Stirred...and shaken.

[Wii]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/severe_weather

I was less than half a mile away from where one of the tornadoes touched down stayed up until 1am with the terror...anyone else here affected by it...? Lost power from 6pm to 8am. Very scary...can't get ahold of my friends...hope they're ok... :-/

[Ashar]

Tornadoes at this time of the year?!? I thought they only happened during the spring/summer time frame...

Either case, hope everyone's alright :-/

[Saitek]

The Beeb reported you had been all sufferieng there too. I was surprised as I thought the tornado season was June-September.

[Wii]

Tornadoes at this time of the year?!? I thought they only happened during the spring/summer time frame...

That's the thing...monday it was in the high 30's and yesterday was almost 80. No usual for this time of year.
No one was preparred (no deaths in my town thankfully)
It was pitch black and power went out everywhere. Also, the local emergency services is being sued because they did not have backup power for the tornadoe sirens (which went out 5minutes before touchdown.) I'm everyones fine...it didn't go through any heavy residential streets (hence why there are no deaths.) Never done in my city before, they let schools out 2-3 hours early (4hours before the storm started.) At least it's over... thanks for your concern Ash.

[H]

The 'standard' tornado season for Tornado Alley is April through October -- but nature doesn't always heed a calendar. These tornados were somewhat outside of Tornado Alley so the devestation drives even more panic; many in the midwest have cellars, even caves, supplied with necessities for such an event. Dozens of tornados, particularly smaller ones, can accompany a storm.
I've related before that I've actually been in a tornado. I was also somewhat selfish when it struck, going to my knees and praying first for myself as it rocked my mobile home in the air; then I prayed for the mobile homes around me, then the entire area. The only mobile home smashed was cornerwise to me and the owners were visiting relatives to show off their newborn; they weren't too happy returning near midnight only to have to go back to their relatives' home but, at least, no one was injured. I used some come-alongs to slowly pull my place back to its original location and reconnect utilities.
To compare, we were very, very fortunate. Like your event, tornados can be disastrous. Nature can provide a warm glow with sun or fresh air but, in truth, it doesn't care; it can send fire and gale, all cause for certain fears but, in truth, it has no remorse for tears.
Condolence and best wishes for those who remain.

H

[Wii]

Death's from this storm are up to 52...7 dead in my town I think. CNN is showing live video of the storm for the next hour or so.

[Omag 2.0]

We had a twister or 2 in Belgium last night... nothing on the US scale, bust probably scary for the people that experienced it nontheless... I did see the thunderstorm, but it didn't produce the windfunnels until some 80 km from my home...

Strange stuff in midst of winter...

Unfortunatly a lot of property and lives get damaged when a true twister strikes... but there's no way to avoid that I guess. I wonder how people in tornado-alley live with this constant fear... must be aweful in the middle of the night, when you can't see it comming...

[Wii]

The tornadoe was categorized an F4. The tornado was 1/2 a mile wide. The only reason it didn't completely demolish our town is because it did not stay on a consistent path but "jumped around" so to say.

[Alphajet_Enthusiast]

Yes Omag, our "twisters" are quite laughable... I think it's funny though that such things are news in Belgium. But it's a break from all the boring reforms and political turmoil, none the less.