Monday, March 5, 2012

Grateful


Friday nights at our house usually mean pizza for dinner and lounging around on the couch.  And this past Friday started off that very way.  But the television was honed in on the Weather Channel as we watched super cell after super cell hammer our region.


At around 8pm, a tornado warning was issued and Razor ushered us into our cellar.  This was the first time our daughters had ever had to go to the cellar to wait out a storm and they shook with fear.  And tears spilled from their eyes.



We barely heard rain or saw flashes of lightening.  We lit candles and told ourselves that even though we hadn't seen a drop of hail at least we had put the cars safely in the barn.

We live in a small, rural town that doesn't have it's own television station and only a small weekly newspaper.  But, our radio station keeps an up-to-the-minute Facebook page that over the last year has become the absolute go-to spot for news, reports, photos, videos and eye witness accounts of even the littlest of local happenings.


We sat in the cellar on Friday night and soon got word via Facebook and text that a tornado had touched down in our town.  The National Weather Service later confirmed that it was an F2 tornado and thanks to Facebook I've seen aerial photographs depicting it's entire treacherous path.


We are fine.  Our community has pulled together and I can gratefully say it too is fine.  No one was injured or killed.  The storm shelters opened by American Red Cross are already closed.  We are a resilient, hard working, little mountain town and are ready for a new day.


And this family is looking forward to a much quieter Friday night this week.

-dana

57 comments:

Dena said...

Thank God your family and community is safe. What a scare. You are in my thoughts and if you need anything I'm a phone call away. Take care Dana

Ranch Wife said...

Praise God that everyone is safe! Those photos are frightening and I know there is a lot of healing and cleaning in the coming months. I'm glad y'all had a safe place to gather and that y'all were together, although I cannot imagine how scary that must have been.

Candice @ Made With Love said...

So thankful that your family and community are safe!!!

mean sarah jean said...

so glad to hear you and your family are fine and no one is hurt. such a scary thing to endure. my prayers are with you and your community.

Michele said...

So scary. It was devastating to hear the news coverage. Glad you're okay.

Cathy said...

so I was complaining this morning about the rain and the wind we are having. then I read your post. SO glad you are all okay. I won't complain any more about our weather.

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

So glad everyone is safe. Storms can be very scary, thankfully w/ technology we are a bit more informed which makes it a little more tolerable. We have a NOAA radio which is helpful...and one of our weatherman here says take a whistle w/ you so if anything happens to your house above you, you can be found!

Kristen said...

So very glad all are safe.

Poor little town. Glad there were no injuries, etc.

And yes, a quiet Friday night will be so nice to see again.

Julie S said...

So thankful your family is safe. Growing up in SW Minnesota, I spent many many many nights in the furnace room, huddled on an old sofa with mom and three siblings, waiting out a tornado warning. The scariest part for me was worrying about my dad. He and the other neighborhood men stood outside to watch the tornado come. Every time I thought for sure that he would be blown away. We were always spared of any damage.

Sara said...

Oh Dana you were hit I am so sorry:( It missed us,but got ya'll. I am so happy that ya'll are ok. Sorry that you had to hide in the cellar and be scared. Just terrible.

Cathy Hetzel said...

glad to hear everyone is safe.....

Amy said...

I am glad that your family is safe, how scary!

Asiyah said...

We've been there before. My 6 year old still panics whenever the skies get that "tornado look".

Damage can be repaired...Glad to hear that your town is okay!

beth said...

so glad you are ok. grateful indeed.

sweet diesel designs said...

Oh my goodness! I am so glad that you and your family are safe!

KimT said...

GLAD YOU AND YOURS ARE OK.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Dana, so glad you are ok and that your town survived the tornado. I'm saw the devastation in other areas and it is heartbreaking!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Dana, so glad you are ok and that your town survived the tornado. I'm saw the devastation in other areas and it is heartbreaking!

Elissa said...

oh, oh, oh. turns my stomach just thinking about it. SO glad you are all safe....

Denise in PA said...

Dana, I am grateful too that you and your family are alright. My heart was heavy watching the devastation. Thanks for letting us know you are safe. Hugs.

Lara said...

Oh Dana! I am so pleased you and your family are safe. We have seen photos of the destruction and I can not believe how much damage has been done. Kia Kaha (it means be strong in Maori), much love from New Zealand.

Catherine said...

So glad to here you weathered the storm out safely in your cellar and your property was unscathed. From what we saw downunder it looked terrifying.

tara said...

I am so glad you are all OK. I got goosebumps reading your post

Kim said...

The poor families that got hit...it is heart breaking to see all the deaths across the country. We all need to count our blessings, thanks for the reminder Dana.

Happy Sewing

Vicki @ DottyJane said...

I'm glad you're okay! We were ready to go to our shelter, too, but luckily didn't need to. Sorry your girls were so scared:)

Sheila said...

So glad to hear you were spared destruction....my heart goes out to those who were less fortunate.

Trudi said...

Greateful to know you are all safe, no one hurt and finding strength in community :) greateful for the reminder, my little lot isn't so bad :) Be safe x

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Oh sweetie, so glad you and yours are safe and well. My heart went out to you reading about your girls.

Birgit said...

I am so glad to hear that you and your family -- and your whole community -- are okay... The recent tornadoes even made it into German news. It's scary to hear that tornado season has only started...

Stay safe!!!

Deb Robertson Writes said...

Oh my such devastation :( I was following progress of the warnings etc on the radio here (it was Saturday) and praying that folks would be ok. We have empathy for the destruction and terror that natural disasters bring. My 9 year old is very traumatized by the earthquakes here and we made an emergency kit together which includes chocolate and fun stuff for the kids to do. It means when we have to camp outside after a big event, there is something to take the mind of the scariness. I don't know if that would help your girls for another time.

Hoping you keep safe xxx

brown robin said...

So glad to hear that you all are well. It's weird to see all those pics of places I know. My parents called first thing Sat morn to say they were fine too. It was such a relief to hear from them. Blessings to you all.

Gale, Ky quilter said...

Dana, Do you live in Kentucky or Indiana? Friday was a horrible day and I was filled with apprehension all day. Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel was in Louisville and then moved on over to the Indiana side of the Ohio River so I should have known then it wasn't going to be a good night. Several family members went to my brothers house to ride out the storm in his basement. Luckily they went all around us however my heart goes out to all that have lost lives, homes, everything they own. Yes, let's look forward to a quieter Friday. :) Gale

Corinnea said...

So glad you're safe!

scottylover said...

So glad you all are safe and that you had the cellar to hide out in! We had one go through here last April and it was horrible to see the devastation.
Sandy

VeeV said...

You are Amazing!!!!

glad you're all ok!!
xo
eva

Kar said...

So very glad to hear that you are all okay and the tornado missed your place. I'm glad we don't have those kind of storms around here. Been through enough of them when I lived in the south growing up.

Hugs!

Michele said...

Whew! Glad to read that you all are ok. All those twisters are making me nervous for everyone there, and I don't live in that area of the country any more.

**nicke... said...

Dana!!! i am so glad you are all ok! what a scary night! my sister lives in Ooltewah the tornado that hit there missed their house by about 1000 yards! i was soo grateful!

Mama Said Sew said...

Good to hear that you're all okay. Give those girls of yours an extra hug for being brave. :)

QuiltNut Creations said...

I can't imagine how scary that would have been. Glad everyone in your family and your town is safe.

Anonymous said...

So glad that you are OK. Last April our town was hit by a tornado, my immediate family was spared from damages, but still today we see the damage all over town. The places where 1/2 of a building is still waiting to be taken down....where the 100 year old trees are not longer shading passers by.
Healing and clean up take a long time, but the community will come together and be stronger in the long run.

We will continue to pray for you well into the future.

Stacey

Christie said...

So glad you and your family are safe!

DebbyMc said...

So glad you and your family and town are ok, Dana. My heart aches for those in the paths of these devastating storms. So many lives changed. I have gone through many earthquakes and fires living where I do but I can't imagine having to wait out a tornado in the cellar. Sending hugs to your sweet girls, and you, too!

goletagirlwendy said...

Glad you and your family are safe. I hope your town is able to recover quickly. Yeah! for Facebook.

The Thompsons said...

I'm so glad everyone is safe. How scary- that was one scary storm. We just got the aftermath here in Ohio and I thought that was bad enough. Here's to definitely hoping this Friday is a little less eventful for you.

Elsa said...

So glad to hear that everything is well with you, your family and your town. Storms like that can be so scary, especially for the little ones.

sallgood said...

Happy you are all okay. We are sad for those who have lost so much.

Lene said...

How scary. I am glad that everyone made it through safely.

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

How scary for you all. So glad you came out safe and sound.
This weather pattern isn't looking go so early in the year.
Praying for better weather ASAP

CitricSugar said...

Glad everyone's okay. Man, what a crazy bunch of years, global weather-wise...

Jeannette Brossart said...

so glad everyone is safe... thinking of Murphy and the strength in that community!

Audrie said...

Very relieved to hear that everyone's okay and no one was injured. We had a hurricane blow through here last year but I don't think the damage came close to what I'm seeing in your town :/

Pearl Maple said...

My goodness that is a pretty full on kind of Friday, good to hear all is fine. Isn't new technology amazing to provide ways to stay connected and informed. Hope this week brings warm spring sunshine and gentle breezes.

Pamela said...

I am a little behind reading my favorite blogs but am so relieved to hear you, your family and community are safe!! God Bless.

Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane said...

Dana, I don't know how I missed this post. So glad you and your family were safe as well as everyone in town. xo

Wanda said...

OMG so sorry for your town but I am glad to hear that you and your family are safe.

Lori said...

thank the good Lord you are all safe. unfortunatly the girls will remember this forever, but now they know what to do. they are very lucky to have parents like you