The Cracker

If you are not living under a rock you are aware of the tornado disaster in Oklahoma today. Possibly one of the worse tornado disasters ever.

http://www.news9.com/category/112032/news

Over fifty square miles of total destruction. Over twenty third grade children drowned in a local school. Hundreds missing, many homes only left with the outline of the foundation and driveway. Everyone and everything blown away.

What is wrong with this?
Who needs to go to jail for their malfeasance and stupidity?

CONSIDER THESE FACTS:

1. Oklahoma is the hot spot for tornado alley.
2. In 1999 a major tornado hit this area and many promises and plans were made so "IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN" Communications were improved, storm shelters were placed all over the county and in the schools and other public buildings.
3. The News media has been warning over the last few days that yesterday, today and the next few days would be a major danger for tornadoes.
4. Starting two days ago Texas and then other cities were impacted, even another city just south was hit with a major tornado.
5. Today I personally watched the tornado live on FOX news for over thirty minutes as it moved from farmland into the city.

NOW MY QUESTIONS:

1. Why with all these warnings were the people in charge of the city and schools not on their toes and paying better attention?
2. Why did the one school (out of two) not get their little children into the shelters before the tornado hit? They had a minimum of twenty minutes and even more if they were watching FOX news.
3. Why did the people in charge of public safety not pre-position emergency equipment such as "Generators, Night lighting etc.?" (even now) so it could be moved in place within hours, not days.
4. Why not close public schools when such a imminent threat is on your doorstep.
5. I have no idea at this time how many people have died in this tragedy. I do think there are many civic leaders who have a lot to answer for and some should probably be sent to jail for their malfeasance.

I would ask; if you are watching this fifty square miles of destruction tonight watch and see if the area is lit up with generators and construction lighting while rescue people search, or will it be a black hole in the earth?

So very pathetic... So reactive - Not proactive... Just pathetic again but wait for all the politicians to start with their favorite saying "so it never happens again!"

RETW Loc: Washington

Hey, Hold on there a minuet. Where did all this come from? My God man these folks have not even had time to think straight, and already you want to go out and blame someone. Like that's going to help a lot. Where is your compassion for others? Where is your out reach to these folks that have just had their entire world ripped out from under them? And right off you want to jump into the old name game, ( see, I told you so ). They don't even know how many have died yet and you want to put some one in jail. Really? I to watched on fox news, an all I could think of was , how could I help. One thing I know for sure they don't need . Some one going around and trying to assign
blame for any thing right now.
You don't know if these folks in charge were on their toes or not. You don't know if there were Generators in place, or not. If you were not there, then there is a whole lot you do not know. You talk about closing public schools. Are you aware they are by far safer then most other buildings. Brick and steel are way stronger than wood and plaster. You make this disaster sound like the public officials had a say in which way this weather system went.
I personally feel terrible about this tragedy, and my heart goes out to them all. Even the public officials, for they live there also. I would give anything to be able to be there and help. My age would only get in the way, and that would not be useful. But I'll be dammed if I am going to start the old blame game. RETW

The Cracker

Make no mistake. I too feel deeply for the people who have lost their lives, family members and even their property but:

WHEN YOU SAY: "already you want to go out and blame someone. Like that's going to help a lot. "

Let me summarize it this way for you: Read slow now. This was a re-run of the 1999 tornado. In fact it almost followed the same track. The lessons should have been learned and IGNORANCE IS NO LONGER AN EXCUSE!!!!!!!!!

When you put fools in charge of your children it is the children who pay for your stupidity. How many little children suffered a horrible death because adults led them to it.

I listened to the first hand account of one man who was at work and followed the tornado to within a half mile of his house, then because of the destruction he had to abandon his vehicle and run home.
When he arrived home he found his wife and children safe because they had installed a below ground survival shelter and had enough sense to take care of themselves. Their house was totally destroyed -- it was located across the street from the school where all the children have died. This family was as prepared as they could be. They did not send their children off to face such a horrible death. They took care of themselves. They are the hero's to be emulated.

You don't like what I have to say? Tough... Many people have died. Deaths which should not have happened. This is not like the Boston bombing, or the murder of children in school by a deranged person. This was a known risk. You understand that? A KNOWN AND IGNORED RISK!

Once again. Emotion and ignorance caused many deaths yesterday and you are whaling with emotion and ignorance. Your sympathy will not bring back the little children. Your pacification towards the i***ts who contributed to this will only k**l more the next time it happens.

Help the survivors? Of course! -- Believe the same people who in the past had promised that it "would never happen again"... Only fools do that AS ARE YOU!.

Wake up! You are being reactive. I am promoting being pro-active. So swallow it and march on or repeat your stupidity!

The Cracker

Let me offer one suggestion. The people who want to rebuild in this disastrous area should be required to install a under-ground storm shelter for each home and business. No exclusions... None whatsoever.

In addition. (considering the ongoing risk) just like in London during WWII. There should be underground storm shelters (not relief centers) built within a mile of each other. EVERYWHERE. That way if you are out and about and have your head up your arse at least you can have a chance at safety.

It is all to easy to be reactive - instead of proactive, - and I am talking about tomorrow!

The C*****r
cmvwc

The Cracker

I have watched and listened to two testimonials from survivors today. They were very stupid and very lucky at the same time.

In both instances they told about hearing or watching the tornado approach their houses. They did not have storm shelters which they could escape to. They did not even have a safe room in their house. A room reinforced top, sides and bottom to help them survive.

What did they do? Both went into a closet, covered up their heads and started praying.

What saved them? Their houses were not totally destroyed, as was most of their neighbors. Had their house taken a direct hit, both would most assuredly be lost in the wind somewhere. Maybe in the next county.

No! Instead of death, they survived by the grace of God and can now testify to those smart enough to get the message.

Another woman (mother) did not like the look of the weather, she was listening to the warnings from the weather service. She decided to rush to the school and gather her children. She brought them home and with the rest of her family hunkered down in their back yard survival shelter. They are together today while the officials continue to search for and remove the bodies of children from the very same school.

Now we need to learn from these messages..... It is for the children!

Another thought: The entire center of the country -- many, many communities at the same risk as Oklahoma was yesterday. Cities from Texas to Chicago are still under the gun.
Another question: Will the other areas have learned or how many of them have their children in unsafe schools today? How many are going about their life as if there is no danger. (It will never happen to me here..-- they promised!) How many still have their heads stuck up their arses?

Now is the time to be proactive.

The Cracker

How many times do you have to get hit, before you learn to duck?

Look closely at this chart. It speaks volumes!

No excuse for not planning for the inevetable. None!

The Cracker

(continuing my rant)

RETW wrote: "You talk about closing public schools. Are you aware they are by far safer then most other buildings. Brick and steel are way stronger than wood and plaster. You make this disaster sound like the public officials had a say in which way this weather system went."

Respond to two statements:

1st: Yes I do know about construction. I was president of a Architectural, Engineering and Land Planning company located in three major cities. I have either designed or help design more than one school. This school was evidently not designed for the tornado, nor did it have basic survival structures installed, else it would not have been leveled and children would not have lost their lives.
I might also remind you that sometimes a rigid structure will fail before one that passes some of the impacting energy by swaying with the force -- or deflecting part of the energy off the main structure.

2nd. What a ignorant statement- that I would think the officials had any say in where or when the tornado went. Are you really that dumb, or do you always run your mouth without thinking? The latter I suspect! However, they should have understood the risk of their schools in this area of the country, and they should have had better plans in place.

THE PROOF IS IN THE RESULTS! All you had to offer was emotional diatribes. Not funny when your own words come back and demonstrate your ignorance, are they?

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

Now is not the time to worry about telling people they can't build new houses until they have their own storm shelters. Do you have any idea what one of those things would add to the cost of a new house? There will be a spate of that kind of building around the country and then people will forget. Are you wanting to charge all of those who don't dig hide holes with crimes that they have to pay for, also?

I think that I am saying that you can't just move everybody out of Oklahoma, or even that part of it that has been hit so often. I think you are ignoring the fact that although many of those tornadoes did much destruction this one, of in excess of 200 mph is not normal, at all.

The people you talk about who took shelter in closets were doing what the government has been talking about as long as I have been living very near tornado alley and not just lucky. I know some people who owned a three story house in Greensburg, Ks that had all its closets built in the middle of the house. When that F5 hit them several years ago all of those closets were standing there like a high rise and the rest of the house was long gone. We are always told to take shelter in the lowest part of the house (usually the basement) away from windows but what happens if we go there and have heavy objects come through the floor where we are?

I think you are panicking about something that people just can't keep from happening, even with all that proactive work you want done. I think you want to force people to leave an area if they can't afford to build storm shelters.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

I must live under a rock.

However, I think OldRoy is right on this one. I have seen a tornado take a brick building and drop it into its basement while leaving undisturbed an attached tin building. I don't think there is any way to prepare for something like that. If you're lucky enough to get hit with the tornado, you will probably be lucky enough to have all your pr********n gear destroyed or inaccessible.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

When I was about 8 my dad took me to the site of a small tornado and I was amazed. Wheat straw stuck into a telephone pole so solid that people couldn't pull it out. That one put 10 recently borne calves in a storm cellar after taking off its top and then made a cone shaped cover for it. The calves were all taken out alive since they had that source of air to breath.

I hope most saw my reference to the storm cellar built as a protection and to store canned food in. That is about all people had back in 1940.

The Cracker

1st. A question Roy. Just how much is your, or your families life worth.
(Check out the links and photos below)

2nd. Please take time to read my words instead of trying to change them to silly comments like move everyone out of Oklahoma...

3rd. If you want a place to spend government and insurance dollars, then reconsider shelters

4th. If you don't have a pot to piss in then consider borrowing a shovel from a neighbor, dig your own hole in the ground, (just like your grandparents did in the early 1900's) It does not have to be pretty and you will only spend less than a hour inside.

Hell. You can even bury a septic tank or a funeral casement and make a lid. The main thing is to get below ground level.

Think about it! Ps, Kentucky is hardly tornado alley, Even the NE corner of the state. (SEE THE MAP OF PREVIOUS TORNADOES IN Oklahoma City and count the number of serious 4 & 5 ones)

Also: Keep an eye on the weather channel. This is not over and burying you head in the sand like a ostrich will not save your tail feathers today, tomorrow, or anytime.

Ready, set go.....NOW FOR THE PHOTOS ETC: (Read slow and think)

The only thing left was the safe room

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

What was that part about Kentucky? OldRoy is from Kansas. It is a state like Kentucky, only bigger, and in Tornado Alley.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

What was that part about Kentucky? OldRoy is from Kansas. It is a state like Kentucky, only bigger, and in Tornado Alley.

The Cracker

Sorry about that... I misread Ks as Ky... My bad!

Ks is in Tornado alley, Ky is not. 'This ain't Kentucky anymore Dorthy"


The C*****r
cmvrwc

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

I wonder how many of us who take the National Weather Service information about taking refuge in the basement of our house are begging to be k**led. When that monster hit Greensburg, Ks about 6 years ago people went to their basements and the loss of life was very minimal except in houses that didn't have basements. We have been told over and over when tornadoes are near us that we must get to an interior room, preferably a closet or the basement. Our basement will be our refuge if we ever need it.

An old student of mine said he took his wife and girls across the street in Greensburg because they had a basement. He went back home to ride it out. When he heard it he said it was more of a grinding sound than like a train and he ran back across the street and just got on the stairs when that house left him.

There was nothing of value left where his house had been.

I just heard that many tornado shelters in Moore failed so maybe building things like that may not be worth the cost. Yes, I know that if you are out in the open you have to get in any kind of depression you can find but that doesn't always work, either.