What a night. There was a line of storms earlier in the evening that they said would be sliding to the North...then, as nature does, the line shifted and started moving due East...and then it intensified.
It was at the farm in no time. The red pushpin above is the exact location of the farm and the darkest color is the most intense storm. Then suddenly there was a radar indicated tornado over the town nearest to the farm! Our phones were blowing up with urgent weather alerts. We texted 2nd Family and they had just seen the alerts going off as well and were getting in a hallway under a mattress. She said it was getting pretty scary out there. About 30 minutes later, that same storm was coming into the Houston area. Now we were under the gun for the intense weather. As it moved into the city, we got this message:
ALERTHOUSTON
Tornado Warning in Effect for Houston
Weather Information
The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for all of Houston until 10:15PM. This means a tornado has been spotted on weather radar and/or by trained professionals.
Protective Actions
People within the affected area should SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. Take Action as there is an imminent danger to life and property. A tornado is coming.
Get In: Get inside a sturdy structure, find shelter in an interior room, away from windows.
Get Low: Seek shelter on the lowest floor possible, or underground, if possible.
Hold On: Grab on to a sturdy object and hold on.
It was pretty intense here in town too, though not as much as we imagine it was out there at the farm. We got in touch with them to see how they were. She said it was a lot of lightning, some hail, some strong wind and a LOT of rain. The yard was flooded. The tornadic storm rolled over the entire distance from West of the farm all the way across Houston and off to the East in about an hour and a half. Haven't yet heard of any major damage. Lots of power outages around town.
"J" said she would walk around our house tomorrow and check it out. We fear for the garden and/or the fruit trees in the heavy rain & wind. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
Later in the evening, she texted after it passed through and said "so...when we get both our houses done, do y'all want to go in halfsies on a storm shelter?"
Storm shelter is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteAt least everyone is safe.
Living in a mobile home; I wish we had one in our yard. Living in Iowa we had basements to go to but here in Texas you will find very few homes with basements. Soil here; they just don't put basements in. Many people that build homes now will have a shelter put in, in a corner of their garage. The house may be destroyed but the storm shelter is still standing.
Yeah, growing up I lived in states where we had basements but alas, rare here. There are a couple in really old homes in the Heights area of Houston but overtime we have lots of rain, they start leaking.
DeleteWe'd like to have one at the farm, we'd have to go with steel or fiberglass so they don't leak of course then we have to worry about them popping out of the ground when it's really wet. It'll take some research ha. The above ground ones are nice too but being born in Oklahoma, I have below ground shelters in my blood, ha.
great googly moogly! glad to hear you and your family members are safe.
ReplyDeleteLOL, thank you for the well wishes. We're all good. Fingers crossed for the plants at the farm.
DeleteSame storm came through here too. So much lightening and thunder, sleep was impossible. And, more rain to come - oh goodie.
ReplyDeleteWe were supposed to have a lot of rain today but it didn't come. Now they say tomorrow we might get a lot more. Sigh. Hang in there it might be on the way there.
Deletewow...glad you are okay!
ReplyDeleteWhen a huge major city gets a tornado warning, we all pay attention, ha. Thank you!
DeleteIt was a dark and very stormy night. I didn’t get much sleep because of all the lightning and thunder. It moved over this area and just stayed and kept training for hours – we got 5.5 inches. There is water standing everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so scary for 2nd Family, having to get in the hallway under a mattress. A shared storm shelter sounds like a very good idea.
I checked my garden and it’s alright. It's at the back of the lot, which is higher, so water is not standing in it. Hoping your garden survived, especially with the hail and strong winds.
I thought my fall-winter garden was finished but was surprised to find a huge cauliflower. So I made a big pot of cauliflower soup today which tastes so good on this rainy day.
We KNOW you didn't get much sleep you are in the really bad part of the storm. Glad you cam through ok. How cool is the large cauliflower, in MAY?!?! You know it was even cool for a couple of days. Just saw tonight, more rain coming tomorrow, sigh. Stay dry.
DeleteWe have an ancient root cellar we used as a storm shelter for years, until it became unsafe. Now we don't have anywhere to shelter during a strong storm; the house is modular and is not safe. The next place will definitely have a basement or a shelter.
ReplyDeleteOh I'd always love to have a root cellar. But yeah, I know they don't always last. One of our options for a house out there is a modular and we'd really like to have a shelter of some sort and some point. Especially with our hurricane seasons, they spin off tornadoes and of course high winds are always happening. You all stay safe!!!
DeleteI had a basement for 40 years and I feel less safe now. When I have a storm shelter, I do not want to have to run through wind, rain, and lightning. I like the metal ones that Lowe's sells for the garage or carport or inside the home.
ReplyDeleteWe have not had rain for about four days, not a drop, and none is expected for at least 8 days. I high pressure is holding your rain off us, I hear.
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