions, but people have to go on with their lives too. I agreed about the radios and still think the sirens would be a good idea. Many people are not going to be at home during the day. Most people on the job do not have access to a tv.

Don't worry - I have no intentions of moving anywhere. As for preaching, maybe you need to reread your remarks.

How many communities is OK have Siren-systems?

I'm sure it's only the larger ones???

Here in Fargo, we've got a good system. They're tested the 1st Wed. of every month, starting in March. Our radio-stations & NWS are very good about alerting people to dangerous storms.

But again, up HERE...you'd be hard-pressed to find a home WITHOUT a basement. To ME, it's just unfathomable NOT to have one. Even the trailer-home communites have a storm-shelter building....

I'm just stunned/saddened/bewildered about the loss of life.
I also realize sirens are useless in rural areas. THAT'S where PERSONAL responsibility for listening to weather comes into play.

Faron

I agree there is some personal liability when you live in areas prone to bad storms. A weather radio isn't expensive. That said, I think everyone here is saddened by the tragedies we've been listening to on our radios and TVs. Not sure there is much one could do to protect themselves against 200 MPH winds other than have access to a cellar. People can grow complacent and pay with their lives. I heard many people being interviewed who said they "didn't pay attention to the sirens."

I'm sure Oakley didn't mean anything by her LOL remark. We all know she is a caring person. I hope we aren't going to start picking each others words apart in this wonderful little neck of the woods on the web.

cyn- we took a month long trip around the western US and canada a few years ago. I was afraid of not being aware of tornadoes so we bought a weather alert radio for the car before we left- probably from radioshack.
It was late July by the time we were making our way back west through Western Co into Kansas and we heard a tornado alert but it was behind us far enough away( we had GPS and looked immediately)
We have a weather alert radio in the house( in MD the only way to hear alerts is if you are watching network tv or listening to radio).Here we have basements - no storm cellars.
Tornadoes are one of the few things I am very, very afraid of (thank you, Dor-o-thy) but one of my favorite movies is Twister.
My heart goes out to you Sally, and to those harmed by tornadoes.Stay safe.

I saw on the news (CBS) tonight that there is FEMA money to help with cost of residential storm shelters. The one that was shown costs about $1,500 and FEMA would pay 75% of the cost. Out of pocket for that model would be $370. That's scarcely more more than a buck a day for a year. Seems like a small cost to save your life!

I live in northern NY but had a tornado hit my house in 1998. We weren't home during the storm, thankfully. Although tornados are rare up if I didn't have a storm cellar, aka my root cellar, I would definitely make one. We rarely watch TV, but do keep weather radios in the house, barns, and cars.

L

Thanks, Cooperbailey. My husband added a weather app to his iPhone, and it showed the weather in the area we were traveling through. We also carry a CB radio in the car with us. I've done some research and we'll have a plan for what to do when we travel next year. This year the route we took was slightly north of the worst areas. After reading all the posts here, I'm somewhat encouraged that if we listen carefully to the weather, we'll be able to reroute if necessary. I remember that last year the weather for the week we traveled was predicted to be quiet. But I still listened for updates.

My thoughts are with those who live in storm areas.

tina, you would almost have to live in a cave in Oklahoma to not know about a tornado coming. I took my DS to the Dr. earlier that day and they ALL knew it and was going to leave the office early. Even my MIL from Lexington, KY calls us to make sure we are going to the cellar!

Sally, I can hardly watch the footage of Joplin, so sorry to hear about your mother's husband.

Goldie, "they" always try to find something in Oakley's posts to pick apart-nothing new! While other's go untouched, and it's so obvious.