I've lived here in Oklahoma my entire life, and for some reason...I always forget: "It is real."
Those of you who live in the Midwest will know what I am talking about.
Tornadoes. We've grown up with them, we have seen the devastation first-hand, we have lost loved ones and everything we own, and somehow, every year, it doesn't seem real. Until storm season.
Today started just like any other April day. It's been raining off and on with some thunder here and there for a few days now. The weather mentioned that we would be having some weather that we should be "situationally aware of," but I just brushed it off as nothing. You can divide Okies into two groups: People that are deathly afraid of anything that even resembles a storm...and people that want to grab a beer and stand in their yard and watch it rip shit up.
I fall somewhere in between. I'm not afraid, but I don't want to watch it either. I am pretty good at taking it as it is. People blowing up Facebook about storms we have dealt with our entire lives is annoying to me...but I just ignore it and go on. I understand that not everyone has a good understanding of what storms actually are, or how they behave.
I happen to work in an industry (one of a few of my jobs, at least) in which I have to constantly be monitoring the weather. I have taken storm tracking classes, etc. I'd like to think I am overall, pretty prepared. I am in charge of relaying important information, and Heaven forbid something does happen, I also help facilitate evacuations.
What I have the hardest time with, is the emotional overload of others. Their fear, tears, and concerns weigh on me. I put on a brave face, I try to keep them calm, and when it is all said and done, the adrenaline rush is so high that it's all I can do not to melt down.
Two towns about 10-15 minutes from me had their main streets basically leveled today by a tornado. My coworker lives in one of they towns. He couldn't get a hold of his family, and when he finally did, they had just dug his aunt and uncle out of their basement. On top of that, he wasn't even sure if he would get to go home because they were evacuating people because of a broken gas line. It was an all-around stressful evening. If you're not familiar with a tornado, maybe you remember the 2011 tornado in Joplin Mo, 30 miles from me, or the one just last year in Moore, Ok. Google it. It's unfathomable to most, but I will describe it as this: There was a town that I grew up around. I knew it like the back of my hand. When a tornado went through in 2007, I am not exaggerating, all that was left was sidewalk. I literally could not tell where I was, or what used to be where I was standing. That is an eerie feeling. Nothing in the world makes you feel so small as seeing your surroundings completely devastated. Two people died today. 10 minutes from me.
I don't mean to be sappy...but hug your children. Hug your mother. Hug your best friend that you aren't talking to today because of some silly spat. Sometimes we have warnings. Sometimes we don't. Generally, a "Tornado Warning" is issued, and we have time to prepare. This tornado, that took lives, literally came out of nowhere. No notice. No time to react. Within about 5 minutes, both towns were devastated. You never know when it's going to be your last moment.
I am thankful that I am here. That I am alive. That I can write this now. I am thankful for people that checked on me, from all over the country when they saw the news.
Prayers and thoughts for the families affected by this evening's tragedies.
Goodnight, and God bless.
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