A storm is coming!
By Jess
@JJ4Ever (4693)
United States
April 12, 2010 8:42pm CST
If you had to decide what kind of extreme weather to experience, what would you choose and why? Would it be an avalanche, blizzard, earthquake, flood, hurricane, landslide, tornado, tsunami, volcano? I'm sure there are even more that I didn't list here too!
Have you been through a terrible storm? What happened? Would you go through it again if you had to? Why or why not? What were the results of the horrible weather conditions you experienced?
I went through Hurricane Ivan, which hit Florida on September 16, 2004. It was a category 5 hurricane and only turned into a category 4 when it hit land. It didn't lose much momentum! I was at college at the time, otherwise I would've been here in Michigan safe and sound! We hadn't even had a full week of classes to start off a new semester when we had to evacuate our residence halls and sleep in classrooms for a couple nights. The worst part was when the power went out because the air conditioning went out, and we didn't have water. It got hot, and there were so many people in small rooms. We also couldn't hear the usual hum of the power, so when the storm hit we could hear everything! I even remember hearing the windows flexing in and out once the hurricane came. It was the weirdest thing ever! We were all completely safe because the college campus was considered one of the best shelters around. However, we still didn't have power or water for a few days. That was tough. Seeing the effects of the hurricane after it was all over was mind blowing. There was debris everywhere. A tree had fallen on a house and cut it in half. A tree had fallen on a car and completely smashed it. Windows were blown out. There was a million dollars in damage to the college campus alone. It was the craziest thing I've ever experienced.
I'm glad everything ended up being ok, but it's actually kind of neat being able to say I went through a hurricane. It was scary at the time, but it's amazing to look back on. Of course, I feel horrible for the people who lost houses, cars, or even their lives or loved ones. That was the worst hurricane Florida had experienced in years. Please share your story!
3 people like this
4 responses
@AmbiePam (85468)
• United States
13 Apr 10
I've been through an earthquake (I lived in California for a couple of years when I was a child.) and a tornado. Many many tornados. Tornados are so tricky. One doesn't get too much notice when they are heading your way, and they can change directions at the drop of a hat. With hurricanes one can evacuate, but the damage would be so extensive I think it would be so hard to come back from. Because it wouldn't just get my place of residence, but so much of the surrounding area. I would say I'd rather be in a blizzard. I have been through one. I felt like the wind was going to carry me off, and it was extremely difficult to see a foot in front of my face. But knowing it was coming allowed me to stock up on supplies. I had other sources of light if the electricity went out, and I defnitely made sure I had enough blankets!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
13 Apr 10
My daughter was at an International Youth Conference in Longmont, Colorado, and there was a flood. The organizers had heard the forecast, and just refused to let them leave the auditorium (on higher ground) after the service. The place where they were going to have a live band afterwards was flooded. The band went in the doors of the room in the Student Union Basement, and had to leave through the window just ahead of the water. The kids who were at the Youth Conference designed and sold a T shirt right there and sold it before they came home as a fund raiser for those affected by the storm.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
13 Apr 10
Correction--Fort Collins, Colorado. The T shirt said something about surviving the flood in Moby Arena, and had an image of a whale, if I am not mistaken. (as in Moby D ick)
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
19 Apr 10
Having been through many blizzards and only one hurricane, it's definitely a tough choice between the two for me. I don't like the unpredictability of the tornadoes either. We've had some close by, but I've never actually been through one, thank goodness. We have at least one or two a year here in Michigan, but of course, it's only when the weather is changing in weird patterns, which causes the conflicting air currents or whatever they're called. Mostly we'll have them from winter into spring or summer into fall since the weather temps are changing so much around those times.
Gerty, that's so funny you would mention about the T-shirt sale. After I went through the hurricane, they came out with T-shirts to sell as well. It wasn't for a fundraiser, but it was for the hurricane survivors so they would have a souvenir from the storm. The college "symbol" I guess you would call it was a palm tree in a box with the college name under it (because the school was in Florida, I'm assuming). The T-shirt post-hurricane was supposed to show a picture of the college symbol only with the palm tree party inside and partly strewn outside that box. It would say something to the effect of, "I survived Ivan" and then the year or something like that. I never saw the actual shirt or got one because I assumed they were giving them away free, but I was too cheap to buy one when I found out they cost money. (LOL) I assumed they would be free since we all had to go through such a tough time, but oh well. I can remember Ivan without the T-shirt!
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
13 Apr 10
I have felt a small earthquake before, don't never want to experience a big one. I know what its like in bad thunder and lightning storms, they can get bad. I have been in the vicinity of tornados but thankfully have never seen one or had to directly deal with the aftermath of one. Blizzards can be bad, I have had to deal with them. You just have to make sure you have food and water, batteries and flashlights, candles, oil lamps etc. I watch the news and see the aftermath of some of the natural disaters that happen, I don't know how people handle it. I feel so sorry for them. Mother Nature sure can be destructive.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
13 Apr 10
I have not been through anything really terrible. I think I could make it through a blizzard alright. I have food and water on hand, and even have oil lamps and hand cranked flashlights. I do not know how I would fare in the others. Tornadoes come close, but I have never been directly in one.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
19 Apr 10
Blizzards can get pretty crazy, but if you know they're coming, you can be prepared. That's the best thing about those. I have been through a few...when I mean "been through," I mean literally - driving through them! That is the scariest thing ever. I don't think I was watching the weather beforehand, which was bad on my part. I wasn't the one driving, though, thank goodness! Driving through one is horrible because you can't stop or someone will slide into your car, and you can't drive in them because you can't see. So...it's a lose-lose there. However, if I could be prepared (and my heat didn't go out), I'd probably choose a blizzard as well. Thanks for your response and comments!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
13 Apr 10
Oh you are strong! Having said that, what else anyone is expected to be in such dire condition. It must have been really challenging and scary to struggle for existence. I haven't faced any natural calamities. I fear the destructive forces of nature and wish no one ever has to deal with a situation where s/he has to fight for life.
Once I remember, the main gate f our house getting sub merged with flood water and all the shops and surroundings were virtually drowned. Our house, luckily is on a higher platform and that saved us. It was nothing compared to the hurricane you had to face but still fear that moment of my life where I was unsure of the basic necessities.
My prayers for the brave hearts who have fought for themselves and for others.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I bet that was still a scary thing seeing the main gate underwater even though you never experienced the worst of the storm. I'm so glad for that. We all have experienced fear of some type of weather, whether it's going through it or even just seeing it on TV. Or perhaps even seeing the aftermath of such horrible storms. It can be so devastating. You're definitely right - we would never wish such tragedies on anyone. Thanks, Mimpi!
