Stormy Weather

As I write this, severe thunderstorms are off to my west. Arkansas and Oklahoma are picking up the pieces from last night’s killer storm. Meteorologists are predicting a 90% chance of doom — and the pucker factor at a 7 out of 10. There is a moderate chance of chaos and my stomach is in knots.

The forecast models are similar to the day the Yazoo City Tornado cut across the state and the storms that caused the 1979 flood.

Yes, it’s another severe weather day in Mississippi.

Or as we call it Spring.

I admit, I get a little freaked about tornadoes. Part of it was because of the wicked tornado in the Wizard of Oz. That scared me more than a 1,000 flying monkeys. And part of my neurosis is because of a very real tornado that took down my basketball goal as it flew over my parent’s house.  The early 70’s were a violent time for tornadoes in North Georgia.  They left a mark.

I don’t care Sam I Am, I don’t like tornadoes with a goat or in a boat.

So living in the heart of Dixie Alley (the southern version of Tornado Alley) doesn’t make for stress-free living. I was scared crazy after the first few tornadoes hit after I moved here. I used to freak when a tornado was 50 miles away.  My weather radio would go off if a cow farted in Port Gibson. I’d have to scrape myself off the ceiling.

But I’ve mellowed a little bit. Maybe it is fatalism setting in. Maybe. Now if it is one neighborhood over and heading another direction, I go back to sleep.

Today, though, I’m paying attention. I’m watching the radar and am keeping an eye to the sky. I want to take a moment to thank all the meteorologists for their hard work during this outbreak. I know we give the TV weather folks crap when they cut into our favorite programs because a tornado is tearing up a bean field — but believe me, if your house is near that bean field, you are grateful. And the folks at the National Weather Service do a great job. And I also wanted to thank all the first responders who will dig us out of the rubble.  Thanks to the emergency management teams who are coordinating any potential response necessary.  I hope you are bored today.

Tornadoes show man’s weakness in the face of nature. But our response shows our true power is our compassion for fellow man.