If you've listened to the news or the weather channel in past 16 hours or so, you've probably heard about the devastating tornado that cut a path in the Mississippi landscape. We don't know how big it was. Or how fast it was moving. We really don't care. What we care about are the results and the impact it had on our community.
That's right. Our community. That tornado destroyed my hometown. My stomping grounds. My people and friends and neighbors.
At 1:30pm on Saturday, April 24, 2010, the tornado sirens went off in Weir, a little town 2 miles from my house. It was a quiet afternoon, which is the only reason we could hear it. I was inside eating lunch when I felt a huge gust of wind come through the air conditioner that wasn't even on. I went to the door and looked out towards the pond that is in front of my house. The water was literally blowing straight up. Almost like someone had taken a fan and set it on high to make it blow.
Then i heard the rumbling, then I felt the house shake, then I heard the train above me and saw the trees outside bend almost in half. Then it was just rain. I didn't know until later what had happened. A tornado had gone over, but touched down just 2 miles down the road.
In all, 6 people were killed. Two teenage girls, a 3 month old baby, and an older gentleman were among those lost to the tornado. It took out a gas station, a church, a barn, many homes, pine trees, and who knows what else.
During the recovery, the ambulance crews couldn't even get into the area b/c of the traffic. People with no sense were just driving past, gawking at the scene. The state patrol had to be called in to prevent any further disturbances. Even channel 4 news had an alert - if you have no extremely important business in choctaw county, stay out. They're not listening, of course. I'm tempted to toss thumbtacks into the road in front of the house. Maybe then it'll knock some sense into people. Plus, it would be funny. But I won't. That would be un-christian-like. It is Sunday, after all.
So please, pray for those who were injured, killed, or just damaged. If you live near here, call the sheriff's office and volunteer to help. We need it.
Update: here's a video that shows some damage.
2 comments:
Oh my goodness, I had heard about it, but I didn't know that was where you were at. I'm glad to see you're okay, and so sorry for the people that didn't make it. Tornadoes are scary, and that's coming from someone who lives in earthquake territory!
hey sparrow! long time no see? talk? lol. we'll just stick with hey!
yeah. the tornado literally struck in my backyard. made me a bit nervous. but with a little help from above, oh please, with a lot of help from above!, i'm here with nothing but a few blown tree limbs.
the death toll is still at 5. i'll try and post a link to a small video that shows some of the damage.
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