As we were packing the car to leave for Arkansas, I had two different friends call me to tell me to be careful because the weather was going to be bad there. I had Chad grab three flashlights. I had one in my purse and one in the car and I couldn’t help but remember that night – May 22, 2011 – when I was in a cabin at Shell Knob – on the MO/AR line, when the tornado hit Joplin and we weren’t quite sure which direction it was headed. This trip to Arkansas was the first time since then that I’ve been in a cabin on a lake. I wasn’t worried but the thought did cross my mind.
I had the windows open in the bedroom where Addie and I were sleeping. On Saturday night, we went to bed with a tornado watch where we were. Northwest Arkansas had tornado warnings. Several friends thought we were in NW AR and were writing and texting for us to be careful.
About 1 a.m. the thunder woke me up but it moved through quickly. Several cell phones were on chargers so I got up and unplugged those. There was no weather radio, I don’t think any of us had our cell phones on so . . we slept through whatever happened.
Looking at the news, it looks like the weather was crazy in lots of places, including not far from our house but Vince said it never got bad at home. I know he would have known because Rita is about the only weather alarm we need.
It all confirmed for me that we need a basement with a safe room!
dezertsuz says
Definitely protect yourself if you’re going to live in tornado country!