Tornado! Now with pics

Mean 318 · August 27, 2007, 01:36:54 AM

While the weather took a turn for the worst tonight! A few tornado's hit just outside of town tonight! We were lucky! Just some wind, rain, and hail! Unfortunately a few towns south west of us weren't so lucky! The damn tornado landed right on top of them! A friend of mine who lives there rode it out in his home. By the time all was said and done he had a new garage in his front yard, one less back porch, two less sheds, one less pickup truck, no more trees... rather the moved on top of his garage and inside of his kitchen. Uggg, the poor guy is too damn nice to get this! I have my Ram loaded up with 3 spare tires, a spare battery, a generater, cords, tow ropes, gas, lights, a case of beer, and a bunch of other stuff. I plan to be there by 7:30 AM tomarrow. By the sound of it the town is real bad! No news on any deaths yet - they had lots of warning! But one of the trailer arks had 7 trailers now had only 1. There are cars in fields! I hope no one is hurt real bad and, the truck makes it, and everything works out! If all goes well we can at least make his house livable! Keep you updated as we go. Look for it on the news! Northwood ND!

69bronzeT5 · August 27, 2007, 01:39:44 AM

Good luck Zack. Its very cool of you to go out of your way to help him out. Cheers to you!

Mean 318 · August 27, 2007, 02:05:42 AM

damn... 1 dead so far. Sounds like there will be more... 17 trailers all toasted! Cant get in till sunrise! I dont think I am going to sleep! I guess the top of the mill is gone. From what I hear there aint much as far as trees.

69bronzeT5 · August 27, 2007, 02:35:52 AM

Thats one reason I love it in BC, no tornadoes. My prayers go out to everyone in the tornado stricken areas

Bandit72 · August 27, 2007, 03:46:19 AM

Quote from: 69bronzeT5 on August 27, 2007, 02:35:52 AM
Thats one reason I love it in BC, no tornadoes. My prayers go out to everyone in the tornado stricken areas

Tornadoes can happen anywhere man...just much less likely that far north....

Todd Wilson · August 27, 2007, 11:43:49 AM

I was in one back in 1991. No fun and lots of clean up. You will quickly find out what insurance will and wont cover.

Todd

Mean 318 · August 27, 2007, 10:43:25 PM

aint much town left... I will be back tomarrow morning to keep on fixing stuff! what a damn mess!

71ChallengeHer · August 27, 2007, 10:46:55 PM

That's great your helping out.

Todd Wilson · August 28, 2007, 11:46:37 AM

Lots of people dont realize what its like after a twister comes through. If you are lucky you climb out of the rubble. AT that time you better have shoes on and a flashlight. Communication has been broken from the outside world. Your cell phone might work but most likely the cell towers will be jammed with too many calls or not exist. 911 may also be overloaded. It is possible to get a busy signal at 911.

You are basically on your own for a while.

You have to watch for downed live power lines and the smell of natural gas in the air from ruptured gas meters from houses, makes you wonder what the hell will happen if that gas manages to float over to that occasional sparking power line still hot either hanging or laying. You will probably also have to help injured people and may see what all can go with that. Most likely you will have to climb and or hike your way out of the area because the rubble will be as tall as a house. Before long the cops and firemen will be there (If they werent wiped out as well) and then the county or city bulldozer to start clearing a path to get in and out of. You probably wont do much right after it happens. This will all be many hours after it hits which goes back to what I said you are on your own!!!!

The next few days will be tough. Clean up and maybe finding your belongings.

My wife thinks I over react now when a storm comes up and the tornado sirens go off in our town. Laugh all you want I been there and done it and wont be caught without basic things if it happens again. Shoes first and then a flashlight and if I can get it my billfold and checkbook and the 2meter walkie talkie ham radio. If you got to sleep in your shoes during a storm so be it! Do not get caught without shoes!

Todd

Afflyer · August 28, 2007, 08:28:13 PM

Hey Todd, are you referring to the big one that started just south of Derby and ripped it's way through McConnell AFB before jetting east towards Andover at nearly 1/2 mile wide?!

I saw the devastation on CNN International, while I was finishing up my outprocessing at Soesterberg Air Base in Holland- bound for McConnell!!!

I thought to myself, "great- I'll be on base clean up for a YEAR!"

I'll never forget my time in Wichita from 1991 through 1995. I recieved a honest-to-God Doctorate Degree from Mother Nature in her wildly ways!!!
Back in May of '92, I thought I was witnessing the second coming of Christ, as I saw my very first "wall" cloud. Brother, let me tell ya- those wall clouds are friggin SCARY!!!!

That same storm threw hail stones down onto downtown Wichita, the size of SOFTBALLS!!!

I'll never forget it.

You get educated in Mother Nature living in Kansas, no doubt about it.

Bradley

Todd Wilson · August 28, 2007, 09:38:17 PM

Quote from: Afflyer on August 28, 2007, 08:28:13 PM
Hey Todd, are you referring to the big one that started just south of Derby and ripped it's way through McConnell AFB before jetting east towards Andover at nearly 1/2 mile wide?!

I saw the devastation on CNN International, while I was finishing up my outprocessing at Soesterberg Air Base in Holland- bound for McConnell!!!

I thought to myself, "great- I'll be on base clean up for a YEAR!"

I'll never forget my time in Wichita from 1991 through 1995. I recieved a honest-to-God Doctorate Degree from Mother Nature in her wildly ways!!!
Back in May of '92, I thought I was witnessing the second coming of Christ, as I saw my very first "wall" cloud. Brother, let me tell ya- those wall clouds are friggin SCARY!!!! That same storm threw hail stones down onto downtown Wichita, the size of SOFTBALLS!!! I'll never forget it.

You get educated in Mother Nature living in Kansas, no doubt about it.

Bradley

No I was in the WillowBrook twister March 26, 1991. The Andover twister really tore stuff up! I remember it and watching the tv as it was rolling through.

Todd

Mean 318 · August 29, 2007, 10:37:42 PM

Back again today, almost kinda sorta looks like a town... not really. Some buildings you can tell will be dozed over others that look ok are toast because they have been picked up and moved off their foundations! I ain't talking little building either. 3 story house catholic church, a friggen 60 foot mill! There was also a building full f lassic cars that came down on top of them and the guy inside! 98% of the town has damage. a town of 1100! The school is a total loss, along with most of the down town! The seed mill, several houses, one of the churches, the air port, the apartment complex, the trailer park. I wonder how much town there will be after this is all said and done! Well I am going back tomarrow so I am off.

69bronzeT5 · August 30, 2007, 12:23:43 AM

Quote from: Mean 318 on August 29, 2007, 10:37:42 PM
There was also a building full f lassic cars that came down on top of them and the guy inside!.

What kinda cars? And did the guy survive?

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 01:33:42 PM

they du him out with a broken arm... the cars were not so lucky. I will post up pics when I can.

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:14:07 PM

some

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:16:53 PM

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69bronzeT5 · August 30, 2007, 02:18:00 PM

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:18:21 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:20:06 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:22:03 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:23:42 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:25:18 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:31:53 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:34:24 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:35:52 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:42:18 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 02:51:29 PM

more 2 come

Brock Samson · August 30, 2007, 03:17:55 PM

that red one in the garage under the basket ball hoop, is a '63-'67 sting ray...

Good God those folks need some help...

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 03:27:15 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 03:28:15 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 03:29:20 PM

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Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 03:30:24 PM

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Brock Samson · August 30, 2007, 03:35:57 PM

$:-\$ gee, and folks think our earthquakes are bad..
looks like it just picked up them cars and dropped em like leaves...

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 03:41:00 PM

it picked them up and moved them a half mile out of town.... it also took two semis with gravel trailers... they still dont know where they are!

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 04:21:25 PM

I am having trouble pulling up the last of the pics right now. I will tell you that an AMC Hurst Rambler- 1 of 1500, a Buick vert, a few fords were in the building. All "survivor" cars. Still, even with 17 inured and 1 dead they are very lucky! I am still amazed more aren't dead. The tornado was an F-4 and hit the town dead on! It looks as if the School is a total loss. The Seed plant looks like it will also be a loss. The mill has heavy damage, the old church has a crack all the way up to the top of the steeple, the supervalue is a total loss, the air port has heavy damage and all the planes were destroyed, most of the down town is too damaged to repair. I would say that about a 1/4 of the houses are too far gone, and another 1/4 are too damaged to live in. the rest have holes in their roofs, busted windows, damaged siding, and no power. The semi shop is gone! Also the Ag vise is a total loss. its bad

69bronzeT5 · August 30, 2007, 05:48:41 PM

The 2nd to last pic (the middle one) with all the bent and mangeled cars in the field....holy crap!!!

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 05:52:25 PM

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red72chrgr · August 30, 2007, 06:42:36 PM

Looks very bad, hope those folks can start over somewhere if not there. Those cars are repairable. I'm amazed that blue Ford p/u survived.

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 06:45:21 PM

Trust me, the buick is TOAST! a beam came down on top of it! It was mint!

69bronzeT5 · August 30, 2007, 07:09:52 PM

all the classics look fixable...that Buick, not more than a parts car now

Silver R/T · August 30, 2007, 07:13:17 PM

people know that the particular area gets hit hard, why do they still live there? I think its time to move on.

TruckDriver · August 30, 2007, 10:07:54 PM

Looks like that Dodge Fire truck took a direct hit. Still in pretty good shape all things considered. That old white Ford truck by the mill looks like it was missed too.

Mean 318 · August 30, 2007, 11:24:07 PM

The town has been there for over 100 years and never a tornado... New Orleans is almost surrounded by water, in an area prone to hurricanes, below sea level!

The Dodge had to be dug out... the building came down on top of it. The roof took a hit, and there was a dent on the hood. It did better then the other trucks.

bull · August 30, 2007, 11:57:24 PM

Wow! That's some serious carnage. What damage rating did they give that twister?

Mean 318 · August 31, 2007, 09:11:20 AM

F 4

HAZZARDJOHN · August 31, 2007, 11:14:59 AM

Quote from: Silver R/T on August 30, 2007, 07:13:17 PM
people know that the particular area gets hit hard, why do they still live there? I think its time to move on.

That might be the single most ignorant thing I have ever read on here. My family is From that area going back over 100 Years and not once have they been hit with a tornado. The odds of getting hit this hard are minimal, but it does happen. Where do you live that you think you can escape mother nature's Wrath? It's not comparable to building a million dollar home in a Flood plane, or since the Katrina bubbles already been popped, building your city in a soup bowl surrounded by water.

~HJ

Silver R/T · August 31, 2007, 11:57:42 AM

where I live climate is very good, we don't get hit hard with anything at all.
In the past 10 years I lived here only had one minor earthquake that most people wouldn't even know about unless they talked about it on the news.

Mean 318 · August 31, 2007, 10:57:14 PM

Well good for you!

69bronzeT5 · September 01, 2007, 12:35:01 AM

Quote from: HAZZARDJOHN on August 31, 2007, 11:14:59 AM
building your city in a soup bowl surrounded by water.

Is it just me or why can I see Silver try to attempt that?

Bandit72 · September 03, 2007, 10:12:50 PM

those grain bin pictures remind me of a few years ago where a tornado caught the corner of a town near me (no residential property was hurt) but those big bins are actually "sucked in" like that...due to major pressure changes really quick....pretty interesting i thought

RECHRGD · September 04, 2007, 04:49:38 PM

Quote from: Silver R/T on August 31, 2007, 11:57:42 AM
where I live climate is very good, we don't get hit hard with anything at all.
In the past 10 years I lived here only had one minor earthquake that most people wouldn't even know about unless they talked about it on the news.

Silver--You must have just missed the ICE STORM about 10 or 11 years ago. I was without power for 17 days in the middle of winter and lost about 20% of the marketable timber on my property. People in town had trees coming down on their houses. You can't avoid Mother Nature. BTW, I just learned last week that a guy I worked with grew up in that town and still has family back there. They received substantial damage, but no injurys. Bob

Todd Wilson · September 05, 2007, 12:12:10 AM

Quote from: Bandit72 on September 03, 2007, 10:12:50 PM
those grain bin pictures remind me of a few years ago where a tornado caught the corner of a town near me (no residential property was hurt) but those big bins are actually "sucked in" like that...due to major pressure changes really quick....pretty interesting i thought

You are right! Things implode not explode during a twister. In my buddys house you could hear the roar start and the air pressure change pickup. Like being in an airplane on take off but times 100. Gets to where your ears hurt and you think maybe something is gonna pop and the KABANG! The house lets go and all hell breaks loose inside the house. Everything implodes and then after that its noise and shake and stuff flying around hitting things inside and outside and then the roar leaves and its overwith all in about 20 seconds.

Todd

Steve P. · September 05, 2007, 02:01:47 AM

If there is anything good about this, at least most everything is where it started off. A few years ago when we got pounded by hurricane after hurricane you could not tell where anything started, belonged or ended. It was total devastation for miles and miles.. Much of the worst hit area is still not rebuilt. Much like the Katrina hit areas.

You never want to piss off your mother or MOTHER NATURE...

Todd Wilson · September 07, 2007, 02:45:42 AM

Its gonna be a long night. Its 2:40am. At 2:30am I was just awaken to the loud crash of thunder as a storm starts to roll through. After the loud thunder I lay in bed half asleep and suddenly I hear it. The sirens are going off! I am out of bed like a shot and after a few minutes the sirens go off. I guess they malfunctioned due to the lightning.Everyone is back to sleep and I am awake and ready for the next ass whoopin from mother nature! The small storm has about passed!

Todd

hemi68charger · September 07, 2007, 10:37:39 AM

Dang,, that's some serious damage !!!!!

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Tornado! Now with pics