A Very Violent Spring in the Midwest

I've always said that one of the things I miss living here in New York is the dramatic Spring weather in my native Texas and in the Midwest where I lived for many years.

Now, I'm not so sure I miss it much anymore. Lately, I'm grateful to be far away from it.

My mother and my brother went through an exciting night last night watching a small tornado rip through some transformers south of their neighborhood, along with golf-ball sized hail.

And then there's what Joplin, MO just went through with the number of dead still to be finally determined, but certain to be more than anyone can bear.

These YouTubes are all the more terrifying to me for being familiar. I've seen a few tornados in my time, and spent a couple of occasions curled up on the floor of hallways away from windows
I've never seen or been through anything like this, and I hope I never do.

Here is video shot by one of the people in a convenience store as the tornado hit. There's not much to see, but what you hear is terrifying. So far as I know, everyone in this video made it out safe. This is very frightening.

And here is that same store the next day.



Joplin will never be the same again.

Here is the Red Cross link. Please be generous.