NationStates Jolt Archive

the tornado sirens just went off, and being myself, I went outside to take some pictures!!

anyway, for your enjoyment, I have pics of the clouds, a video so you can hear it, and also pics of the wall cloud..........I have to shut down the computer soon, I hope you guys enjoy!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Smunkee/clouds12345.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Smunkee/clouds1234.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c389/Smunkee/clouds123.jpg

Click here to watch storm-005 (http://media.putfile.com/storm-005)

and in the interest of non-spammyness answer the poll, and tell of your weather experiences.

okay the pressure just dropped fast enough that two of my windows broke, that means it's goodbye time, gotta join the more intelligent members of my family in the closet (like that's gonna help:rolleyes: )

Smunkee, you and my fiance are both nuts! But I care about both of you so....
Be safe!

Lucky. I wish I was there.

I don't wanna bitch (oh, who am I kidding), but that video leaves me underwhelmed. A tree swaying in the wind. Oooh.

okay the pressure just dropped fast enough that two of my windows broke, that means it's goodbye time, gotta join the more intelligent members of my family in the closet (like that's gonna help:rolleyes: )
to quote one tech support personnel when a user asked him how to properly turn off the server... while a tornado was bearing down on his builiding...

"FORGET THE STUPID COMPUTER AND GET YOUR ASS INTO THE SHELTER!"

:D

Stay safe and hope to hear from you soon.


oh and here in Hawaii, during Hurricane Iniki, we were warned to stay away from large open windows and to keep off of the beaches...

So of course the cops had to get all the tourists who were camped out at the shoreline with their cam corders... and all of our hospital staff were plastered at the large windows looking for the hurricane... :rolleyes:

okay the pressure just dropped fast enough that two of my windows broke
:eek:

*goes off to vote for "Very extremely stupid. At least." in poll*

:p

I don't wanna bitch (oh, who am I kidding), but that video leaves me underwhelmed. A tree swaying in the wind. Oooh.
and I'll be happy if that's all that happens.

and I'll be happy if that's all that happens.

Misunderstand me correctly, I wish no harm on Smunkee, it's just, well, the pictures make you expect something spectacular. A tree swaying in the wind is a bit of a let down.

Don't think anything is gonna drop down from those pictures.

And if any do, there are remote chances that you'll get hit, especially if the storm is off to the east, because generally in Northern Hemisphere on land weather goes from West to East right?

Misunderstand me correctly, I wish no harm on Smunkee, it's just, well, the pictures make you expect something spectacular. A tree swaying in the wind is a bit of a let down.
the key was the sound of the wind.

thing is, well in a hurricane anyway, the wind can be uprooting trees on one side of a high rise, and perfectly calm on the other side. (or it was in our building)

one of my friends on the other side of the island, reported during the hurricane that it looked so calm outside... until he stuck his hand out of his balcony and was almost pulled out.

Get into the closet and be safe!

Get into the closet and be safe!
Who're you addressing? Smunkee or Fass? :)

YAY!

I *really* want to go tornado chasing one day... It's been my dream for a long time.

Who're you addressing? Smunkee or Fass? :)

A little bit from column A and a little bit from Column B.

YAY!

I *really* want to go tornado chasing one day... It's been my dream for a long time.
when you start, keep us informed... K? :p

Reminds me of my misadventure with a tornado.

I was in eighth grade, and home alone for the weekend. I'd left my sisters goddam guinea pig in his cage outside about a hundred yards from my house. I heard the sirens go off, so I decided to go get the little bastard inside. Of course, just as I got to his cage, a tornado came damn near to touchdown about twenty yards away from me. Lifted the goddamn 40 foot tall oak tree right out of the ground. Scary as hell. I never ran faster than I did in the next ten seconds. Needless to say, it was an exhilirating experience.

I once saw a mostly-formed funnel cloud swirling clockwise on its side above my house, but that's a rarity.. usually the shaking trees are all you see until it lands on you.. not the most photogenic event outside the Hollywood version.

Reminds me of my misadventure with a tornado.

I was in eighth grade, and home alone for the weekend. I'd left my sisters goddam guinea pig in his cage outside about a hundred yards from my house. I heard the sirens go off, so I decided to go get the little bastard inside. Of course, just as I got to his cage, a tornado came damn near to touchdown about twenty yards away from me. Lifted the goddamn 40 foot tall oak tree right out of the ground. Scary as hell. I never ran faster than I did in the next ten seconds. Needless to say, it was an exhilirating experience.
...


I just gotta ask....


did you find the Guinea Pig?

...


I just gotta ask....


did you find the Guinea Pig?
Yeah, the twister didn't touch the little bastard. Hopped right over ol' Squeaky and proceeded to tear up the neighbors yard.

Be safe, Smunkee.

*awaits for Smunkee's return.*

*awaits for Smunkee's return.*
Smunkee's gone, and she's never comin' back. *tears up*

Smunkee's gone, and she's never comin' back. *tears up*
*Ignores post and waits for Smunkee.*

http://www.photobind.com/images/lonely-dog.jpg

Smunkee returns! Basically I got 2 broken windows, a missing dog house (I think it blew away) and no way to confirm if anything touched down or not, the neighborhood is pretty torn up (shingles in the street, broken windows, trees on cars, ect.) and we hear another storm (although not as severe) is headed in overnight. The temp has dropped like 30 degrees though, so that's nice. :p

Don't think anything is gonna drop down from those pictures.

And if any do, there are remote chances that you'll get hit, especially if the storm is off to the east, because generally in Northern Hemisphere on land weather goes from West to East right?
when I took the pics the storm was southwest of my house, and yeah they move from southwest to northeast usually (although not always) the weather man says there was def some rotation and some microbursts but no real eye witnesses to any tornadoes (you know since all the smart people were indoors)

I am okay, my kids are fine, although I don't know how I will get them to sleep tonight. My dog is pretty freaked out, I have decided to let him sleep under the sink.

Our side of the street has power but the people across the street don't so as soon as the rain lets up I am going to head over there with candles and stuff...

anyway, that was tons of fun!

Smunkee returns! Basically I got 2 broken windows, a missing dog house (I think it blew away) and no way to confirm if anything touched down or not, the neighborhood is pretty torn up (shingles in the street, broken windows, trees on cars, ect.) and we hear another storm (although not as severe) is headed in overnight. The temp has dropped like 30 degrees though, so that's nice. :p


when I took the pics the storm was southwest of my house, and yeah they move from southwest to northeast usually (although not always) the weather man says there was def some rotation and some microbursts but no real eye witnesses to any tornadoes (you know since all the smart people were indoors)

I am okay, my kids are fine, although I don't know how I will get them to sleep tonight. My dog is pretty freaked out, I have decided to let him sleep under the sink.

Our side of the street has power but the people across the street don't so as soon as the rain lets up I am going to head over there with candles and stuff...

anyway, that was tons of fun!Glad to hear you got through it with minimal damage! :fluffle:

now I can peacefully sleep. :)

okay, I made it across the street and back even though it's flooded up to my knees, pretty clean water though so that's nice. They were also without food that they can eat, so I am gathering up some canned goods and the crappy hand crank can opener and some water for them to come get (I refuse to get back out there in the flood......because I am not that nice)

I wonder how those people will survive if we ever move. :confused:

okay, I made it across the street and back even though it's flooded up to my knees, pretty clean water though so that's nice. They were also without food that they can eat, so I am gathering up some canned goods and the crappy hand crank can opener and some water for them to come get (I refuse to get back out there in the flood......because I am not that nice)

I wonder how those people will survive if we ever move. :confused:

Hopefully some other decent neighbors will move in.

I like tornadoes, only have been in 1 though. I like Hurricanes too...when I tell people that they look at me like I'm fuckin' nuts. I went sailing in the last Hurricane that hit my house, in a Sunfish. Intense :p

Smunkee, I've told you before: this is proof that God doesn't want people to live in Oklahoma. :D

It was down right stupid Smunkee. You put your own life in danger by doing so. Anyone who lives in Tornado Alley knows that you get downstairs when the sirens go off.

Great pictures though :D

It was down right stupid Smunkee. You put your own life in danger by doing so. Anyone who lives in Tornado Alley knows that you get downstairs when the sirens go off.

Great pictures though :D
hey, I used to chase the things, I hid when it was time to hide. I wasn't really in danger <-------famous last words LOL

hey, I used to chase the things, I hid when it was time to hide. I wasn't really in danger <-------famous last words LOL

Something I always wanted to do. Chase tornadoes. Well miss, since you chased them, then you should know how unpredictable they can be! :D

Something I always wanted to do. Chase tornadoes. Well miss, since you chased them, then you should know how unpredictable they can be! :D
sure hence the "famous last words" haha

I did get pretty close to one once.........it was terrifying and wonderful at the same time, until a peice of debris hit me in the head, I don't remember much after that, but waking up in the back of a pickup truck with someone laying next to me........then I blacked out again, I hear that they don't know what hit me, never saw it, just I was there, then I was in the mud, camera and all. :p That was my last time out, after that my husband says "what do you want to die? is that your problem?" so I decided to quit for a while, 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant..never did make it back out:(

the tornado sirens just went off, and being myself, I went outside to take some pictures!!


Lemme guess: you were one of those people on top of the building in "Independence Day" holding up the sign that said "ALIENS LAND HERE!"

sure hence the "famous last words" haha

I did get pretty close to one once.........it was terrifying and wonderful at the same time, until a peice of debris hit me in the head, I don't remember much after that, but waking up in the back of a pickup truck with someone laying next to me........then I blacked out again, I hear that they don't know what hit me, never saw it, just I was there, then I was in the mud, camera and all. :p That was my last time out, after that my husband says "what do you want to die? is that your problem?" so I decided to quit for a while, 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant..never did make it back out:(

At least you got to chase. It is more than I ever have done. One of these days though, I want to. That is if my girlfriend/wife (never know which one at that point in time) will allow me to :p

Hopefully some other decent neighbors will move in.

I like tornadoes, only have been in 1 though. I like Hurricanes too...when I tell people that they look at me like I'm fuckin' nuts. I went sailing in the last Hurricane that hit my house, in a Sunfish. Intense :p
Up here in PA, we always get hurricanes..

I get all hyper..

Up here in PA, we always get hurricanes..

We do? :confused:

We do? :confused:
Alright, so it was just that one time..

But I did get to miss a day of school from it!

Was it Isabell?

Hrm..

I want a crazy option on the poll.

Or pie.

Alright, so it was just that one time..

But I did get to miss a day of school from it!

Was it Isabell?

Hrm..
Yeah, you're right. what, 3 years ago now? wow. time flies.

Dont forget Floyd in '98 or '99. State of emergency in NJ = no school for me!

Yeah, you're right. what, 3 years ago now? wow. time flies.

Dont forget Floyd in '98 or '99. State of emergency in NJ = no school for me!
Three years sound right.

Whoohoo! Floyd!

okay, I made it across the street and back even though it's flooded up to my knees, pretty clean water though so that's nice. They were also without food that they can eat, so I am gathering up some canned goods and the crappy hand crank can opener and some water for them to come get (I refuse to get back out there in the flood......because I am not that nice)

I wonder how those people will survive if we ever move. :confused:
I've been a weather spotter for 12 years. The number one weather event that kills people is-----FLASH FLOOD.

Never EVER walk or drive through flood waters.

One of the major problems with taking pictures is the camera view finder tends to not be real in the mind. People seem to think they are watching TV. They just stand there and let the storm come.

I've also done some stupid things. This spring I was spotting and heard the roar of hail coming. It was so weird a sound that I just stood there. When I turned to run a golf ball hail hit my leg, a few more steps and one hit the head. Made it to shelter but it warned me to respect nature. That same night a tornado passed about 5 miles away and traveled 40 miles on the ground.

Now my number one advise. Put together a 72 hour kit. There are lots of lists on the net. Start with FEMA. A backpack with everything your family needs to survive for the maximum three days it is supposed to take for help to arrive. Even though it took more than 3 days, just think how much different Katrina would have been if every family had a 72 hour kit.

Now my number one advise. Put together a 72 hour kit. There are lots of lists on the net. Start with FEMA. A backpack with everything your family needs to survive for the maximum three days it is supposed to take for help to arrive. Even though it took more than 3 days, just think how much different Katrina would have been if every family had a 72 hour kit.

I wonder...

Should I feel more safe, or less safe, If I take advice from FEMA?

I wonder...

Should I feel more safe, or less safe, If I take advice from FEMA?

Yes. :)

I've been a weather spotter for 12 years. The number one weather event that kills people is-----FLASH FLOOD.

Never EVER walk or drive through flood waters.

One of the major problems with taking pictures is the camera view finder tends to not be real in the mind. People seem to think they are watching TV. They just stand there and let the storm come.
yeah, I can take care of myself ;) that random peice of debris, was pretty random, we were on the back edge of the storm watching it go away from us that time (well, most times actually) but we just got way too close

I've also done some stupid things. This spring I was spotting and heard the roar of hail coming. It was so weird a sound that I just stood there. When I turned to run a golf ball hail hit my leg, a few more steps and one hit the head. Made it to shelter but it warned me to respect nature. That same night a tornado passed about 5 miles away and traveled 40 miles on the ground.
ouch. Spring before last we had a monster hail storm, I only heard most of it, because as soon as I saw the first few peices fall I headed into shelter with the girls, when we came out there was an inch or so of golfball sized hail covering the back yard, it was crazy, it looked like snow, until you looked closer and saw it was these balls of ice, I found a softball sized peice and kept it in my freezer for a while.

Now my number one advise. Put together a 72 hour kit. There are lots of lists on the net. Start with FEMA. A backpack with everything your family needs to survive for the maximum three days it is supposed to take for help to arrive. Even though it took more than 3 days, just think how much different Katrina would have been if every family had a 72 hour kit.
yeah, we have a week kit for food and a month supply of all our meds, after a tornado hits you don't know how long it will take for the pharmacy to open again.

I wonder...

Should I feel more safe, or less safe, If I take advice from FEMA?
If you don't want FEMA just put 72 hour kit into search. There are lots of companies that sell supplies that will come up and they all have lists. I don't mention them because they tend to be "survivalist" crazies but if you can ignore the ranting about the "big one" coming and just look at what you need. The ones I use most is www.beprepared.com www.nitro-pak.com Also, the local "dollar store" for all the little things that one needs handy but don't think about until you don't have them.

I put together kits for my college bound daughters. While they never had the "big one" to deal with they found it handy because it had all the little things that one seems never to have when you need them.

i remember once in elementary school... there was this wall cloud. If i recall correctly, it was bit greenish, and i could see sky below and above it. Later that day, we had a tornado drill (well, prolly wasn't really a drill :P) and all the students filed out of class and lined up along the walls in a "duck and cover and kiss your ass goodbye" position... but i'm still here :p

there is nothing more entertaining and exciting then sitting/standing on your back deck and watching the storm come in. when the sirens come on that isnt a sign of run for cover, its a sign of go look outside. i love the storms here.


oh.......... and i hope you stayed safe.

sure hence the "famous last words" haha

I did get pretty close to one once.........it was terrifying and wonderful at the same time, until a peice of debris hit me in the head, I don't remember much after that, but waking up in the back of a pickup truck with someone laying next to me........then I blacked out again, I hear that they don't know what hit me, never saw it, just I was there, then I was in the mud, camera and all. :p That was my last time out, after that my husband says "what do you want to die? is that your problem?" so I decided to quit for a while, 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant..never did make it back out:(
did you get any good shot tho?

did you get any good shot tho?
yeah, pretty good, news crew paid us $600 for it. ;)

3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant..never did make it back out:(

the debris got you pregnant? :eek: :D

yeah, pretty good, news crew paid us $600 for it. ;)
you know... that probably explains your daughters brilliant mind... the debris knocked your brain into her... :D

when your kids get older... will you be chasing storms again?

Smunkeeville you are crazy (signs papers to have smunkee committed to NS mental institute after toranado is gone)

you know... that probably explains your daughters brilliant mind... the debris knocked your brain into her... :D
you don't know how much sense that makes........I think I dropped a few IQ points with that pregnancy, I just can't think as well anymore, but sure it has nothing to do with the massive concussion I got haha

when your kids get older... will you be chasing storms again?
maybe, I am going to training this winter to be a "storm spotter" which is the next best thing (if you are not as crazy as I am) I get to use my ham radio for good!

maybe, I am going to training this winter to be a "storm spotter" which is the next best thing (if you are not as crazy as I am) I get to use my ham radio for good!

N0YBW 73's

you don't know how much sense that makes........I think I dropped a few IQ points with that pregnancy, I just can't think as well anymore, but sure it has nothing to do with the massive concussion I got haha


maybe, I am going to training this winter to be a "storm spotter" which is the next best thing (if you are not as crazy as I am) I get to use my ham radio for good!
ohh... to bad I'm way over here in Hawaii... don't think your radio is that strong. :D

N0YBW 73's
haha! knowledge..........hmm.....what to do with that?:p

(probaby should get my license renewed.......don't want to get in trouble)

maybe, I am going to training this winter to be a "storm spotter" which is the next best thing (if you are not as crazy as I am) I get to use my ham radio for good!

Now this is something I could do. How much?

Smunkee you are CRAZY... If there were clouds like that above my house I would have hidden in the closet for the rest of the night. But then again, there's hardly any tornadoes where I'm at, we get warnings from time to time but they're still very rare. The closest one has ever been to my house was on the main road that is a few hundred yards away :eek:, and my dad was up in DC at the time and called my mom, who was THANKFULLY at home with me and my sister (I was about 11 or 12 at the time, it was only about 2 years ago).

But I've been through hurricanes, and I remember ol' Isabel quite clearly. I went out during the eye of it... and the day after... :eek: That was pretty cool, even though there was all sorts of crap (branches, shingles, siding, pipes....) everywhere. Wow.

I love storms. I have to say that if I could see that much of the sky from where I live I'd be outside enjoying it. Of course if a tornado actually formed I may end up in the fetal position waiting to die. Either that or wishing I was one of the guys in Twister running towards it. Can't say for sure...

Smunkee, you and my fiance are both nuts! But I care about both of you so....
Be safe!
hell no keep taking pictures :D
Just kidding, be safe or there will only be 1 sooner fan left on this forum! :D

I remember back in 2001 I took a long trip to vacation in Myrtle Beach SC.
And I ended up stuck in the Freak storm that caused the Myrtle Beach tornadoes.
http://www.wpde.com/weather/tornadoupdate.htm
Had an F0 pass at least 20 feet from me. While I was hiding under a stair well. Not a fun experience. And could forget about going out to stare at the F2 down the road like the rest of the people I was with. (The same F2 in the picture that parked itself for 20 minutes and just hovered.)

Other than that. I've also been through two micro bursts, one at home and one on the road. I thought them more like Mini Hurricanes.

Now this is something I could do. How much?
Spotter training is free. Contact Nat. Weather service. Don't need Ham but it helps. Some set at home and watch the radar and tell you where to go and not to go. It's good for 3 years, but it's fun to go every year to refresh the memory and see the new pictures.

Ham is a little harder depending on how good you are at memorization. You can get a book at radio shack or www.arrl.org The book has all of the questions and answers. Read through it and memorize a few formulas or just memorize all of the questions. Don't remember the cost of the test but it isn't much. Local ham volunteers give the test. Usually they'll let you take it 2 or 3 times if you get close. Or you can come back and try as many times as you want. The basic is a NO CODE. With that you can get out about 50 miles on an average night. If you can do 5 words per minute Morse Code you can really get out.

Spotter training is free. Contact Nat. Weather service. Don't need Ham but it helps. Some set at home and watch the radar and tell you where to go and not to go. It's good for 3 years, but it's fun to go every year to refresh the memory and see the new pictures.

Ham is a little harder depending on how good you are at memorization. You can get a book at radio shack or www.arrl.org The book has all of the questions and answers. Read through it and memorize a few formulas or just memorize all of the questions. Don't remember the cost of the test but it isn't much. Local ham volunteers give the test. Usually they'll let you take it 2 or 3 times if you get close. Or you can come back and try as many times as you want. The basic is a NO CODE. With that you can get out about 50 miles on an average night. If you can do 5 words per minute Morse Code you can really get out.
the test here is less than $50 or it was when my dad took it, but the local group has a fund to help you if you can't afford all of it.

Spotter training is free. Contact Nat. Weather service. Don't need Ham but it helps. Some set at home and watch the radar and tell you where to go and not to go. It's good for 3 years, but it's fun to go every year to refresh the memory and see the new pictures.

I just might do that.