tornado

[Birky]

Just to let you all know that I am located 4 miles from the tornado that hit Utica, Illinois. I was standing at my door in Peru watching the hail and the sirens went off. Didn't look bad enough but the sky was really weird. I know so many people from Utica that I keep praying that everyone is okay. All the lines are down as far as calling. My heart goes out to all these people. Granville is about 10 miles away in the other direction and the same goes for that area. I have been watching the helicopters going over this morning from all over going to Utica and Granville. 10 people were taken to the hospital and 3 fatalities so far. They are still trying to get to the basement of the restaurant to get any survivors. Another report of 2 more bodies found. The basement is flooding with water and they are trying to get to them as soon as possible. I cannot believe this is happening. Please pray for all, Thanks, Marcia

 

[Glenda]

Marcia, you and everyone around you will be in my prayers. I know what it's like to be in the middle of tornado's. We were right in the middle of two very big tonado's that destroyed two towns last year around this time. These are real small towns but the damage look like a war zone. I couldn't believe. It destroyed a lot of historical buildings. They are building back with help from the government and insurance but it just takes so much time. Several were killed. My heart go out to the families that have lost loved ones.

 

[Ross]

We got missed 1 1/2 years ago by 2 miles. It did nothing here, but the main shopping area and a very nice housing allotment got tore up big time. When I was smaller, I saw one overhead that literally picked me up off of the ground. I clung onto a tree for dear life and was scared to dang near death. I learned on that day to respect the weather and heed the warnings. It's like our heart surgeries, no one understands that until they experience it.

I certainly understand and will pray for all.

 

[Nancy]

Marcia-

It's such a scary thing. I hope the weather settles down very, very soon for you. I hate high wind situations. We have several very tall trees near the house, and I always worry. A couple of years ago a small wind shear-downdraft, whatever, blew through the neighborhood and topped off all of the trees in its path. You could just see where it had travelled. They wouldn't say it was a twister, but it sure looked like it. Did a lot of property damage. It missed our house, thank God.

 

[catwoman]

Marcia:

Hope the weather's settled down by now.

About 3 years ago we had a tornado go through downtown Fort Worth TX about 5-5:30 p.m. I was home sick that day (very very bad URI), so I missed the excitement at work. In addition ao many homes and office bldgs, the tornado hit a 38-story bank bldg diagonal from my office. Blew out glass from almost every window (and a few in my building). Police cordoned off downtown for several days. We were shuttled to/from work in police-escorted vans. I think 6 people were killed in the Fort Worth area.
We've been told to evacuate to the basement of our building in case of tornado sirens; our bldg is a former savings and loan and there's a very very good vault in the basement.

I hope there are no more fatalities your way.

 

[Birky]

tornado

Just heard that they found the 4th fatality. If anyone has been to the Starved Rock State Park, you then would be familiar with Utica. A very historical town with a lot of very old buildings. I understand that the building was made of sandstone and this is making it more difficult to get to the basement. I work in a insurance agency so we had a busy morning. I am delighted and surprised that we haven't had more claims. I think maybe we lost 1 commercial building and one house so far. Possibly a trailer too. They are predicting more storms tonight hopefully not so severe. I have not seen a tornado before last night and it was awesome but scary. Thanks for your replies,