The Big Tornado

[kentucky yeti]

We get them regularly. I've never seen anything like what we got last night. It missed us by a few miles, yet I have a trampoline, lots of insulation and twisted sheet metal, a blanket and so much more debris in my yard and in the road. I volunteered all night after our warning was over. Just 10 minutes down the road looks like a nuclear bomb exploded. So many homes totally missing. Cars and trucks everywhere. Nursing home and a factory were direct hits. They are still pulling people out of the factory. It started at the edge of Arkansas, hit the Missouri bootheel, crossed NW Tennessee and did a long run through SW Kentucky. Over 100 miles and 4 states of devastation. We got almost all of it. I'm 60, and this is the first time I've ever has a case of nerves. So far 50 confirmed deaths. It's going to be more. I am drained emotionally right now.

 

[Bob Wright]

Thank God that storm passed us with no damage or loss of power in our house. We watched the news up until around 10:30 p.m. then went to bed. Around midnight I heard the sound of a jet taking off, only it never passed over. I recognized that sound from the windstorm that hit Memphis around 1993. I looked out and the wind was so strong that the rain looked like dust. Some trees are down and power is out in some localities.

I am unable to help other than offer my prayers to those who have lost so much. Glad you are safe.

Bob Wright

 

[hittman]

Our little town missed it too but not far south is where the Amazon warehouse / distribution thing got hit and collapsed. Last I heard there were about 100 at work there …. 2 known dead ….. local first responders calling it a “mass casualty incident”.

 

[Cholo]

kentuckyyeti, I'm glad you and your family are okay!

 

[Watchman]

Prayers sent for the victims and the survivors. May the casualties be lighter than expected.

 

[contender]

"Prayers sent for the victims and the survivors. May the casualties be lighter than expected."

^^^^^THIS^^^^^^

 

[got2hav1]

Terrible damage , praying for all .

 

[Johnnu2]

Glad you're safe; checked with my niece in Lexington and they missed it completely she said.

I went thru one in Va in the 60's with minimal damage to my car; then, I lost my apartment when I lived in Mn in the 70's. You never forget those hits.

Prayers up for all who were hit and for those who are helping them survive.

J.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Prayers come from SoCal for all the survivors. I've never been around tornadoes, but my parents were from KS and the family did tell some stories. Scary stuff...

Rick C

 

[jimd441]

Prayers sent for the victims and the survivors. May the casualties be lighter than expected.. Yes!

Jim

 

[ProfessorWes]

We were lucky here at Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks: Nasty severe thunderstorms, but the tornadoes they spawned were (not all that far) east and south of us. The thirty-five-mile long commute home for me from Lebanon to Osage Beach last night was interesting, though: like driving through the stream from a giant fire hose the whole way. Literally tried to wash me right off the road, and I had to dodge a fair amount of storm debris. And even after the storms, the winds didn't begin to die down until daybreak.

Been following the horrible news from St. Louis, downstate IL and KY today. Dear God.

 

[gramps]

The storms were to the West of my place by 20-30 miles. A bit of rain, 20-40 mph winds from Mn on. I have nurse friends in the Mayfield, Ky area that weren’t directly hit, but without electric. My prayers also for those impacted.
gramps

 

[Fox Mike]

My prayers to all involved. Having been displaced by one once I know just how terrible and terrifying they are.

 

[lolbell]

Prayers for all those affected, both victims and rescue workers

 

[vito]

I've been through a small tornado and can only imagine how bad it must be to go through a big one, even if everyone survives. Hoping for the best for those still concerned about missing loved ones.

 

[powder smoke]

Prayers sent! ps

 

[AzGeno]

Prayers to all the families. The news videos of damage are unbelievable.

 

[kentucky yeti]

Prayers to all the families. The news videos of damage are unbelievable.

Sound like a cliche, but honest- it is so much worse on the ground than in the pictures. There are times when I don't even know which building we are at; the debris is non-stop and nothing that I've seen for 60 years is recognizable at the center of the storm path.

 

[Mag-force]

My prayers sent for everyone. Sad situation

 

[Mike J]

Prayers

 

[JPGLSG1234]

Prayers to all the families. The news videos of damage are unbelievable.

Sound like a cliche, but honest- it is so much worse on the ground than in the pictures. There are times when I don't even know which building we are at; the debris is non-stop and nothing that I've seen for 60 years is recognizable at the center of the storm path.

Yeti

Could you provide any information on a in town local charity that we might be able to get a check off to. I'm sure there are some fixed income folks out there that find them selves in the middle of this fiasco.

Glad you are one of the lucky ones.

Jim

 

[kentucky yeti]

Yeti

Could you provide any information on a in town local charity that we might be able to get a check off to. I'm sure there are some fixed income folks out there that find them selves in the middle of this fiasco.

Glad you are one of the lucky ones.

Jim

The governor and the state have set up a fund for this area. Thanks for asking.

https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief

Mail-in donations at this address:



Satellite before/after pics of Mayfield

https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2021/12/12/1063449899/tornado-damage-before-and-after-images?fbclid=IwAR1BgSZZSUkUWw7MD2XM7FpgDrvjy90QlsVdILnOnMikyirES8Tv1e4RJSo

 

[JPGLSG1234]

Thanks Yeti

The Gleason clan will get a check off in the mail soonest. God bless all those folks.

 

[Cholo]

I simply don't have the words when it comes to all the destruction, misery and death that tornado caused. I know what it's like because my town took a direct hit from an F-4 on April 27, 2011. I only had to replace my roof...

I look at the destruction in Mayfield, KY, and surrounding areas, and I'm just speechless. It's worse than what we went through. For those who havn't experienced a catastrophe like this whether by tornado, hurricane or earthquake--you can't possibly imagine.

kentuckyyeti, I have a pretty good feeling what you're going through, either now or you will in the future.

Your family will cry. You will, too, if you havn't. My next door neighbor lost 6 family members in our F-4, but it goes even beyond that in ways. Landmarks are gone, never to be seen again. You won't know which street is which because your knowledge of that street is based on landmarks, not a line on a map. You hurt deeply for those who are really hurting. If a disaster doesn't bring out the best in a person, you (meaning anyone) ain't wired right.

Once almost all of the debris is removed, there's still debris that will never be cleaned up because some can't be seen. I remember getting a flat on my motorcycle shortly after the tornado, and got another one about 6 month later in the same tire. It was from road debris being hauled away and falling on the road.

You'll be able to see straight through the town when once you couldn't. It will stay that way. 10 years from now you'll still be able to see the path the tornado took. Slowly he trees that were snapped in half and completely defoliated will have new leaves, and it will become greener. Structures will be replaced. You almost feel good about it. It's coming back.

Yet, every time you come around that curve, or in my case crest the hill, and look at what once was, you'll be reminded of what happened on Dec. 10, 2021. It will never be the same.

 

[kentucky yeti]

Today I found a photo in our field. A man and a lady standing in front of the Alamo. I posted it on the newly-made "Quad State Tornado Found Items" site- solely for this tornado's path through Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky.. It is dedicated to returning items large and small to their owners. Almost immediately I had two hits, then more over the next 10 minutes. All said who the people were in the photo. They have contacted me, and tomorrow I am mailing the photo to its home in Monette, ARKANSAS! That's how far this photo was carried.

 

[Rick Courtright]

tomorrow I am mailing the photo to its home in Monette, ARKANSAS! That's how far this photo was carried.

Hi,

One news report I saw today said debris had reached an altitude of 30,000 ft and traveled over 200 miles laterally. Unbelievable...

Rick C

 

[rugerguy]

Thoughts and prayers to ALL the families, and to the many workers trying to help out, please be careful..........totally unimagineable,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[contender]

I'm still stunned by the devastation I see in the many pictures.

Sometimes the worst of things also brings out the best in people. It's true,, that the areas & people affected by this natural disaster will never be the same. Yet,, I think Cholo's post above says it quite well.

And when someone said the other day (on a local website thing,, that Miss Penny saw,,) that God caused this,, I had her reply for me. I said,, :No God didn't cause this,, it was the Devil. God is the one providing the healing & the good in the people that have stepped up to help."

I figured someone of the local ilk & warped mindset in Trasheville had to have posted that.

God provided many miracles during this event,, and we all know that many more will come to light. It's all the prayers & good will by those of us who can offer whatever that proves the strength of God in these terrible times.

 

[Watchman]

Has anyone heard from Tallbald, Don? I know he lives pretty close to Bowling Green Kentucky, and I tried to message him a couple days ago to see of he's OK. Still no response.

Pray for Don, and all those in the devastated area.

 

[Kevin]

I’ve been wondering about Don (Tallbald) myself. I haven’t seen any posts from him in a while. I hope he wasn’t affected by these tornados.