These are the handles on our new refrigerator. On May 31,1985 our area was hit by a tornado. It touched down in Ohio, crossed into Pennsylvania and stayed on the ground for 47 miles. Its winds likely topped 300 miles per hour and was later determined to be the largest tornado in the world that year. This twister was only the largest among a swarm of more than 40 spit out by a line of thunderstorms that swept across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, Canada over six-hour stretch on that hazy, humid evening. We escaped direct damage but we lost our power for close to a week and a half. The initial power going on and off damaged the compressor in the fridge which made us have to buy a new one. It was still running, but was starting to make some noises that made us think it was on its last legs. We, bought a new one and since the old one was still running we are getting $50 through a program that rewards customers for buying more energy efficient appliances.
Great shot and I like the story...can only imagine what it's like to be caught up in such extreme weather!
Very scary I expect, but I like to think I'd have my camera :)
@stevecameras - It is odd but we didn't even know all this was going on until after the fact. We had just sat down for dinner and shortly I looked out the kitchen window at our neighbor's trees and I noticed that they were being blown pretty violently. I even mentioned to my wife, "Look at those trees!" We heard something hit the side of the house which I think was a large hailstone. The power went off and a neighbor stopped a little while later. He asked if I wanted to go with him. He said someone called and said that the some of the church's stained glass windows had been broken. As we got closer to the church, two miles, we started seeing the signs of the tornado. Trees were down and roads were closed off. We told some men who were restricting and redirecting traffic that we were just going to the church. They let us go. The tornado damaged the steeple but no damage to the windows. We learned a few minutes later that one of the women that attended our church had been killed. Her and her husband lived in a house trailer and they were running to a neighbor's home for shelter. The neighbors were in their basement and called to them to come down. The husband started down the stairs first when the tornado passed. It took the top of the house and pulled her up with it. The next day I went to work and it was like I was someplace else. I knew where I was but, my brain wasn't accepting that fact because of what my eyes were seeing. The garage I worked out of had been leveled. Only two trucks out of 18 survived. Less that a quarter mile from our garage was a chemical plant that escaped the tornado. Thank God for that otherwise dangerous chemicals would have been siphoned up by the tornado and deposited over a large area.
@skipt07 My word what a story.
I am lucky to have never witnessed anything so violent. To add to my comment about "having my camera" I love the idea of storm chasing, and capturing some thunder and twister clouds, but I would also add I never to want to be a part of what you describe above. The story of the man who lost his wife is terrible - not a way to go at all. I can imagine it shakes you up quite a bit considering the town looking different afterwards, and things just not being where they were before.
Good reasons to be thankful for every day we are on this strange/curious/violent/beautiful little planet!
Yes, I agree with Steve on the being thankful for each day! Your abstract photo is very
cool, Skip. (I am very sorry to hear about the tornado damage and loss of life in your area.)
Very scary I expect, but I like to think I'd have my camera :)
I am lucky to have never witnessed anything so violent. To add to my comment about "having my camera" I love the idea of storm chasing, and capturing some thunder and twister clouds, but I would also add I never to want to be a part of what you describe above. The story of the man who lost his wife is terrible - not a way to go at all. I can imagine it shakes you up quite a bit considering the town looking different afterwards, and things just not being where they were before.
Good reasons to be thankful for every day we are on this strange/curious/violent/beautiful little planet!
cool, Skip. (I am very sorry to hear about the tornado damage and loss of life in your area.)