"It's a Tornado!"
A steady beep in the distance, “Is that my alarm? Why did I set my alarm?” I thought, groggy with asleep.
Then I heard crashing, pelting and rumbling outside. It dawned on me, “I’m in Tennessee, at Jeannie’s!”
I jumped out of bed as I pulled out my soft, waxy earplugs. Instantly, the sound from outside increased in violence! I crossed, quickly to the window and pulled up the white, wooden blinds. Nothing I’ve ever experienced attacked with such vengeance. I couldn’t see past the dense sheet of heavy balls of hail and forceful rain. Havoc was taking place outside.
Then I heard a distinctive, sound of warning come through the pounding storm. I knew it was a tornado horn.
I ran downstairs to get my sister and her husband. As soon as I got there, their phone rang. Their daughter, Tara, was calling them to tell them to take shelter right away.
I ran back upstairs to get Mom. She was already up. She felt her bed shaking twice and got up. Everyone headed for the basement and waited.
In less than an hour the tornado had already headed away from us. The house and the yard suffered some damage.
The neighborhood was littered with tree branches. Many enormous trees were pulled out with their roots. There were cement-anchored fence posts yanked from the ground and telephone poles toppled with their wires.
I’m not happy with my reaction to this emergency. I never should have gone downstairs without Mom. The time I wasted could have made the difference between life and death. There was a lot of damage to the roof above where my mom was sleeping.
None of us were hurt. But, there’s always “What if…”
What if I had missed my chance to get Mom down from the third floor to safety in time? I didn’t trust my natural instinct. It was telling me there was immediate danger and I questioned it. I took control away from my instinct and gave in to reasoning.
I’m glad I don’t have to suffer the consequences of the tornado pulling off the entire roof, harming or killing Mom. The force of Mother Nature is unimaginable. It would be nice in an emergency scenario, in the future, if I could trust my instinct.
My phone alerted me of danger. Everything I saw and heard signaled danger. I hope I can learn from this mistake. I know I smile at my good fortune. Mom is fine.
My sister's grandson, Kaleb, (three years old) was talking about the "Tormato". He described how his dad grabbed him and he was walking in the air because his feet were off the ground. His sister, Isabelle (five years old) and Kaleb had MANY questions the next day about the "Tormato".
My sister's grandson, Kaleb, (three years old) was talking about the "Tormato". He described how his dad grabbed him and he was walking in the air because his feet were off the ground. His sister, Isabelle (five years old) and Kaleb had MANY questions the next day about the "Tormato".
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