Has Anyone Actually Been IN / NEAR A Tornado?

[GroobyKrissy]

So, for those of you who watched Man of Steel, you probably know why I'm asking.

Having grown up on the West Coast my whole life, I've only experienced earthquakes. Has anyone experienced an actual tornado? How close were you? What was it like (besides sucking, I'm sure)?

I was once changing irrigation pipe lines in the fields and got caught up in a small dust storm. Actually, I was dared to run into it by the other workers and stupidly did. I was surprised by the force of just that little whirlwind so I can't even imagine what it must be like to go through a real-life tornado.

[bluesoul]

i was near a tornado in south texas and basically it was A LOT that just kept getting more and more intense, followed by some rain.

btw: think of the violent wind as strong enough to blow off roof tops, flatten trees type

[GroobyKrissy]

i was near a tornado in south texas and basically it was A LOT that just kept getting more and more intense, followed by some rain.

btw: think of the violent wind as strong enough to blow off roof tops, flatten trees type

Or do this... I thought this was a pretty awesome picture if it is real.

[danthepoetman]

If you talk about people, I must say a few times, Krissy. :) But to the meteorological phenomenon, never. I'm in the North East, in Quebec, and here, we're protected by the Apalachian mountains. But it happens sometimes; a few times it came close, with very high velocity winds, and it was scary. I'm usually not shaken by the weather; on the contrary, I love special events. But these few times, I was scared...
Like you, I wouldn't want to find myself in the middle of this...

[Amy Gray]

My mother lives down in Alabama and there's a HELL of a lot of tornados down there. I was once walking out of a walmart down there during a storm and I could see shopping carts getting lifted off the ground in the parking lot... I decided to stay in the store.

[GroobyKrissy]

My mother lives down in Alabama and there's a HELL of a lot of tornados down there. I was once walking out of a walmart down there during a storm and I could see shopping carts getting lifted off the ground in the parking lot... I decided to stay in the store.

Amy, don't be ashamed. If it is good enough for Natalie Portman to have a baby in, it is good enough for you to live in. You can just say,

"I was once walking out of my home down there during a storm and I could see shopping carts getting lifted off the ground in the parking lot... I decided to stay home."

There is nothing wrong with living inside a Walmart.

[bluesoul]

Or do this... I thought this was a pretty awesome picture if it is real.

yep. actually, when this tornado happened, i was in south padre island and staying at a condo right on the beach belonging to this mature broad i was banging at the time (good times btw).

anyway, we had to evacuate because it was picking up strength and the bridge that connects the island with the rest of the world should get shut down. if that was damaged by the tornado, you'd basically be stuck.

when we returned 2 days later, lots of stuff had washed up on the beach including people's photo albums, clocks, random kids toys etc. so we'd spend some time going to the beach to find all this stuff

[danthepoetman]

Amy, don't be ashamed. If it is good enough for Natalie Portman to have a baby in, it is good enough for you to live in. You can just say,

"I was once walking out of my home down there during a storm and I could see shopping carts getting lifted off the ground in the parking lot... I decided to stay home."

There is nothing wrong with living inside a Walmart.

I'd stay with you girls forever in the bed section... :whistle:

[GroobyKrissy]

If you talk about people, I must say a few times, Krissy. :) But to the meteorological phenomenon, never. I'm in the North East, in Quebec, and here, we're protected by the Apalachian mountains. But it happens sometimes; a few times it came close, with very high velocity winds, and it was scary. I'm usually not shaken by the weather; on the contrary, I love special events. But these few times, I was scared...
Like you, I wouldn't want to find myself in the middle of this...

I always find lightning pictures lovely. I just feel for the people who have to take those pictures. It can't be easy. Any of those yours, personally?

I've always meant to visit Quebec. I would love to just take a Summer off and stay on PEI (how stupidly girly, right?), see the Anne of Green Gables sites and then jet off to Quebec. I hear it is a lovely city.

[Amy Gray]

Amy, don't be ashamed. If it is good enough for Natalie Portman to have a baby in, it is good enough for you to live in. You can just say,

"I was once walking out of my home down there during a storm and I could see shopping carts getting lifted off the ground in the parking lot... I decided to stay home."

There is nothing wrong with living inside a Walmart.

:( All the other kids at school used to make fun of me! The worst part was when my parents tried to put me on sale for half off and nobody bought me!

Here's my first baby picture...
http://media.peopleofwalmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/3857.jpg

[GroobyKrissy]

I'd stay with you girls forever in the bed section... :whistle:

What kind of AWESOME Walmart do you have that has a bed section?

[GroobyKrissy]

:( All the other kids at school used to make fun of me! The worst part was when my parents tried to put me on sale for half off and nobody bought me!

Here's my first baby picture...
http://media.peopleofwalmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/3857.jpg

OMG... that made me spit up my sweet tea. Poor baby :( Is there an actual site of "people at walmart" pictures?

[danthepoetman]

What kind of AWESOME Walmart do you have that has a bed section?
Now that you mention it... well, they don't indeed. Hey! Krissy, in summer they have hammocks and gardens... :rolleyes:

[GroobyKrissy]

Now that you mention it... well, they don't indeed. Hey! Krissy, in summer they have hammocks and gardens... :rolleyes:

Hammocks and gardens are totally romantic... until you both fall on your ass. Been there. Done that!

[danthepoetman]

:( All the other kids at school used to make fun of me! The worst part was when my parents tried to put me on sale for half off and nobody bought me!

Here's my first baby picture...
http://media.peopleofwalmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/3857.jpg
I think of all that pampering that should have taken place. We should try to make up for it. I'm an excellent nanny, you know...:whistle:

[danthepoetman]

Hammocks and gardens are totally romantic... until you both fall on your ass. Been there. Done that!
Yeah... true.
Gee! don't they sell camping equipment?? :praying:

[GroobyKrissy]

Yeah... true.
Gee! don't they sell camping equipment?? :praying:

LoL :) Tents can be very romantic too. It is the damn bug bites that kill the romance in the great outdoors though. And no... no picture necessary for that.

[maxpower]

OMG... that made me spit up my sweet tea. Poor baby :( Is there an actual site of "people at walmart" pictures?


You really haven't heard of it? It's a fairly well-known website.

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

[GroobyKrissy]

You really haven't heard of it? It's a fairly well-known website.

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

Nope. I'm lazy. Sweet! will check it out!

[GroobyKrissy]

Best. Site. Ever.

[danthepoetman]

Very funny, Max!

[GroobyKrissy]

Guys... WalMart is the new hunting grounds for your future bedmate!

[maxpower]

Best. Site. Ever.


You're welcome.

[GroobyKrissy]

You're welcome.

I am so ROFL right now. I love the too-tight-clothes ones. Seriously funny stuff. Thanks!

[TempestTS]

Yes, been near a Tornado a number of times, I grew up in the Nebraska/Kansas Tornado Alley.

BTW the Land of OZ is nothing like the movie

[Amy Gray]

The future of TS porn!

http://media.peopleofwalmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/4156.jpg

[iagodelgado]

Twice, and I don't live in tornado territory. Both were 'small'. One tossed cars around like leaves, several miles down the coast. The other passed close by in the sea, came ashore about an hours drive away and ripped the roof off the regional airport.

[youngblood61]

Seen a derocho(I know the spelling is wrong) and that did alot of damage.

[qwerty81]

ive seen a couple waterspouts at sea. they were pretty cool. when i was at school in oklahoma i used to sit on the porch and watch the tornados pass by downtown tulsa. cool to watch from a distance.

[MacShreach]

Yes but wouldn't a message from someone who didn't survive be so much more interesting?

[GroobyKrissy]

Yes but wouldn't a message from someone who didn't survive be so much more interesting?

That is a really good point!

That would be a far more interesting discussion. Anybody out there NOT survive a tornado and want to share about it? (Apologies if this hits too close to home for some - no offense meant at all.)

[TanzerX]

I live about 10 minutes away from the recent disaster in Moore, Oklahoma

[MacShreach]

That is a really good point!

That would be a far more interesting discussion. Anybody out there NOT survive a tornado and want to share about it? (Apologies if this hits too close to home for some - no offense meant at all.)

Can't remember if it's Cannery Row or Sweet Thursday...anyway Steinbeck does this lovely long piece about how Doc's dad used to work in the basement of his marine lab so Doc, a totally convinced atheist, put in an intercom so he wouldn't have to keep coming up the stairs. After the old guy died, Doc immediately ripped out the phone, even though he hired someone else. When S asked Doc why he said. "What if it rang and it was Dad? I couldn't stand that."

Just another reason why Steinbeck is one of my all-time top 5....

Kind of like the legendary old woman who says, 'Of course I don't believe in fairies and such like. But that doesn't mean they're not there'....

[Willie Escalade]

I've been in a Cyclone...428 CobraJet and all.

[Amy Gray]

You know, I realized that I've had sex that FELT like I was in a tornado... and then I realized I was holding onto the ceiling fan. :dancing:

[Prospero]

Bet it was a bit of tailspin when you came down Amy....

[GroobyKrissy]

You know, I realized that I've had sex that FELT like I was in a tornado... and then I realized I was holding onto the ceiling fan. :dancing:

That was probably just the cocaine.

[GroobyKrissy]

Can't remember if it's Cannery Row or Sweet Thursday...anyway Steinbeck does this lovely long piece about how Doc's dad used to work in the basement of his marine lab so Doc, a totally convinced atheist, put in an intercom so he wouldn't have to keep coming up the stairs. After the old guy died, Doc immediately ripped out the phone, even though he hired someone else. When S asked Doc why he said. "What if it rang and it was Dad? I couldn't stand that."

Just another reason why Steinbeck is one of my all-time top 5....

Kind of like the legendary old woman who says, 'Of course I don't believe in fairies and such like. But that doesn't mean they're not there'....

Ahhh Steinbeck. I wish I could make it through a full book of his :). Growing up in Steinbeck country, it was required reading for us in school. Maybe I should try to revisit them now and maybe will appreciate them more.

[gieric]

My public affairs unit was tasked with covering the National Guard response in Moore, I was on ground within 12 hrs but we had emergency response teams on site within 30 min from the time the tornado hit...it was crazy, I'll post some pictures later.

[soldierboy]

Ive been in a few tornadoes, when I was very young and in middle school in NE Alabama, there was one that went right over the school. it tore parts of the roof off, it really sounds like a freight train bearing down on you. the other time was later in life at a company I worked for in NE Alabama. It will rain like crazy and the rain tends to come down at an angle, then the wind picks up, then there will be an eerie silence. Its just like they say the calm before the storm, the rain will stop, the wind will stop, it will feel hot and muggy with high humidity. One Tornado hit the company just an hour after I/we were instructed by the head of the company to go home in a tornado, it tore off the rear section of the building and half of the other side. You could see the fire sprinkler pipes shooting water up in the air, it was surreal. So yeah, if you can avoid them, DO IT. I'm pushing 40 and still to this day, if I hear a tornado is in my area, I get really freaked out. If the temperature starts to drop after the tornado warnings have stopped, then you are usually in the clear.

[dunkiex]

Yup. As a kid, was staying with my aunt in Miami. It went right down the steet. It hit houses on one side, but not the other. Also, hit an animal hospital and destroyed it. Was also in Wisconsin. It hit a town right near by, Barneveld, Wisconsin. I flew in a helicopter with a deputy to survey the damage. It wiped the place out.

[ScarlettPixl]

This thread reminded me of a cool video I watched a bit ago. It's impressive what these guys do! Not exactly a tornado, but still relevant.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G2ZdrYOwZM

[Gillian]

This thread is an excellent chance for me to get an answer to a question that's bugged me for ages ... :D

How do the Americans on here pronounce tornado? Tor_nay_doh or tor_nah_doh ?

I'm sure I've heard it pronounced the first way (tor_nay_doh) just as we say it in the UK. However, I always remember Norman Schwarzkopf thanking the British Tor_nah_doh pilots after the first Gulf War and heard another army-type on a recent Discovery Channel documentary pronounce it that way too.

My question is why, if the weather event is indeed a Tor_nay_doh, would you pronounce the British fighter jet Tor_nay_doh ?

[Gillian]

Bump ... :) Can anyone help me with my pronunciation conundrum?

[ts4me]

Tor_nay_doh --- not pronounced like the British jet fighter/bomber ;)

[Gillian]

Tor_nay_doh --- not pronounced like the British jet fighter/bomber ;)
Just as I thought. So why would Americans pronounce the fighter jet, which was of course name after the storm, any differently.

Or don't you realise where it got its name ... :D

[Ben in LA]

I've been in a spinning Toronado...

[MrFanti]

This thread is an excellent chance for me to get an answer to a question that's bugged me for ages ... :D

How do the Americans on here pronounce tornado? Tor_nay_doh or tor_nah_doh ?

I'm sure I've heard it pronounced the first way (tor_nay_doh) just as we say it in the UK. However, I always remember Norman Schwarzkopf thanking the British Tor_nah_doh pilots after the first Gulf War and heard another army-type on a recent Discovery Channel documentary pronounce it that way too.

My question is why, if the weather event is indeed a Tor_nay_doh, would you pronounce the British fighter jet Tor_nay_doh ?

Tor-NAH-do = UK/AUS/NZ
Tor-NAY-do = USA

[Gillian]

Tor-NAH-do = UK/AUS/NZ
Tor-NAY-do = USA
Can't speak for AUS or NZ, but I can assure you we say Tor_NAY_doh in the UK. The only people I've ever heard say it the other way are Yanks ... :D

[MrFanti]

Can't speak for AUS or NZ, but I can assure you we say Tor_NAY_doh in the UK. The only people I've ever heard say it the other way are Yanks ... :D

Hmmm....I used to work with a guy who was backseat guy in the jet - he always said Tor-NAH-do.

Go figure....Just goes to show that I can't rely on one person's pronunciation...LoL
Anywho, I've never heard "NAH-do" here in the US.

Perhaps it's unanimously "NAY-do" then....:cool:

[dytmook]

Nah do here in Ohio. I've never been in one but I live about 15 minutes from Xenia, Ohio which has had some famous tornadoes roll through. In fact the movie Gummo was based on the town after one (odd movie). We just had one about 30 miles north a week ago. Mother Nature is drunk this year

[werwt22]

2nd instance: I had a super cell pass over when I was in Walmart. Winds were so strong that the water from the storm was flowing uphill from the parking lot and flooded the front of the store. I Could see rain blowing North in the back of the lot and South near the front of the store so it was just starting to form. Carved a 3 mile trench 8 miles down the road.

1st instance: I was near an empty field with no clouds though we had a tornado warning with sunny skies. Within 2 seconds the sky turned black and the clouds rushed over the trees as if a time lapse video passed. They came over the trees so fast that it made me jump.

Scariest feeling I've ever had. Theres this imminent feeling feeling of doom/dread and the wind is unheard of...you will never be able to imagine til you see it first hand and that I dont recommend.