Saturday, June 1, 2013

Join - Welcome - Thank You, --- My Night


I would like to start my post today by welcoming a couple of new blogger friends to my blog. 

 
 
Welcome EDS Warrior at http://rhiannenlouise.blogspot.com/ and
 Val at Golden to Silver Val  blog.
 
 
Thank you for joining my blog, please sit back and enjoy the ride.

 
 

Picture from KOCO Channel 9 News


Several of my friends asked if my family was okay after this 2nd storm rolling through the OKC, Norman/Moore locations of Oklahoma.  The National Weather service gave all of us fair warning that Wednesday, May 29th through Friday May 31st, to expect extreme/severe weather with the potential of devastating tornadoes.   Through the timeframe, local news stations kept local residents weather warned.  I believe this is what kept most Oklahomans alive and safe.  The National Weather Service, along with local news stations, advised Friday, May 31st will be the worst of the worst, of all storms this week, and around 6PM all hell broke loose for us.  Hours before, I pulled the bug out bags, the large first aid kit with trauma supplies, guns, radios, phones, food, water, legal briefcase with all important papers, and the checkbook with cash, by the front door.  When my husband, Bulldog Man, came home, we loaded our truck with all the materials, and watched the television with radios on in preparation for bugging out.  Our son, Tank, came home and waited with us until it was time to bug out.  When the tornado changed course and started heading toward Moore and Norman, it was time to get the hell out of Dodge.  This storm was rated life threatening, meaning you either get below ground, or get out of the area fast.  We don’t have a storm shelter because we rent this home.  We grabbed the animals and crates, locked the house, and bugged out of our area, heading south toward a town called Purcell.  Based on experience we knew not to take the Interstate (35) out of town, we jumped on US 77 heading south.  We were safe and out of our area, 25 miles away, parked in a parking lot of a Wal-Mart in the town of Purcell.  We deliberately placed our truck facing our town in an attempt to watch things happening in a safe location.  My husband and son went in to Wal-Mart to use the public facility and pickup food (snack while waiting).  When they returned, the news alerted everyone the storm had increased in size, approximately 70 miles across the OKC, Moore, Norman, and Purcell areas.  This meant it was heading once again right at us and we were sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot thinking we were safe, instead we were sitting ducks.  The tornado horns went off immediately, we could see cones dropping from the sky, and we were on the run once more.  This storm was so large, and constantly changing direction, that you just couldn’t keep up with all the information being fed to you over the radios.  We immediately got the heck out of the parking lot and headed this time right for I-35.  We were told the storm was crossing 77 and now heading east south east.  So we thought okay, were going to try to get home via I-35.  We were safe, drove to I-35, and hopped on the Interstate for only 8 minutes, when we could see the storm getting bigger, and the outer bands were blowing wind very hard; cars were shaking and being blown in their lanes while traveling I-35.  Suddenly, hail started coming down, pea size, then the rain started coming down hard, but you could still see out of the windshield.  My husband and I looked at one another and stated at the same time, “We need to get off of the interstate at the next exit and head the other direction away from this hail and hard rain”.  We found the next exit, took the loop off the highway and got back on the loop to head south bound on I-35.  As we merged onto I-35 southbound, the hail pounded harder on our truck and increased in size.  This time the hail was golf ball size, the rain made in almost impossible to see, the wind was terrible, and our truck was being blown from side to side.  We didn’t know if we were running from the outer band of this massive tornado or running into another tornado.  We couldn’t see anything around us.  This was the first time I was scared to death, and didn’t think we would make it through the hell we were going through.  We drove 70 mph for about 25 miles dodging vehicles, hail, water, and a drop off, right of the side of I-35 until the hail slowed down, changed in size, and disappeared.  That was about the time my cell phone rang, and my dear friend Gail, from At the Farm blog called me to make sure we were okay.  My finger automatically turned the telephone on, I took a deep breath told Gail let me call you back; we need to get to a safe place. I called my dear friend Gail back after checking on everyone in the truck, the animals, and the truck.  We all were fine, the truck made it through. Gail must have thought I was a basket case, I was so stressed, I could finally take a deep breath and I just lost it over the phone and started balling.  Once I calmed down, I could talk.  I told Gail we were okay, we were going to wait here for a while, and then head back to our home, hoping the house was still standing and in one piece.  I asked her if she wouldn’t mind letting all my Blogger friends know we’re okay.  I was really concerned for those living in and around the Tulsa area…………Thank You Gail for updating everyone of our status.  A while later, we started driving the back roads to get home; dodging fallen wires, debris and flood waters.  We eventually made it to where we live, our house was standing.  It had some roofing shingles missing and everything on the back porch was blown all over, several of the big trees have branches broken.  The property had about 1 inch of water standing all over it.  I called Gail back to let her family know we were home and okay.
 
The moral of my story, don’t expect the tornado to go from west to east, it will change course, and who knows, it may head directly for you. 
 
God Bless Oklahoma!
 
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26 comments

  1. Oh my gosh Sandy!! I am so glad that you guys are all safe. Scary stuff indeed. You have a lot of courage for all those around you, I am impressed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DFW,

      No I really don't have a lot of courage. My husband calls me bull headed, lol.

      This time I was scared to death.

      I'm happy to be safe and at home.

      Delete
  2. Some people would pay for this adrenaline rush and you and your family got it for free!!!

    So glad you are safe.

    Den went through this a few years ago trying to reach us after a big tornado wiped out houses all around us. Divine power and the valley protected us. I do not want to experience that again. The farm will never be the same.

    No one ever is after an event like this.

    Blessings and safe trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gail,
      I surely do know how you felt when you went through the big tornado there a few years ago.

      I don't think I will be the same after all of the events the last 10 days.

      Thank you, I will drive safely.

      Delete
  3. Good grief woman...you have been through so much recently! Been thinking and praying. So sorry for all the stress, but beyond glad you are ok!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Girl,

      Yes Ma'am I have, and I'm tired.....need a break from the stress ;)

      I'm happy to be okay and alive.

      Delete
  4. God bless you all. Glad to hear you're okay. ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda G.,

      Thank you, were happy to be okay.

      Bless you!

      Delete
  5. Hello.

    My blog is Rhiannen's Rainbow @ http://rhiannenlouise.blogspot.com.au

    I am so glad to hear (read?) that you are safe!! Living in Australia, the thought of Tornados are TERRIFYING!

    Give me my aussie bushfires any day! /

    Please stay safe!!! I LOVE your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rhi,

      Hi there!

      Thank you for providing me with the name of your blog. I've updated my post to capture the name.

      I'm happy to be safe too. You're in Australia, wow..... You don't get tornadoes there? We have our share of fires here in Oklahoma in the last summer. It becomes very dangerous.

      Thank you, I've now located your blog and look forward to reading and learning more about you and Australia. I look forward to talking with you more in the future.
      Good Day Mate.....(Oh I hope I have that right)

      Delete
  6. Hello Sandy, I just wanted to tell you that I was so thankful to hear that you and your family made it through this killer tornado safe and sound! I know that the Good Lord had to have covered you and your family with His saving grace during this horrific storm. I will keep you and your family in my prayers; along with all of the people whose lives were tragically changed by these terrible tornadoes. May God bless you and keep you safe. Pat(Sweet Wife.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat (aka: Sweet Wife),

      Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. These tornadoes were bad. We haven't had tornadoes like this in some time. The Good Lord was watching over us.

      Delete
  7. They are unpredictable. I am glad you and yours are safe and the worst is over...knock on wood :)

    I was looking for you in the cell that passed over my house just in case :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PP,

      Thanks! For a short time there, I thought we were in major trouble.

      You were looking for the ruby slippers!!!

      Delete
  8. sweet Sandy - yes - you need a break from all of this stress! you and yours are in our prayers, as always, and we will continue to pray for all of the people in OK that are experiencing these terrible storms. stay safe hon!

    your friend,
    kymber

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweet Kymber,
      I surely do need a break from the stress but I don't think that will happen for some time.
      Right now,I'm down in Texas helping with my dad while my sister had to fly out of town for work.
      Should be able to return home tomorrow night or Wednesday morning.

      Your Friend,
      Sandy

      Delete
  9. I’ve been reading your blog awhile. Good stuff. I thoroughly enjoy it.

    I’m SO glad you’re OK. Reading your recount of the events, driving 75MPH in your car, I was glued to my seat. You were really lucky. God was watching over you.

    When a tornado strikes (and the ones today are very powerful). Where does one go? In the basement at the far corner? In the bathroom with a mattress over you? That’s what we did as kids.

    Growing up in NE Oklahoma I know the feeling of tornadoes. They are terrifying. The barometric pressure drops and you can feel it. Even animals right before are uneasy.

    These weather events make you feel powerless. My hubby told me that when Hurricane Andrew hit, he was so scared. He felt his life flash before his eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annie Oakley,

      Maybe I should write a book of all of my scarey situations, I've been in plenty the last 30 years.

      I've never lived in Oklahoma before being transferred here with my husbands work. I was the one that always dealt with hurricanes. I lived in Florida dor 20+ years. Hurricane Andrew was terrible, I was in that storm too. We lost our old military home on the base, and nearly lost the roof on the home in Broward County from it. I can fully understand how your husband felt going through Andrew.

      Delete
  10. Every muscle in my body tensed up while reading this! I lived through a very powerful earthquake in 1983 that destroyed the little town I lived in! We didn't know it was coming, no warning at all...just happened out of the blue! Our lives were never the same! I can't imagine seeing all you have seen in the last two weeks and going through all you have gone through! Brave lady, you are! Be well and stay safe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Desert Hen,

      Thank you, I was brave while it was happening but then I turned into jello and my emotions went crazy.

      I've been through earthquakes here, and in in Japan while I was little being a miltary brat. Experienced raging forest fires, accidents (always in the wrong place at the wrong time), hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Life always takes us through unique circumstances.

      Delete
  11. Thank you so much for the warm welcome! I'm so glad that you, your family and your pets are all safe. Tornados are so scary! I was in one when I was 18 and working downtown at the bank. The whole first floor was marble floors and walls and when we left that floor we could feel intense pressure, which was so uncomfortable but they wouldn't let us stay on the main floor because of all the windows. Thankfully, it dipped down and took out a few awnings and broke some store windows and then went back up and left the area. My heart aches for all the people in your area (or any area) that have been affected by these unpredictable monsters. Thank you again for the welcome.....I'm going to like this ride. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Golden,

      You're very welcome! Yes, tornadoes are extremely scarey. People will say awww....it's nothing. It maybe nothing to them but when your stuck in the middle of one, it means the world to be able to survive it's fury.

      Delete
  12. There was nothing on our television except the weather channel and an ever present Atlas between me and Joe while we kept a finger on Moore. We were so worried about you!

    Joe gets involved with my blogger friend's lives when he sees they mean so much to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lotta Joy,

      Sorry for the delay of responding to your post. After all the storms passed through, I needed to get to Texas to help my Dad while my sister went out of town.

      Back in town as of right now, preparing for potential storms again this week.

      You mean the world to me too my friend, have a blessed day.

      Delete

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