Tornadoes: Take Cover!

Picture credit: Josh Martinez @YoJoshMartinez

Memorial Day 2019 will be one to remember. Thirteen confirmed tornadoes touched down in the Miami Valley Ohio area about 10:30 pm. Only one death was reported, however the damage in several areas was catastrophic.

After a long day of Memorial Day festivities, I was beat. The sun always drains me to the max. I think I fell asleep on the couch about 8:30 pm only to be awoken by the wind at around 10 pm. That's when the text alerts started. All our family cell phones were buzzing and beeping to let us know of the impending dangerous weather.

For a little while, we were able to still have satellite reception so that we could follow the news about where the tornadoes were headed. The first was headed right down the main street of where my oldest daughter lives. Thankfully, her neighbors have a basement and invited her and Zach to take cover there! Thank you, nice neighbors!

Picture credit: Whio.com 

Sometimes, my husband and I don't take tornado warnings seriously, but I recently saw an interview of a person who also didn't take them seriously and barely made it out alive. So, we decided to take the whole family to the basement. [Note to self: We could use another couch down there!]

Derek does not like storms or having to take cover. He stayed in one room and we hunkered down in the other. Delanie and I cuddled up on the couch as Chad decided to go through our 72 hour kits! [Another note to self: Clothes in the 72 hour kits need to be replaced. Gone are the days I was a size 8!]

We were down there for nearly an hour as the several storms passed to our north and to our south. We were spared any damage.

The next day, Chad and I happen to have a meeting in Beavercreek. That happens to be where one of the most destructive tornadoes hit. Our favorite restaurant was closed. In fact, we couldn't even get near it. Many streets were closed and blocked off. We saw many trees broken and uprooted, houses and businesses with severe roof damage or loss, and windows broken out of buses and cars. Wow. You just don't realize the power of weather until you see something like that in person.

All of our family and close friends were spared. We were blessed. But, we know that bad things happen to even the best of people. It is so important to be prepared. Have a safety plan, have your phones charged, put on your shoes, and get those 72 hour kits up-to-date and in a safe place!




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