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Reporting Live from the Danger Zone!

Posted on 2008.05.07 at 17:28
Current Mood: cranky
Current Music: Tim Fite -- Away From the Snakes
I'm in Oklahoma City on business today, and there's at least one tornado on the ground in the city limits right now. Tornado sirens are screaming. The weather guys are freaking out on the TV. It must be May...

I approach tornadoes with little fanfare. I understand how incredibly dangerous they are and how horrible it is when they destroy homes and lives, but where I grew up they're so common that I've never been able to get worked up about them. They interest me, but they don't scare me. I know what to do if one comes my way, and if it does, there's not much I can do about it. Fortunately (for me) this one is on the other side of the city, though the storm system is pretty massive and could spawn more.

I'll report back later.

Oh, and for those of you keeping score at home, in the past two years during trips to Oklahoma City, I've been surrounded by tornadoes, and survived no less than FOUR ice storms. Plus, the bank next to my hotel was robbed and they used the room next to mine to set up a sniper's nest.

Anyone think I should just stay home next time??
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Comments:

Samantha Henderson
[info]samhenderson at 2008-05-07 22:59 (UTC) (Link)
Oh, be careful, though, Josh!
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Josh Rountree
[info]joshrountree at 2008-05-07 23:40 (UTC) (Link)
Thanks -- danger has passed!
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Darin Bradley
[info]darinbradley at 2008-05-07 23:55 (UTC) (Link)
I know how you feel. Growing up around Dallas, I became so accustomed to tornadoes that it was hard to keep the danger in context—even after I saw the inevitable footage of the damage the next day. I actually have fond memories of standing out on the front porch with my father, watching the horizontal rain so we'd know that our stormspotting was no longer safe.

(Also, nice userpic :))
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Josh Rountree
[info]joshrountree at 2008-05-08 01:42 (UTC) (Link)
Yep, I'd do the same thing. I grew up about 300 miles west of Dallas and this time of year, tornadoes were pretty common. The most I've seen in person at one time is three, dancing on the horizon about a half mile away.
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Deborah Layne
[info]wheatland_press at 2008-05-08 01:00 (UTC) (Link)
As you know, I was born in Alabama where we saw our shar eof tornadoes. We moved to Ohio when I was five years old. On the way up there, my mom mentioned that maybe we'd be out of the tornado zone, finally.

So, Fourth of July, 1964. We've been in Ohio for maybe a month. A tornado comes through and takes out a mile long swath of the township. We could see it from our second floor apartment.

Heh. Good times.

Glad you're safe!
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Josh Rountree
[info]joshrountree at 2008-05-08 01:43 (UTC) (Link)
Yikes! Fortunately today's tornadoes didn't harm anyone.
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