Thursday, April 28, 2011

Storm Wrath

My thoughts and prayers go out to all who suffered in the past few days from tornadoes and storms. Over 200 people dead across the south, and that count likely to rise from what I hear. The worst has been in Alabama and I pray that our blogging friends from there are OK. Arkansas, too, was hit, and though my family did not have any trouble, other families did.

I remember long enough back to recall the early 1970s, when it seemed tornadoes did horrific damage every year in the south. Things seemed to quieten down in the 80s, 90s and into the current century. I hope we're not at the beginning of another upsurge.

The sun is shining bright here today. But there is a darkening of spirit when I think of those who have lost homes and loved ones. I pray for good news today to give hope to the bad.
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30 comments:

Paul R. McNamee said...

Since the Japan disaster and this, it seems strange to me to read in deaths over 100. I expect it in someplace third world, like Haiti. But knowing 'we', here in the 'First World' and the 21st century, are still completely at the mercy of the planet seems strange.

Must have been all those "we'll have flying cars AND control the weather to suit our needs" scifi from the mid 20th century...

Mike Golch said...

Sad news indeed.this is a little too much already and we still got to get through summer.

Deka Black said...

OUCH! hope all the friends in the tornado zones are safe and well. I just listen in the international news bulletin in the radio that Obama has declared the state of emergency :(

Charles Gramlich said...

Paul, maybe so. Maybe the world didn't care much for those shows and is showing us who is still boss.

Mike Golch, yes, the season is just beginning. Scary for sure.

Deka, at least four states have states of emergency delcared already. we'll hope aid gets to the folks that need it quick.

Ron Scheer said...

Growing up in a tornado alley (Platte Valley, Nebraska) I remember well the terror of those spring months of unsettled and threatening weather. Seeing the videos of destruction now gives me a chill, and I remember the devastation of Grand Island's night of twisters, June 3, 1980, when seven of them leveled large sections of the town.

Golden Eagle said...

It's so sad about the destruction happening all across the country--the weather has been rough this year. I hope there aren't any more bad storms and that those in the tornado zones stay safe . . .

Steve Malley said...

I second your sentiments.

David Cranmer said...

My thoughts and prayers right along with you, Charles.

laughingwolf said...

quite horrific what ma nature dishes out, time to time...

i'm with you in prayers for all :(

Randy Johnson said...

I was saddened to hear of the deaths, especially in Alabama. We had the same thing a couple of weeks ago here in North Carolina, though not on that scale. Twenty-three or so. My heart goes out to the families.

Jodi MacArthur said...

It's so horrible. My heart and thoughts go to those with lost homes and loved ones as well. I wish there was a way to teleport hugs like emails. I suppose that would be creepy. But still.

SQT said...

I've been watching the storm footage on the news and it's scary! It's so strange to see these recent disasters in real-time. I hope this isn't a harbinger of a worse season to come.

ArtSparker said...

Crazy weather - doesn't hurricane seasons tart in August?

Cloudia said...

Joining you in your concerns & wishes, Charles.




Aloha from Waikiki


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Charles Gramlich said...

Ron Scheer, I grew up outside tornado alley but we saw several that hit around us at various points. FOrtunately, our house was just below a hill so they tended to jump over us if they came our way.

The Golden Eagle, It certainly is a scary time of year.

Steve Malley, thanks, man.

David Cranmer, indeed. thanks.

laughingwolf, she's got all the muscle on her side when she wants to use it.

Randy Johnson, yes, Tuscaloosa is a big town and so hard hit.

Jodi MacArthur, I'll sleep comfortably tonight but so many want. My heart goes out to them.

SQT, these days we get some magnificient footage of the damage. I'm not sure that's a good thing, certainly not for our peace of mind.

ArtSparker, typically the very last of July and then August, although September is often a very dangerous time too.

Cloudia, thank you.

the walking man said...

Hell of a blow...hurricane force winds can and did and always will do great damage. Has anyone figured out why the sirens did NOT go off in a timely fashion?

Charles Gramlich said...

Mark, I didn't even hear about the sirens not going off. I know one of the Tornadoes was over a mile in extent. I watched a video of it in which it constantly spawned small tornadoes all around the main barrel of the thing.

Barbara Martin said...

Mother Nature and the Creator work in mysterious ways, though we always have hope of better times and faith to keep us going.

sage said...

What destruction... You just reminded me, I should check on Bone, a regular reader (but he doesn't blog regular anymore) from that part of AL

steve on the slow train said...

Ny son goes to Hanover College in southern Indiana, which was pretty much leveled in the tornado surge of 1974. This series of storms seems to be just as ferocious. I've spent most of my life in the Midwest, where tornadoes are a regualr occurrence, but I've never seen anything so devastating as this latest round of storms.

Lisa said...

I've heard of tornadoes in the US before but the ones that have been going on lately seem really bad. I hope they do not get worse.

Mary Witzl said...

We really are at the mercy of the elements. It is easy to think of natural disasters as phenomena that affect people in places like Bangladesh and Haiti. Katrina did a lot to dispel that notion, and these recent storms are another reminder that no one is entirely safe. My worry is that a big earthquake in California will kick off a nuclear accident there.

My heart goes out to all the people who have suffered. It could so easily happen to any of us.

nephite blood spartan heart said...

I'm glad you and yours are alright.

Prayers for everyone else at this time.

Charles Gramlich said...

Barbara Martin,that's about all you can do where the weather is concerned.

sage, hope he's OK.

steve on the slow train, sounds from what I've heard that it is certianly one of the top 2 or 3 storm episodes in history in the US.

Ocean Girl, me too.

Mary Witzl, it is the luck of the draw. We're like ants in that sense.

David J. West, thanks, and same here.

Travis Cody said...

The death toll from the storms really shocked me. I guess it proves that even with modern warning systems and storm chasers reporting the track of these tornadoes, it still can come down to a matter of wrong place/wrong time for some.

Lana Gramlich said...

Always heart rending to hear about such massive, natural disasters. I'm still reeling from the tsunami of some years ago. Just horrible, all of it. :(

cs harris said...

Twisters frighten me even more than hurricanes; at least with hurricanes one has advance warning. All that destruction and loss of life; I ache for those effected.

j said...

Charles, it has been an emotional time for our state and for the south. I heard someone compare the strength of the winds to Hurricane Camille, but without the warning. It would be like Camille all of a sudden being right on top of your home.

The images are haunting. I lived in Tuscaloosa and Cullman. Both of these cities were hit. It feels so personal but I'm actually quite blessed that it didn't harm me or anyone that I love.

I'm rambling. Sorry. I can only pray that people will be able to pick up and begin their lives again... although, I can't imagine how.

Unknown said...

Heartbreaking news. The total number did rise and the Alabama area looks devastated.

Charles Gramlich said...

Travis Cody, Predictions have gotten better for sure, but nature has its ways of taking back what belongs to it.

Lana Gramlich, yes, makes you know how small we are against the world.

Candy, yes, every storm you listen for tornadoes and you have little time to prepare.

jennifer, people pick up and move on. It's part of humanity's resilance. It's what has allowed us to survive so far.

Carole, Iv'e seen the destruction from smaller tornaodes. This one was horrific, the one that hit Tuscaloosa.