Tornadoes and You :)

Now that was a close call with your 10 happening at Joplin right before the big storm coming through. That Petro there in Joplin did sustain damage I heard. This year was just a crazy year for tornadoes and I know that had to be heck for truckers.

 

That's how I think too but who knows. They way they word it makes it sound more like a screwed if you do, screwed if you don't type situation.

I've laid in a ditch with my motorcycle once. Definitely not an enjoyable experience. It never got as close as I thought it might but I wasn't taking a chance on that one.

 

The green hue you see is the hail reflecting sun light. It signifies strong updrafts and strong winds.

The smartest thing to do is plan your trips ahead. With social networking nowadays, you can follow what areas the chasers are in. They are there for a reason...and you should be mindful of that.

What to do if caught in a potential tornado producing storm? Stay south and east of it. Tornadoes typically travel southwest to northeast. Staying south and east keeps you out of the hail core and going in a safe direction.

DON'T TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO! Debris fields, winds, and rear flank downdrafts can all cause you to lose control or be injured. If you find a tornado in your vicinity and it's not moving right or left, IT'S COMING AT YOU, and you need to get to safety. Get out of your truck, and get into a low lying ditch, covering your head with protective equipment, a pillow, your hands, etc.

The five P's come into play here. Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

 

I was right there with you. I was at I-44 and Rangeline as it was going thru the middle of town. I was out storm chasing that day. I spent part of the next four days sleeping in an ambulance and transporting patients back to Springfield. Our ambulance service spent 12 total days in Joplin. I will never forget that chase or my time spent there.

 

If anybody is interested in a Victory Express reunion let me know... We have one every year

 

The scariest is when the tornado is at night. Lightning lights it up. Then???
I had heard they put that in a movie? I've seen it myself. Not a good feeling.

I always thought to get inside a drainage culvert. One of those pipes that go under a road. Might just barely fit. Get filthy. But that's better than dead.

 

Been out here for almost 30 years and, while I've been in tornado weather, I can't say I've ever seen one that I could recognize as a tornado. I have just barely missed a few, though. Most recently up around Minatare, NE, where I came in behind one about 30 minutes after it hit. Had I not stopped for fuel in Ogallala, I would have been in the middle of it. I went through Moore, OK about 1 1/2 hrs before that last big one hit. When I went back through, the damage was significant. There were cars thrown around and roofs weren't where they were supposed to be.

 

In addition to the other comments, you can tell it is close, esp in the dark by noticing the rain all of the sudden stopping (the tornado pulls the rain upward), it sounds like a freight train, and if it’s close you will feel a pressure change.

 

Just keep driving..it's harder to pick up a moving object...