I had an appointment with my knee doc today after lunch. Taking the backroads gets me there faster, but I go through no man's land when it comes to cell coverage. My phone read NO SERVICE most of the way. When I reached the crest of one of the hollows, my phone began screeching. This can't be good, I thought to myself.
When I got to a wide spot in the road, I pulled over to see the message. The National Weather Service had just issued a Tornado Warning. This is not a drill campers – duck and run for cover.
I wasn't sure if the alert was directed at my home zip code or where I was currently idling beside the road.
I had a strong enough signal to call Jilda. I knew she was taking a short nap before heading to her job but this was important. She grabbed the phone and in an instant was in the TV room watching the weather. She said the storm is headed for you. CRAP. I had no place to seek shelter where I sat so I jammed the truck in gear and scrambled toward the doctor's office where I knew they had a safe room. Less than five minutes later, I parked and was heading inside. The county tornado sirens began to wail before I got inside the building.
At the front desk, all the nurses and admins were glued to the TV set in the lobby. The tornado was on the ground but it was a few miles east and south of us. They showed me where the safe room was and we all watched the electronic progress of the storm on a wide-screen TV.
As often happens, this storm lifted. A few minutes later, the warning moved to other parts of the county. All I saw were angry clouds and torrential rain.
Nothing like a little excitement to test the blood pressure medicine.
When I got to a wide spot in the road, I pulled over to see the message. The National Weather Service had just issued a Tornado Warning. This is not a drill campers – duck and run for cover.
I wasn't sure if the alert was directed at my home zip code or where I was currently idling beside the road.
I had a strong enough signal to call Jilda. I knew she was taking a short nap before heading to her job but this was important. She grabbed the phone and in an instant was in the TV room watching the weather. She said the storm is headed for you. CRAP. I had no place to seek shelter where I sat so I jammed the truck in gear and scrambled toward the doctor's office where I knew they had a safe room. Less than five minutes later, I parked and was heading inside. The county tornado sirens began to wail before I got inside the building.
At the front desk, all the nurses and admins were glued to the TV set in the lobby. The tornado was on the ground but it was a few miles east and south of us. They showed me where the safe room was and we all watched the electronic progress of the storm on a wide-screen TV.
As often happens, this storm lifted. A few minutes later, the warning moved to other parts of the county. All I saw were angry clouds and torrential rain.
Nothing like a little excitement to test the blood pressure medicine.
That sounded scary.... I've always wanted to live in a warmer part of the world... I'm not sure I could deal with some of the weather. I'm glad you were safe xox
ReplyDeleteOk that is really scary because I think of a tornado as the devil's finger playing games. I'm glad you got there in time....too scary and your picture looks ominous
ReplyDeleteVery scary Rick. So glad your were in a safe building/safe place i time in case the tornado did come over your area.
ReplyDeleteJoy
Way more scary than a hurricane. Unpredictable and incredibly powerful!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are safe.
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of excitement in your day that you can really do without!
ReplyDeleteAlphie
A good apt to have on your phone... I'm glad that you got the warning to get to safty. I hope that you are all safe as it continues to predict more bad weather.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Julia
That is what I call an ugly sky for sure. Glad you reached safety and that the storm moved on. It's fascinating how they track storms these days and can tell us exactly where they are.
ReplyDeleteStorms are certainly exciting both good and bad. I have been in storms watching the winds blow the trees almost sideways. We recently had a huge hail storm. The hail was large and it lasted for far longer than any other hail storm I have seen. I'm glad you were able to find a safe place to ride it out.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're OK; that sky looks scary!!
ReplyDeleteWow. How scary and exciting at the same time. Glad you were safe. Excuse the blood pressure reading.
ReplyDeleteLisa
That's one ominous-looking sky. Glad it moved on and left you alone.
ReplyDeleteIf a tornado ever comes along to pick me up, I'll hop on my broomstick and cackle all the way (with my green face and flying monkeys).
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I know you probably don't want to hear that was scary one more time but...gosh darn it that was scary! Living in Florida we rarely have tornadoes. But we always have weather alerts for the potential to have them and I have no safe room other than a walk-in closet. I prefer Hurricanes because we have advanced notice and can get out of the way of those.
ReplyDelete