When bad weather is predicted, I never know what’s real and what’s hype so I figure I’ll just assume it’s real and be ready. I’ll never forget the night I spent in a cabin on the lake with the tornado in Joplin and I had no idea where I was (what county I was in) or which way the storm was headed. No cell phone service . . alone in that little cabin and I seriously thought my time was up. That night left me with a pretty hefty fear and appreciation for severe weather.
Texas Storm Chasers is where I go for severe weather updates. Apparently there are lots of us depending on them today as their sight has been down more than it’s been up due to heavy traffic.
Oklahoma City to Wichita, KS looks like it’s going to get the worst of it so I hope everyone in those areas has a safe place to go.
We’ve taken down all the bird feeders and anything that could be blown through a window. The cars are pulled as far under the carport as we can get them.
Grab & Go Bags
My bags are refreshed! A few changes of clothes, dry shoes, prescriptions, Kindle, a charger that can work off the solar charger, the car charger or electricity, dog food, dog leashes, dog pills, toiletries . . everything we need for a few days. It isn’t much but it would keep me going a couple of days til I could get something. Again I’m reminded of Joplin when so many people lost everything and the mall was shut down . . the entire city was shut down so what they escaped with was all they had til the Red Cross and other relief organizations arrived.
Please remember that it doesn’t take much for us to lose power here and without electricity, we have no internet, no home phone and no cell service so don’t worry if you don’t hear from me. Even if the news isn’t reporting horrible weather in my area, we could still be without power.
We’ll be fine . . we may just be out of touch for a few days.
Vickie VanDyken says
Wow that’s scary. Glad your so organized and I’ll be saying prayers for you, if we hear from you or not. Best to you.
Liz says
Yes – I’m ready for the storm, though my go bag is not by the door, yet. The good thing about the OKC area TV stations is that they have the latest in radar and assorted programs as well as a ton of stormchasers on the ground and in the air.
What’s nice is that all of the radio stations are linked to a TV station, so if you are driving you are forced to get the weather. Some of the school districts gave the kids a weather day or let them out early since the weather is supposed to hit central OK in the 3-10 pm time frame. Everyone is remembering the last F5 storm through Moore and all the schools that were destroyed.
Well, time to get the bag ready and check out the yard. They just issued the tornado watch for my area. Hang on to your hats!
Dottie N. says
It does look like it’s going to be nasty where it does hit- glad y’all are all prepared and HOPING/PRAYING that it isn’t as bad as the way it is looking.
Tina in NJ says
Stay safe, Judy. That post from the Joplin storm was how I found you. I was riveted.
Teresa F. says
My grab & go bags also contain any loose money, credit, debit & gift cards, checkbooks and unused checks, a folder containing important papers & documents, a small plastic box that contains negatives of all our photos (pre digital camera era), a few irreplaceable old photos that don’t have negatives, all meds, small radio & batteries, flashlights and a few sentimental items that can fit in. My purse is right with the bags and will have all sets of keys for cars and house.
Hope everyone is prepared and will be safe.
Vicky says
I think I called you during the tornado thing to see if you were okay. The first thing you said was to call Vince because you couldn’t get through to him. I called him, introduced myself and told him you were fine, and we had a nice chat. Funny looking back at it that I was in California telling him you were okay!
Ruth says
I would like to read the blog post about the time spent in a cabin on a lake while Joplin was hit by tornadoes. Would you post a link to that one, please, Judy? I have friends in Dallas and Fort Worth who are hunkering down tonight.
I read your blog several times a day. It feels so friendly! Thank you for your blog!!