I love having four seasons in middle Tennessee, but what comes with it can be very distructive. Tornadoes. Yes, middle Tennessee since smack in the middle of Tornado alley. With advances in Doplar Weather Radar, tornadic activity can be spotted, as many as 80 in one day which makes it seem like we have more activity when in essence we really are learning more about the activity that has always been there. And with early alerts, come warnings to take cover which saves lives...that is if you heed the warning.
On Good Friday of last year, the minister at the congregation I attended while living in Murfreesboro, didn't heed the warning. He decided to go running on the Greenway in the middle of the day even after hearing about conditions ripe for tornadoes. What followed was a horrific experience as he clung to a tree in the middle of an EF-4 strength funnel. David Young was blessed. He survived, but others in Murfreesboro that day were not as fortunate.
What do you do when conditions could spawn a dangerous storm? First, stay tuned to your local news and weather stations. Next, have a plan and practice it often, especially if you have children you are responsible for. Seek shelter in the lowest room of your home or office, preferably under a mattress or other object that can protect you from flying debris.
My "safe room" is the space under the staircase in my home. I keep in this space a pair of tennis shoes because tornadoes can come in the middle of the night, a flashlight with a built-in radio, a bicycle helmet to protect my head, and a couple of animal crates and leashes to contain my furbabies. Go ahead and laugh, but I have experienced numerous tornadoes, losing an apartment in the late 90s and damage to a condo in 2002. Many experiences came when I wasn't at home. Once I was in a mall when the roof blew off, so always be mindful of your surroundings and the best place to go.
Angels Performing Ballet
- David Young
(Video interview regarding David Young's experience in the April 14, 2009, EF-4 tornado that hit Murfreesboro, TN, courtesy of CBN and The 700 Club)
