Tornadoes... in July?

Have you all had bad weather lately? Well, the photo above tells what happened here. Around 6 PM CST on the 14th, the sky turned dark and suddenly the wind got really strong. Next came the down pouring rain and then we heard a loud cracking noise. After it was all over, we discovered this huge downed limb from our cherished Bradford Pear tree. The wind took-out nearly the whole backside of this tree, barely missing our utility shed. The whole storm lasted only a few minutes. Other people in this county suffered much worse damage, but thank God no one was injured or lost their life. The local weather station had released a severe weather alert, but did not detect the two tornadoes until after the fact. We suspect that one of those tornadoes dipped down and caused this [sudden] damage to our tree. Mother's television cable line was snapped by the tip of this limb, so until a tree service can get over here, the cable company cannot install a new line. Somehow, the utilities line that was side by side with the television cable line did not snap. We are so thankful that this downed line did not start a fire. Here in Alabama we usually do not get tornadoes in July, as they typically occur in the Spring. Hoping that you all are safe and are staying cool in this intense Summer heat.

Alabama storms in April

What a night it was. We do live in Alabama, where much damage and even some fatalities have happened. The photo above was made by me around 7 PM last night, just as that particular [storm] cell was moving into our area. It was three years ago on Sunday that the EF4 and EF5 storms ravaged the South. Last night was a grim reminder of that day. No one in our family was injured, and we pray for those who were injured and/or have lost loved ones. The property damage is also extensive, and many people are without utilities. Governor Bentley has declared every county in Alabama to be in a state of emergency. We also pray for those in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and elsewhere who have suffered severe weather conditions. Meteorologists are already warning our area that by noon more storms will be moving in. Everyone please stay safe and take cover asap if your area is in danger; do not wait around until it is too late. Remember if you must take cover to wear protective head coverings such as bike or football helmets if you have them. If you are in a mobile home or other metal structure building, please allow plenty of time to get to a safe place. Two of the fatalities in our area were people inside a mobile home...

On another important note: CBS News© is reporting a security gap in Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 (the current version). Microsoft© is to release a patch tomorrow. So for now, use another browser, friends. 'Hope you all have reputable security systems with firewalls on your computers.

~Sending-out Happy 2nd Birthday Wishes to great-nephew Linus , for tomorrow~

Alabama storms

I have not been online for a while. I live in Alabama, and we have been ravaged with storms. My family is OK, and we pray for those who did lose loved ones. Thousands still do not have power, and won't for a few more days. We are lucky our power is back on.

These were multiple EF4 and EF5 tornadoes, destructing simultaneously. We had no power, cell phone service, or internet for many hours in my town. Stores in nearby Tennessee are having waiting lines for people needing food and gasoline. Keep in mind that gasoline pumps run on electricity, and chainsaws to cut these fallen uprooted trees run on gasoline. Some trees are weak, and are falling after the fact. There was damage about one mile from our house, but none to our house. Our yard is flooded, but luckily our house is built up on bricks off the ground. Some gasoline stores are even price-gouging with reports of up to 14 cents increase per gallon. Luckily, water systems are working and generators are in place. Curfews are in place, and sadly looting is happening.

The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant was damaged, and this is the hook-up for many of the utilities services here in the Tennessee Valley. President Obama is to arrive tomorrow, and Alabama was declared a state of emergency yesterday. Mother and I have a basement where we went for safety. We were stocked-up on batteries and water, and some snack foods. She also had all her medical prescriptions filled and did not miss any doses. Please pray for us, especially the people who are so much worse off.