I have always had a healthy respect for tornadoes.
I know the safe spot in my home is the hallway closet. I keep abreast of local weather from trusted sources, not the “everything’s a crisis” outlets. I get alerts on my smart phone.
You learn to do these things when you grow up in an area where tornadoes are common. I’ve seen the damage they can do in a short amount of time. It simply boggles the mind.
Today there are more accurate forecasts to help us plan for the coming storms. We now know days in advance that severe weather is possible.
But we can’t stop a tornado from coming. The anxiety I feel when the storm is upon us can, at times, be overwhelming.
Last night I made the call to my family, who live in Athens, Alabama, to see if they were OK after tornadoes killed two there. This morning I’m looking for news from Fayetteville, Tennessee, where tornadoes also struck. I worked there for 7 years.
My area is currently under a tornado watch. The thunder is incredibly loud. It’s hot and sticky, even at 5 AM. Not a good sign.
Despite all of our advances, our claims to have harnessed the natural world, times like these remind me those claims are nothing but hot air.
Nature will tolerate our nonsense, but ultimately, She is still in charge.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Be careful! Prayers for your (plural) safety.
It is so true about nature. I hope you will be safe today.
We live in Florida, in a mobile home. We cannot go to a shelter because of our two dogs and we will not leave our dogs. The National Weather Service offered these words of wisdom for mobile home dwellers: if you cannot go to a shelter, get into a ditch and put your arms over your head…Be safe! Good thoughts sent your way!
say night on Twitter I read there were people showing up with their animal companions at shelters and they were welcome.
Those of us who have been lucky enough never to have experienced tornadoes will never know your true fear but we can certainly appreciate the power of these destructive forces of nature.
Thanks to global warming, you may yet get your chance!
Fortunately we have no tornados, but we never underestimate the power of nature. I cross my paws for all peeps and pets.
I am right now listening and watching CNN, so sad… I agree with you dear Jen, I hope you and your family are in safe. Love, nia
I hope that the warning is just that, a warning. I hope you and the babies are safe!
We are, thanks. The tornado watch has already been cancelled.
I know this is a silly thing to say but stay safe!!
Thank you! You can be safer, but I don’t know how safe one can actually be should a tornado strike.
In Japan we have strange weather that we never had before these days because of probably global warming. We often see TV news shows about terrible tornado gives damages to houses and humans in US, which makes us so worried…please stay safe Jen, Rumpy and your precious family.
Thanks Kevin. And you stay safe as well.
I have never experienced a tornado. I live in Canada Ontario, and we do not get weather like this. Even still they scare the heck out of me! Stay safe please guys and my heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones.
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Your and your loved ones, whether two-or-four legged or winged, are in my heart and thoughts. I think your weather is coming to NC soon. Stay well, calm and mindful.
In the past we were always safe from these storms where we are in New England. But more and more they are showing up closer and closer to home. Things are changing, and Mother Nature is a scary force to reckon with. Please stay safe.
Be safe! Tornadoes scare me the worst–weather is generally pretty placid here in Pittsburgh and we are supposed to be protected by our terrain but we’ve had two come through and climb the hills to do immense damage. I went to college north of Pittsburgh, in “tornado alley”, the line of flat land that comes across the northern plains, and I don’t know how people like you have managed to spend most of your life in a place where tornadoes can happen almost any time. You are brave!
Tornadoes are Worse than Hurricanes…. We have days of warning for a hurricane and sometimes NO warning of a Tornado. THEY are TRUE TERRORS.
Praying!!! So scary!
Mom and I said prayers for anybody dealing with the tornado situation. That has to be terrifying! Stay safe.
Stay safe and aware, my father lives in TN, ill be watching the news and praying for safety for you all!
So very true. I feel the same way when they head here. Scares me half to death each time.
Yep wees in fuw it tu. Is just dat time of yeaw, but meez dusn’t like it no one bit. Hav a Pawsum day and stay safe. 😀
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses ♥♥♥
Dezi
Stay safe. Whee are thinking of you. Thunder always scares us piggies a lot
Nacho, Noah, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
Stay safe
Be safe! One of my sons lives in Nashville and posted on FB his driving in tremendous rain! I’m thinking, put the stupid phone down! Sigh.
Oh my. Stay safe my furiend.
In the winter, the dog’s body heat is what helps to heat the
house. Rights advocates might have a bit of hope that
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First, be careful and stay safe. Second, I grew up in Kansas and have a very very healthy fear of tornadoes so I can completely understand where you’re coming from!
Tornadoes are very dangerous and certainly scary. We hope they have stayed away from you today and have moved off into the ocean. So sad to see all the destruction they can do.
Woos – Phantom, Ciara, and Lightning
Prayers for those affected by the tornadoes.
No doubt about Mother Nature being in charge. We had a fascinating thing happens several years back when we had that big earthquake out here. Shortly before it, maybe an hour, our front lawn filled with worms. It looked like a black sea. (I kid you not). The weird thing is no birds were coming around for a meal. Someone later told me the worms felt the tremors before the big one, imperceptible to us bipeds, and were trying to escape. Never verified that but it did make sense, like the elephants going to higher ground in Thailand before the tsunami. Yup, nature and animals are a lot smarter than moi. Thanks Rumpy.