Monday, March 31

Tornado Warning

Oh the joys of living in Oklahoma!! The weather here is much different than I am used to, having grown up in Utah. Around here, the news channels are obsessed with weather. They'll break into regular programming to report storm warnings all the time. Dennis and I tease that it's usually something like: "We've issued a severe thunderstorm watch and flash flood warning for the entire state because some rain drops were spotted in the panhandle. Stay tuned for more information!" This time of year seems especially likely to have severe weather. In fact, all day yesterday it felt muggy - like a storm was coming. The news told us that there was some severe weather further southwest of us, so we didn't think anything more than rain would come our way. Well, when I was up to feed Andrew the storms were continuing to come closer and seemed to be getting stronger. There was "tornadic activity" in some areas only about 20 minutes from our house. I didn't bother to wake up Dennis, because I wasn't sure anything would materialize near us. But, then those famous tornado sirens sounded! It is such an eerie thing to hear at 2:00 in the morning when you've got three little ones to think about.

We hurried and loaded everyone in the car at that point... Luckily, there are some really nice people in our ward who we knew had a storm shelter (that's the other thing about Oklahoma - no basements). We showed up at their back door like a little homeless family, and they were so nice to take us in. The missionaries were already there too.

I don't know what I expected from a storm shelter, but it was very interesting! We climbed down a little ladder, and stood in this cement room that couldn't have been more than 6 feet by 6 feet. It was probably only about six feet high too (I don't know for sure because I sat on the floor with Emma). We had six adults and our three kids all in there for about 20 minutes. Then, when the weather radio said the storm had passed, we loaded up and headed home again.

The kids went right back into bed, but I couldn't fall asleep. I just laid in bed thinking how blessed we were to be safe. No tornado actually touched down in our town, but it was such a blessing to be able to protect our children and know that we were going to be okay. There are so many people in the world who don't have that blessing of feeling safe. It might be because of weather, war, poverty, or whatever... but, we are truly blessed to live where we do in the circumstances we do. It might seem like life is hard sometimes, but there is so much we have don't many don't.

11 comments:

Katie Jane said...

I couldn't stop reading your post! I was so nervous for you! I can't imagine the feeling of worry for your kids and needing to keep them safe. You are so cool! I just love you and I love to read your blog. Thanks for reminding me of how much I have been blessed with. We are so lucky to have the gospel and life in the U.S. Where we have so many opportunities that aren't even available to others.

Ashley and Devan said...

Tornados would really scare me too. I am so glad that you are all safe.

Aleese and Scott said...

I would have been pretty nervous also! My dad served part of his mission there and was in many tornado's! After hearing his stories I never want to be in one. I am glad everything was okay, and I agree we are so blessed I try to always remember that but it seems we need reminders every once in a while.

Brea Marie said...

So good to read that you didn't have to stay for long. I was worried about how you would feed the baby in the shelter!! I am worry wort about that kind of thing. So sorry I haven't finished my stories yet. Things have been a little crazy. I'll try tomorrow when I am a little more awake! :O)

suds2004 said...

Scary. I am so glad that you are alright. Living in the mid-west can be stressful. I am always worried about tornadoes in Iowa. Should I be? You know better then I do?

Jennie's bunch said...

I missed it all! I'm so glad you guys are okay!! This is scary stuff! Utahn's just aren't prepared for this kind of stress!:) (I don't want to be in Utah when the big earthquake hits though!:))

Eric and Jenny said...

So good to hear from you, seriously I really do love hearing from old friends. What a darling little family! Congratulations on the new little one, he is so cute. It must be fun getting a boy after two girls. That is so crazy about the tornado, how scary. That has only happened to us once in Kentucky. What are you guys doing in Oklahoma? If it's okay I want to add you guys onto our blog, to keep in touch. You look great by the way!

Eric and Jenny said...

Sorry I am not sure if my first comment worked, so you might have two from me. What a darling family, how exciting to get a little boy after two girls! I really do love hearing from old friends if it's okay I am going to add you guys onto our blog so we can stay in touch. That is crazy about the tornado, I would have been terrified. So good to hear from you!

Ashley said...

Wow! What a crazy thing to go through. I've honestly never even taken the time to think how scary it would be to hear those sirens blaring in the middle of the night. Glad to see that you guys made it through okay!

Shaun - Jillian said...

I am glad to hear that everything is ok with your little family. I was visiting my aunt in Oklahoma (Stillwater) in junior high and they had all of the warnings come across the TV and going down in their storm cellar. It definitely is pretty scary. Glad you guys are all safe.

Janna said...

I thought about you guys that night when they said the storms had passed over our area and were over your town and that it was possible that a tornado could form. There were three right around you guys at one point! That was a scary night. Glad everyone is safe & I'm glad you guys have somewhere to go at 2am even!