How people can deny climate change/global warming is beyond me.

[stoney321]

I've heard from crazydiamondsue on her FB page, so if any of y'all don't follow her there, she's fine, her home/family are all safe. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, it's about the two mile wide tornado that touched down in OKC about an hour ago. Winds of 200 MPH, which is something like forty squillion in metric, I can't remember the conversion.

We've been fortunate over the years to live in Tornado Alley and not be touched by any [knocks on wood] but I remember tornadoes on the street outside our front door, another one in the playground of my elementary school.

But those were Wizard of Oz tiny twisters ["It's a twistah! It's a twistah!" Never did understand that Bronx boy farming in Kansas...] and this one from today is like the CGI affair at the end of that stupid movie, "Twister." And these aren't CGI.

Is this what it's going to take to get the hardliners in the Flyover States to accept that the bunk they've been fed about global warming has been wrong? Gah.

Blah blah game of thrones on HDJM blah. I'm going to make sure our tornado shelter has what we need, just in case. Man, the one that hit DFW a few days ago gave the locals something like one minute to hear the siren before it hit, it formed so fast.

Comments

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

Relieved you're okay! Two miles wide, OMG. And they say more of this weather to come. Crazy and scary. Stay safe. Oh, look, I used a Darylism and I didn't even mean to. ;-)

[fiveandfour.livejournal.com]

I was in Oklahoma during a couple of twisters some years back...it was pretty terrifying. I think there's a tendency to underplay how destructive and dangerous they can be, though probably not by any person who has lived through one. I'm glad to hear that crazydiamondsue is ok. I was just reading in an insurance journal this morning that Property insurance companies are expecting this year's tornado season to be a particularly active one, so it sounds like what's happened in the last couple of days is just the beginning of what promises to be some very scary months.

My husband was recently on a road trip through the flyover states. Everywhere he went he heard, "Oh you're so lucky to be traveling now with this good weather. It snowed more this winter and spring than I can ever remember it snowing before."

Then one lady followed up the snow statement with, "The scientists will say that's because of the global warming, but we all know that's not true."

He couldn't think of a thing to say, he was just that surprised and taken aback. Then figured there was no point arguing with her so just shook his head and walked away.

I kind of believe there's absolutely NOTHING that can be said or shown to the non-believers to turn their minds around. It's just easier to believe it's all a consiracy theory made up to screw with the American way of life, I guess.

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Laura Anne <3! I was going to post, but my emotions are still all over the place. All of our close friends in south OKC have checked in. All are fine; one lost a home and one has parents who have lost a home. 37 confirmed dead so far -- 9 of those are small children who were in the Plaza Towers Elementary school. I keep thinking of sending Jonah to school tomorrow and I'm shaking. We are somewhat protected in north inner city by our little valley and the buildings. It is always Moore to the south (devastated in 1999, devastated today), Yukon to the west and Edmond to the north that are hit and buffer the storm from OKC proper. So many people are out helping, though, and I keep trying to focus on that. So many people opening their homes and businesses and cooking meals and taking cases of water and collecting clothes already. But the loss is terrible, even with Oklahoma's pioneering weather systems and forewarning system. Nature is mighty, and it is changing.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

My thoughts are with all of you there. <3

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

Thank you, FM! This is going to be a hard loss for the City to recover, and those parents, I have no words.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

Really, really glad to hear you're OK. Thank you Laura for posting the news. How are things in the surrounding area, OKC as a whole? Do you have power? I assume since you posted this that you must have some access to electricity but I figured that the city infrastructure must be affected. Give Jonah an extra squeeze from me. And hugs to you and Eddie too.

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

We have power here on the north side; other than some downed tree limbs, we're all systems normal. Parts of west OKC and almost all of south OKC, especially the Moore suburb, have lost power. Moore is also out of water, which has been a huge problem with fires resulting from the tornado. People are trapped in neighborhoods and others are unable to get into their neighborhoods to check on their homes and pets. So many families are still separated. We are taking some things to our church here on the northside today to be taken south; we're trying to stay off the south side roads because they're so blocked with flipped cars and abandoned cars and first responders and military trying to get through. Love you, Anne. <3

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

It is so so so scary.

[lynnenne]

TWO MILES WIDE. Holy crap, I didn't even think tornadoes could get that big. I'm glad Sue is okay! Thanks for letting us know.

<3

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your friend is safe.
My thoughts and prayers are with all the people affected by this tragedy.

[dovil.livejournal.com]

If I was a newscaster every there was a huge weather event I would slam my hands down on the desk and yell "It's global warming, assholes!".

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

321.9 kilometers/hour. Insane. o.O