‘I couldn’t stop screaming’: Witnesses describe Texas tornadoes
(Photo: Ralph Lauer / EPA)
Survivors of the tornadoes that devastated two towns in Texas on Wednesday night described their terror as the violent storm tore apart their homes, killing six people and injuring dozens more.
The spate of extreme, hazardous weather we’ve seen over the last year or so has been truly disturbing, which is not to say the people of Texas aren’t in the know about tornado threats. Regardless, though, the damage and human toll here is deflating. Our thoughts are with the victims, stripped of their homes, and for some, their lives.
Fire tornado. Australia, land of killer death things.
Combining two of our greatest nature-related fears into one super-fear.
Northeast US cleaning up after severe storms
A state of emergency and curfew remains in effect in Elmira, N.Y., as crews continue clearing trees and repairing power lines that were brought down by a possible tornado yesterday. At least 2 people have been killed after strong thunderstorms swept from Ohio into upstate New York. Read more from AP.
Photo: Jessica Stansfield poses for a photo below an enormous uprooted tree in Elmira, N.Y., after the town was hit by a possible tornado on July 26, 2012. (Adam Fenster / Reuters)
Over 100,000 people are reportedly without power.
The majority of surveyed Joplin residents did not immediately go to shelter upon hearing the initial warning, whether from local warning sirens, television, NWR [NOAA weather radio], or other sources.From the National Weather Service’s report on last year’s tornado in Joplin • Detailing how, in severe storm conditions, a big part of safeguarding communities and lives depends on people taking warnings seriously. In one instance, a Joplin resident ignored a slew of warning signals, driving from place to place looking for an open restaurant despite seeing that some were barred against the brewing storm, and hearing tornado warnings throughout town. As a response, the NWS has implementing new, stronger and more frightening vocabulary to be used for high-risk storm alerts, such as “mass devastation,” “complete destruction,” and “not survivable.” We really hope everybody in the Midwest will prioritize their safety over the coming days – authorities anticipate big storms (and likely tornadoes) to roll through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska later tonight. source (via • follow)
In which an image and headline juxtapose so painfully that you want to pull out your hair.
From Sandbridge, Virginia Beach: Roof damage from the Virginia Beach area. There have been reports of a possible tornado touchdown in the region — including a report from one of the local news stations, WAVY. Three homes reportedly had their roofs torn off. (photo via @wattsupbrent of Roanoke, Va. station WDBJ; tip via brosephstalin)
A school bus lies amid downed trees at the Village Green Family Campground in Brimfield, 30 miles east of Springfield. —MASS. DESTRUCTION, The Daily
Wow. What a striking, disturbing image. We really, really hope that school bus was empty.
Photo: REUTERS/Ed Zurga
Today in politicizing things that shouldn’t be politicized.
Developing: Several large tornadoes are ripping through Oklahoma. At least one is headed toward the metropolitan area of Oklahoma City.
- Watch KFOR-TV coverage on ProducerMatthew.com
- Watch KWTV coverage from Oklahoma City
- Listen to EMS scanner traffic from Oklahoma County
Photo of tornado in Norman, Oklahoma from Twitpic.
Rusty Burton finds important papers and a stuffed bear he won for his grandson as he sifted through the remnants of the child’s home Tuesday in Joplin. Family members are frantically searching for 16-month-old Skyular Logsdon; the boy disappeared during Sunday’s tornado. Skyular’s parents, Carol Jo Tate and Cordero Logsdon, were both injured and are hospitalized in Pittsburg, Kan. “I’m starting to lose hope,” Burton said. “But I don’t want to think about that.” The family rejoiced when the boy was not found at a temporary morgue; they’re also looking through hospital logs. Burton keeps a photo on his cellphone, ready to show to anyone who may have seen the boy. Post-Dispatch photo by Robert Cohen • rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Could you imagine having to do a search like this? We’ve been looking through the photos and it’s just an emotional rollercoaster to look at. We hope for Burton’s sake, along with his family, that they find him alive. Hold out hope.
Wrote a thing.
Hat tip to this headline writer.
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Scenes from Joplin, and fears of further storms: The death toll in Joplin continued to grimly creep upwards today, with 117 now confirmed dead, and relief and rescue services still faced with such a job that you should probably brace for that number to change again. To make matters worse, the NOAA has issued warnings of severe storms the next few days across a broad swath of the American heartland, with Joplin lying in the highest risk zone. Please do everything possible to stay safe, everybody. source
![producermatthew:
A cell phone tower slammed into the side of an apartment complex in Joplin, Missouri. The city was hit by a large tornado Sunday evening. Over 30 people are confirme dead. [twitpic]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llmw9qhLji1qz5ew6o1_500.png)
A cell phone tower slammed into the side of an apartment complex in Joplin, Missouri. The city was hit by a large tornado Sunday evening. Over 30 people are confirme dead. [twitpic]
A 360-degree look at at the street across from St. John Regional Medical Center in Joplin. The hospital was hit by Sunday night’s tornado, and the area around it was destroyed.
Another Joplin neighborhood:
Photos by Jess Baker, @borntorunnergrl
Wow, we don’t think we’ve ever seen a media outlet try this before with a storm story.
Amateur video shows a powerful tornado ripping through the Albany Mall near Auckland, New Zealand Tuesday afternoon. [via yfrog]
To complement this, here’s a clip that’s a tad bit further away.
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