Day After

Waking up to see the coverage this morning from Joplin and hearing the then confirmed 89 deaths brought the realization that this tornado was a monster.  Pictures can only show so much.  There is just no way you can possibly imagine what these people went through.  I haven't really gone looking for video.  The one that is taken by chasers is wrapped in rain and debris making it difficult to see.  And the one taken by somebody in a convenience store is frightening.   I'm not putting it on here. 

Now the death toll is at 116.  Incredible.  It is now one of the deadliest tornadoes in history.  I heard talk about warning time for this storm and think, what warning time?  You have a storm 1/2 mile wide, with winds near 200 miles per hour.  Assuming you hear the warning or siren at the exact moment it goes out, and you take it seriously, you probably had 15 minutes.  Let's give another 5 to 10 minutes to get ready, whether it is running to get the kids, helping the frightened family pet, grabbing the important documents and everything else that goes through ones head knowing hell is approaching.  What are we taught to do next?  Go to the basement or an interior part of the home, stay away from windows, protect your head and try to get under a heavy object.  You would have had to be surrounded by a concrete bubble to stay protected in this storm. 

I would never want to know what it was like for what I can only assume was thousands of residents hiding in pitch black just trying to make it out alive.  That is what makes these things so insane.  As people woke, tended church or enjoyed a Sunday afternoon away from the office, nobody had a clue what was about to happen.  And it took only minutes.  Minutes for lives to be forever changed.  Years before a community can heal.  This story is far from over and I hope to continue to keep up with it long after the news crew move out.

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Unfortunately tomorrow is looking like another day for more tornadoes.  This time the states of Kansas and Oklahoma appear to be in the bull's-eye. 

The current risk threat for storms tomorrow.  This Moderate zone will likely change to High.

Tomorrow is one of those where situations.  There will be tornadoes and probably quite a few.  The best hope is that they move over farm land and not into populated areas. 

Based off all the weather information I've seen regarding tomorrow's potential outbreak, here is my own map of the areas I believe to be most impacted.  The orange box is an area that is likely to see strong storms and tornadoes.  The pink box is the area I think in the most prime spot to see violent, strong, numerous tornadoes.

Again, we see large populated areas potential within my map including Tulsa and Wichita.  Note that on the eastern side of the map, Joplin, Missouri once again might be facing strong storms.