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Subscribe to RSSA father and his two young daughters were among six killed when dozens of tornadoes ripped across the Central and Southern Plains in the early hours of Sunday.
Relatives told NBC affiliate KFOR TV that Frank Hobbie and his daughters, Faith, 5, and Kelley, 7, were killed when a powerful tornado destroyed their mobile home park in Woodward, Okla.
“They were grandma and grandpa’s girls and it’s just going to be hard without them and their daddy; he was a good daddy,” said Shelly Hobbie, Frank Hobbie’s stepmother.
She said her grandson, Ty, was the only one who survived. The infant suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Texas.
“We’re all devastated,” Hobbie said.
One of the first to search the area was a man who found one of the girls under a destroyed trailer. "She was still holding her baby doll," Courtney Glitch told KFOR.
Some storm sirens in the town failed to sound after a tower used to activate the warning system was damaged by lightning. But others near the mobile home park said they had heard a siren.
However, residents and officials in at least one of the affected states credited days of urgent warnings from forecasters for saving lives.
Two other victims in the nearby town of Tangiers – a man named by the Oklahoma state medical examiner's office as Darren Juul, and an unidentified 10-year-old girl – were also killed in the storm.
And a man who had been hospitalized with critical injuries died early Monday.
Multiple injured residents were also transported to area hospitals.
The storms also left thousands without power in Kansas, hit an aircraft fuselage production facility, and damaged up to 90 percent of homes and buildings in a small Iowa town. The governors of Kansas and Oklahoma declared states of emergency.
The National Weather Service website listed only one tornado warning on Monday morning, for southeastern San Patricio county in south-central Texas, however there were high wind warnings in effect for parts of South Dakota, with gusts of up to 45 mph.
The weekend storms were part of an exceptionally strong system tracked by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., which specializes in tornado forecasting. Before the weekend, the center took the unusual step of warning people more than 24 hours in advance of a possible "high-end, life-threatening event."
"We can't do this with every event," said the center's Ken Miller, noting that many storm systems are not as easy to predict.
Miller said he was pleased the warnings were heeded.
"We measure our success by how the public reacts," he said. "Do they take precautions seriously and act on them?"
Dire language of warnings
In south-central Kansas, Sedgwick County Emergency Management Director Randy Duncan credited the dire language of the warnings with saving lives.
"People become used to those warnings. That is a dangerous complacency," Duncan said. "We need to break through the clutter of everyday noise to get people's attention."
Woodward city manager Alan Riffel told CNN that all the missing people had been accounted for, but 89 homes and 13 businesses had been destroyed.
"It's remarkable we didn't have more loss of life," Governor Mary Fallin told a news conference, saying many Woodward residents had either gone to sleep or dropped their guard after an earlier series of storms swept through the area.
She spoke to several whose homes were struck, including a man who said he was asleep on his sofa with his dog when the tornado hit, depositing them unhurt in the backyard.
Orlin Wagner / AP
Storms spawned dangerous twisters from northern Nebraska through southern Oklahoma.
A tornado that struck Woodward in April 1947 still ranks as the deadliest in Oklahoma history, with 116 people killed, according to the National Weather Service.
In tiny Thurman, Iowa, population 250, some 75 to 90 percent of the town's buildings and homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm, Fremont County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Crecelius said. Only minor injuries were reported.
The U.S. tornado season started early this year, with twisters already blamed for 62 deaths in 2012 in the Midwest and South, raising concerns that this year would be a repeat of 2011, the deadliest tornado year in nearly a century.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Frank, Faith & Kelly..........R.I.P!!!
"Twister kills 'good daddy,' girls"
.
You people have no shame.
My condolences to the family.
ron...you know? I read your posts and wonder about you. You have an unhealthy addiction to MSNBC. You act as if somehow every story, every headline is an afront against humanity. I get your focus here, you're one of those that believe what you call 'mainstream media' is out to screw the world. Honestly, ALL media is mainstream. They do what they do to make money on advertising...Just like Rush. Do yourself a favor, get some help. Oh...BTW...they are quoting the deceased parent's stepmother. I find it to be quaint and respectful. YOU have no shame.
Ron -
Ol' Buddy, ol' pal . . .
Lay off the Faux News Channel for a while.
You are like 46.3% of the people who watch the FIXED News Channel - they are in need of psychological intervention and/or counseling. Get help now!!
XOXOXO -
BenDereDunDat
If only all the comments made to tragic stories like this were simple expressions of sympathy and heartbreak for the victims. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those lost and grieving.
While I think Ron's comment may be a little bit knee-jerk, I kind of see where's he's coming from. I live in a tornado prone area in what also happens to be a "red state." It does seem at times like the national media go out of their way to make us all look like "quaint country folk" (at best).
And, BenDere, the implication that either extreme on the political spectrum is somehow more fair-minded, intelligent and compassionate than the other is ludicrous.
Last April when hundreds were killed in the tornado outbreak here in the Southeast, including dozens of young children, seven college students at the University of Alabama, several entire families, and at least a dozen children left orphans, the national media comment forums were full of vile rants claiming we "only got what we deserve", making fun of our Bible Belt faith culture and expressing disgust that any "red state" victims should receive federal aid.
Somehow I doubt those comments were made by "FAUX News" or "Fixed News" followers.
@Alabelle,
I don't think anyone posting on MSN really wishes anyone in the Bible Belt/Red States harm. However, the voting practices followed by Red State folks have been far more deadly and harmful to the citizens of the United States than twisters. Y'all voted JR Ewing into office, he lied and 4,400 plus of our citizens died in Iraq alone. Not to mention every man who killed himself and/or his family when he faced losing his home because of republican mortgage deregulation or just from stress from the poor economy alone.
Not to mention that the republicans want to do away with FEMA. Duh!
None of us wishes you ill will but you have to admit we have a point.
Yes Marinmom, you do have a point ... you and the likes of you are seriously delusional, and have obviously been brainwashed to truly believe this dribble you put out there, and apparently view the world and reality through some very distorted glasses. Poor thing ... I'll pray for you.
BTW. What did "J.R. Ewing" lie about, exactly. The way I remember it, everyone in Congress and NATO provided the go-ahead to Iraq based on their own fact-finding and souls-searching. If Bush was such a moron as you say, why would anyone put any stock into anything he may have offered up? You seem to have forgotten the way things were leading up to Iraq. Bush was not alone and he had plenty of libs on his side so enough with Bush was 100% responsible. We did what we had to do based on the available information.
marinom, the only point you made is that you have a tendency to stray way off point. The comment Ron made and the ones to which I replied were pertaining to how Ron felt this article treated the victims of this disaster, and Wisconsin's and BenDere's dismissal of Ron's sentiment.
I'll break it down for you: Ron expressed his opinion, without giving any hint to his reasons for feeling so, that the article headline was disrespectful to the victims. Wisconsin felt Ron was being overly sensitive, and he added some not so subtle jabs at what he apparently assumed might be Ron's political leanings. BeenDere agreed with Wisconsin and added some even less subtle jabs to what he clearly assumed were Ron's political leanings. I simply pointed out a possible explanation for Ron's being overly sensitive and my bewilderment that disasters like this are exploited by folks who use them to spew hateful political rhetoric.
What Wisconsin said was presumptuous and rude. What BenDere said was even more presumptuous and equally rude. What YOU said simply proves MY point.
Bush lied and people died. You can't change history, even with your delusional magic religious abilities.
This is so sad. Dana Lavin.
agreed
This was completely unnecessary. GO TO A SHELTER. GO TO A HOTEL. GET THE HECK OUT OF THE MOBILE HOME. There were warnings about this tornado outbreak for several days. This is not a good daddy, this is a a DUMB daddy.
no one can predict exactly where a tornado will hit. so the "run away" B.S. attitude that you would advocate every time a storm is predicted to possibly hit , somewhere, is moronic at best.
Unsure why you are judging this man with so little information being given. One thing I don't understand is what is the peoples obsession with trailers in tornado alley. Basements anyone? Something?
Peeps,I know quite a few people that live in trailers,and none of them have an "obsession" with it.They would all prefer to live in houses with basements,but they can't afford to.I don't know anyone that would actually CHOOSE a trailer over a house.It's all about the income and making due with what you've got.
First, you seem to lack a heart or a soul. Second Mr. Frequent Scarecrow Flyer, it's impossible to predict where tornado's will it other than a generalize zone usually several hundred miles. Also since you do not seem have any experience with tornado's or civil service emergency sirens, we're some brief information. Tornado's strike quickly and with much warning, they are not like hurricanes which there is plenty of warning about. As for tornado sirens, some area's do not have one, some area's that do, they are not functioning, money to maintain them just isn't there in today's economy. Lastly, I live in northern KY, in one of the cities that was struck by a tornado 2 months ago. The only 2 deaths were from people in their cars that unsuccessfully tried to "run away". Not good advice there Mr. Scarecrow.
I live in OKC (have my whole life) and this is normal Spring activity. The only bad thing is the civil service will set off the sirens for a tornado that is no where near us. This has caused a lot of people to become complacent when they hear the sirens. This scenario happened just two days ago at 2:30am. Sirens go off, I get up and turn on TV, tornado is 30 miles away from my home and moving to the NE (away from my home), turned off TV and went back to bed. They need to stop doing this and citizens have complained for a long time, but no one is listening to them.
On a side note: If you live in a trailer and it is Spring and there is a storm you should keep the weather on with TV or radio and be prepared to leave for shelter any moment. To do otherwise is shear stupidity.
I know here in KY, when the sirens sound, its for the whole county. As it was said, it's impossible to know just where a funnel will touch down. Thus when they spot rotation or hook echoes, the weathermen would rather sound the sirens and warn the entire county, rather just wait until one is on the ground and then only sound sirens for those in the path. That approach is ridiculous and would cost more lives. If it wakes you up, and you're in no danger, then thank your lucky stars, because someone else likely is.
I, for one, never ignore the sirens going off. I will always wake up and turn on the news/radio to find out what's going on. Its sheer stupidity to do otherwise.
OK, if all of you who believed in your mythological god had ANY proof he existed I would empathize with you.
BUT, since you conveniently IGNORE years of scientific data on global warming, it's obvious you are applying a double standard. You deny global warming exists, but you easily and readily devote your life and money to someone for whom there exists NO SHRED of evidence he (or she) actually exists.
How can anyone logically explain this stupidity? Global warming is backed by decades of hard empirical science that is too easily ignored by 'jesus' and/or 'allah' and/or Joseph Smith lovers.
And you wonder why your trailer blew away. . .
Benn is a'trollin'...tra la la...
Although @frequent may have been somewhat harsh with comments, I do think that this tragedy could have been prevented. Warnings were made well in advance. The daddy, and RIP to all, should have taken his children and went to a safe place...basement, shelter, local church, ditch, anywhere other than a mobile home. A tragic mistake on his part. Also, about the mobile homes...as another poster explained, many people would rather live in a house, but can't afford it. DUH
Frequent male Flyer comments on a storm involving high winds. What a hoot! Anyone with that moniker should be riding them out regularly.
My condolences to the families, friends and neighbors of those killed during these storms. Nature is indiscriminate and takes men, women, and children regardless of race or religion.
May all rest in peace. May all injured recover and heal completely and quickly.
My deepest heartfelt condolences and prayers for all of the people involved...
When I read stories like this I cannot understand how a supposedly good, benevolent and omnipotent deity can do such things. What evil could these people have done that merited the pain and sorrow they must endure?
deity????? This family has done no "evil". This was not an act of God you moron! Let's hope you never experience the wrath of a tornado.....or lets hope you do, then you would think before speaking such foolishness!
He's a troll...just stirring the pot by taking advantage of a very sad event. When exposed to the light of day the troll will turn to stone, so expose them when you can.
Evil comes from evil. Are you calling God evil? You should discuss this with your pastor if you have one. If you don't have one get one. Perhaps you can get better educated in the matters of good and evil and where each comes from.
@Independentthinker, please live up to your name. Just because he has not fallen for the indoctrination of religions and mythical beings does not mean he needs to. There is no god, and 'your' god, as loving as you may make him sound, becomes very evil in the judgement you (or someone else) casts upon others. If there were a god, it wouldn't need millions of different people speaking for him with millions of different beliefs, and unless I've learned the wrong interpretation of what love is (an action, what you would do for someone), murdering them is not very loving.
Okay,I'm a non-believer myself.But this is just stupid.Stop trying to start crap.If people want to believe in god,that's their business,and it has NOTHING to do with you.Why do some of you find it so hard to live and let live? It's the one's like you Kevin and Peeps,that make all of us look like a** holes.They're not shoving their beliefs down your throat,so why do you feel the need to shove yours down theirs?
If God created everything, then God must have created evil. The Devil can't be tempted by itself.
Peeps. There is a big difference between judgement and discernment. In the absence of absolute values it is easy to make up anything and call it right. Ends justify the means right? If you choose to believe what you believe you have a free will and can exercise it. At some point we will both learn what is ultimately correct. Your god or my God. If I am wrong I will not have lost much. If you are wrong...well you will have to decide.
Funny how you think that atheists have no morals. Must be that indoctrination eh? Tell me, how many died in his unholy name by his followers? I'm more afraid of believers than I am non believers. Again, enough of your fear mongering of the bogey man, this world would be a better place if this mythical god could come back for his followers, we'd eventually learn to accept one another and lay down our hate and bigotry, something your bible and god condones very much all while saying to love one another.
"thinker" you said you won't not have lost much if you're wrong. I pity you value your time and your reasoning ability so poorly. Have you stopped to think that maybe you're worshiping the wrong God and that the true God would rather have Atheists by her side than christians? Think about that for a while.
OMG...not another one to bring a higher power into this. First off, God (if that is the higher power you speak of), doesn't cause disasters such as this to kill off innocent people. Come on now man.
He doesn't do such things. The Most High God, Creator of the universe doesn't do such things. If you want to know what He does do, look at the line that says the man and his dog were asleep on the sofa and were deposited in the backyard. This is what God does - He gently removes people and animals from harm. He is a loving God.
I am religious, I believe in my own way. But GET OFF THE RELIGIOUS TRAIN! You are all a bunch of idiots, hitting each other head on with YOUR view and opinion. Like little children arguing about which superhero is the best. The problem is EVERY one of you feel YOU are the one who is right and everyone else is wrong.
See what happens when you let a troll start something? It makes you all look like the stupid fools you are.
A LOT of Atheists are a bunch of dumb idiots who force opinions onto others because they "believe" it's stupid believing in some "Mythical" person, A LOT of religious people are a bunch of dumb idiots who force their opinions onto the world and tell people they need god and church. Then you have the VERY VERY small percentage of people on both sides who live and let live and keep what they think to themselves, they don't jump because somebody says something that goes against what they believe.
Act like grown ups.... Not all atheists are cry babies, just like not all CHRISTIANS are like what you see on TV.
Mr. Lawman: Are we to believe that you are one of the very very small percentage of people who live and let live and keep what they think to themselves because oops, you just didn't do that.
OOPS JAN!!!!!.... I'll be goddamned you got me!. :) And please it isn't Lawman, just call me Josh.
The Bible Belt/Tornado Alley is proof that there is no god and no one is listening to your prayers. Grow up. If you spent more time on intellectual pursuits than you do on Bible mumbo jumbo, you could afford to live in a better place than Tornado Alley. Either engineer your homes to be tornado proof or get yourself a UHaul and move!
(We know Blue State people much more savvy and hard to compete with so maybe you could go to Arizona).
We all believe what we want, it's our great right to do so, nobody can tell us what is or is not real, or what we better believe in. Tornadoes happen other places other than just Tornado Alley, I lived in Tornado alley. Most people don't build their homes, some but not all anyways, they can't choose too build it to withstand strong winds and etc., In an F5 Tornado you may as well kiss everything goodbye if it hits, MOST average homes built in areas known for tornadoes and strong storms wouldn't stand a chance in an F5.
And most people can't afford to have a storm shelter put in. One thing I liked when I was living up north in West Virginia, I was shocked everywhere I went almost EVERY home had a basement... I couldn't tell you anybody I know who has a basement, and I have only seen 2 storm shelters.
Anyways, it's not that easy to pick up and move, or just shell out money you don't have to build what needs to be built JUST in case. God is real to those who believe, and the world is just an accident that happened billions of years ago to some and it's just luck that we are here to others. If you are religous that's great, if not great also. But as I always say, Religion like politics, has no good grounds for anything.
TexasLaw I do like this post. You are standing on neutral ground and no tornado will blow you away. I think many posters are saying "hey, move out of the trailer house, build a shelter, make sure the owner of the trailer court has a shelter but the way I see it, sometimes it isn't that easy. And I would like to also add; some people choose to live in a trailer because they like it. Just look at all of these retirement communities in Florida for example. As for me, I live in a house with a basement and have had to seek shelter in it many times however not so good in a flood. I do disagree with your last sentence however. To some, religion and politics are everything. Sorry...just saying.
If the men in this country had more integrity, homes would be engineered to withstand tornadoes. Too bad they are just a bunch of fat pigs waving their guns around. I guess women need to take over.
Boy this is a loaded statement marinmom...not sure where to begin so I think I will just lay back and say...yes, women can multi-task much better than men.
Jan what I meant by the last sentence was Religious arguments like political arguments hold no good ground.
Bad things happen. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. Everyday is a gift, do not waste it and be thankful for what you have.
Must agree with you stonepipe. As we are remembering the 100th year anniversary of another tragedy, the sinking of the Titanic, and the subsequent movie..."here's to making it count".
Well put...
My condolences to the families of the deceased. Kevin good things happen to bad people all the time. Like Stonepipe said the rain falls on the just and unjust. I don't believe they did anything evil. It was just mother nature taking its course and unfortunately these individuals could not get out the way in time. Their families have their memories and precious moments to remember them by. God is good all the time we mustn't question Him. I believe that all of the people that didn't survive are now in God's safe embrace where they don't have to face anymore pain and suffering.
What a disturbing god to place his so called creation and smite them like he does. A loving god would not inflict disease, suffering, torture, or the GOP on its creation, and no loving god would create sin and an imperfect being and demand he's perfect of risk eternal torture. No, that is not love, that is the work of sociopath and terrorist, hence, there is not god.
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!!! Peeps, thank the GOOD Lord not everyone has such a miserable life as yours. What a sad pathetic person you are.
Sorry Bunkie11, my life is pretty good, no need for imaginary friends nor do I need to learn what terrorism is from the unholy bible. Sorry, I just dont see the point of gloating over some mythical being and his love after this same mythical being just smote his creation, in a very horrific way.... but to each their own I guess.
Hey Peeps. If we are all wrong we haven't lost much. If you are wrong in your beliefs you will have lost an eternity.
@Independent - please leave the fear mongering to the terrorists, unless of course, you are. Religion works well on the weakest of minds. It was the greatest invention ever, feed on the fears of the unknown, and fear monger them till they believe, or just kill them if they don't.
Wethepeepsnet: I couldn't agree more with you. If there is any kind of super being at all, he is a Maniac, Not a God. And people keep praying to this Maniac. And every time After a Disaster they say, 'Thank you Lord". Crazy.
You people are posting stuff that is hilariously stupid. It's called weather and that's it folks. Just like God is not responsible for earthquakes (disregard anything Pat Robertson says otherwise) He is not responsible for tornadoes, mudslides, wild fires, hurricanes, floods, avalanches, etc. Give God a freaking break! He gave you life, air to breathe, and food to eat, and for that alone you should be thankful. But no we want God to give us everything, including protection from every little bump in the road. And if we don't get it then A) we won't believe in Him or B) we will blame everything bad that happens on Him.
Here's a clue for those who are God challenged in life: Do not pity the dead, but pity the living and the all time greatest knowledge...DEATH IS JUST AS MUCH A PART OF LIVING AS LIVING IS.
Independent Thinker
Have been saying this same thing my whole life.
I don't criticize, belittle, and call out hurtful things on the non-believers for their non-belief. Why then do they feel justified to do these things to a believer? Jealousy, envy, fear, or stupidity is all I can come up with.
DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU
WeThePeepsNet
God is not a religion. God is God, period. Please leave your religion out of my God. Religion is a creation of man, not of God. And yes, your unbelief is a man made religion called atheism.
Funny realist, you really think atheists are jealous of mythical sky beings? No, maybe we've seen enough of the damage "believers" can do when they take their religion to far. Here's a good example, the last president, called himself a christian, yet found bible verses and fabricated many lies to condone a war with Iraq, resulting in the slaughter of over 100,000 innocent lives. Your god must be so proud. Shall we bring up the terrorism problems from both christians and muslims? What about the crusades? Ask the mayans what they think of your god, for they had to choose death of conversion by christians. Heck, lets take it a step further, how many children have been molested and abused by the catholic church? No, we are far from jealous, actually, the actions of religious folk sickens us.
Realist, no atheism is not a belief system, its a rejection of a beleif system. Did you learn that in bible school or have they limited your access to further education?
See, there it is again. You just have to insult me and/or my intelligence. How childish.
Hey, can you get back to reality? Six people, including young children, just died in violent storms. Save your religious debates for another day.
People, including children and even infants die every single day in car accidents. Is that not reality also? FYI, I didn't start the debate...a non-believer did. Specify your post to him/her.
Realist, is there any reason you really need to state this: "See, there it is again. You just have to insult me and/or my intelligence. How childish.", after saying this "And yes, your unbelief is a man made religion called atheism"?
Don't worry, I'm not attacking your intellect, just pointing out the lack of it.....
PEEPS
You seem to be very threatened and offended by people who believe in something different than you do. For the record, there is freedom of religion in this country. If you chose to believe in nothing but money that's your business. But you have no right to insult or ridicule those who believe differently. So why don't you knock off your anti-religious spouting and trolling, nobody cares what you think.
Just need to step in here...can't help myself. It always amazes me how the atheists are the first ones to bring up God, religion, the Bible, Jesus, etc. To all you non-believers out there, if you don't believe than why speak of it. Leave it go! I'm with you Marty. Everytime a tragedy happens, some narcissistic atheist will blame a
"higher power". Wow, isn't that a conflict of beliefs???Just saying.
Good one, Jan.
Thanks Patty.
Peeps must be a hoot at funerals.
And also a hoot at a family reunion after a six-pack of Budweiser, Maggie.
Jan, LOL!!!
I'm wondering when the invention of basements are going to reach the people of the tornado belt. Every year, senseless deaths, and way too many trailer parks. You'd think that people would plan better for these types of disasters that can appear out of no where.
The weather forecasters and Severe Storms Forecast Center ALWAYS say get out of mobile homes when bad weather like this is approaching. It's just awful that they didn't listen, especially when small children are involved, to that good advice. Trailer parks put in roads, sanitary systems, electricity, trees, yards, driveways, and other services but few have put in underground shelters for residents. In these areas where tornadoes are common during certain seasons, it only makes sense to as a part of the planning of the park, put in something so vital and lifesaving. The trailer park owner was probably taking a chance that it wouldn't hit his park, but guessed wrong. The father may have been thinking the same thing. It's too bad these deaths occurred because someone was taking a chance with someone else's life as well as their own.
I hope this tragedy saves lives in the future. If you're in a mobile home and severe storms are forecast, get out. Head to a secure building, a friend's house, a library, even the police or fire department. It can and just might save your life and the lives of those you love.
There are basements in most mobile home parks. However some parks do not unlock theirs, which causes some of the deaths each year. Also, in some areas of the country the ground is too saturated with water to put in basements or shelters. Also, in this case the tornado sirens were down due to an earlier storm and they probably had no warning that this tornado was on the ground. Local news is reporting here that most of that town was asleep when this tornado hit. Also, tornadoes can happen in any state and do. There is not a state that has never been hit by a tornado. There are just areas that are prone to get hit more. Should every state and every person have a tornado shelter then?
@Guiltybrat - I've got my tornado shelter, even though I am not in a direct path. I live in Michigan, we can get hit by them and some very harsh wind storms. I'd never purchase a place without a basement, and if I did, I'd make a storm celler.
I'm from Oklahoma, and most people do not live in mobile homes. Most people know where to take shelter, and a lot of people own tornado shelters. We are well educated on it here in tornado alley. Of course you hear about the mobile park disasters, because that is where a lot of the devastation happens. We are told all our lives not to be in a mobile home during severe weather. We were told ALL DAY on Saturday that tornadoes were going to strike. For whatever reason this father chose to stay. Maybe because it was late and he didn't have anywhere to go. If you're in Oklahoma, you've "taken cover" countless times...so it's easy to get lax about it. But, you can also do everything you're supposed to (interior room, covered with pillows blankets, etc.) and it still not be enough. RIP sweet family.
@ guiltybrat
There are reinforced concrete shelters for above ground use available in most areas, especially in tornado alley. Sirens can not be counted on as the only warning of an approaching tornado. A NOAA radio is made for advance warnings and are available in most hardware stores.
I live in tornado alley, at my workplace (I'm a chef in a restaurant) we have a NOAA radio on at all times with a charged battery in it for situations like this. It's the best $40 you can spend in tornado alley, these things save lives.
I live in OKC (have my whole life) and this is normal Spring activity. The only bad thing is the civil service will set off the sirens for a tornado that is nowhere near us. This has caused a lot of people to become complacent when they hear the sirens. This scenario happened just two days ago at 2:30am. Sirens go off, I get up and turn on TV, tornado is 30 miles away from my home and moving to the NE (away from my home), turned off TV and went back to bed. They need to stop doing this and citizens have complained for a long time, but no one is listening to them.
On a side note: If you live in a trailer and it is Spring and there is a storm you should keep the weather on with TV or radio and be prepared to leave for shelter any moment. To do otherwise is sheer stupidity.
Realist: Correct me if I am wrong but in traditional theistic belief are not the forces of nature at the control of God. I keep hearing people pray to God for weather related items like rain, to break a heat wave, for flood waters to subside, a hurricane to move out to sea, etc. If Christianity does not believe that God controls natural phenomena like tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and so forth why do they pray for these things? I am sorry, but in all honesty I cannot see how a God who is both all powerful and benevolent can permit these disastrous sufferings. Perhaps God cannot control natural phenomena, or perhaps God is not as benevolent as we would like Him to be.
@ Kevin Mcgonigal
If you chose not to believe that's up to you, its your right. But what gives you the right to question or degrade the beliefs of someone who does? What they do or do not believe is none of your business. If you don't agree that's fine, but its not really necessary to ridicule someone who does. And really, no body cares if you are an atheist or not.
Written as if you are capable of empathy...
Marty: I don't think I am ridiculing other people's beliefs as some others here may have. I do think I have raised a valid point of contention, that is, that when natural disasters happen it makes me, and some others, too, wonder about the existence, or better yet, the nature of a Supreme Being who in the traditional Judeo-Christian teaching controls the forces of nature, can foresee what damage and harm and suffering they will cause and yet chooses to at least permit them if not actually cause them. Do you never wonder about these things and if you have considered these matters what do you yourself conclude about this conundrum? By the way I do not deny the existence of a Supreme Being but if it is true that we know a cause by its effects then I think the nature of this Supreme being is utterly different from what we would like Him to be.
Kevin, so you think a story about a father and his daughters killed in a storm is the right forum to ask people to explain their religious beliefs to you? They don't have to justify anything to you. If you have that kind of questions why not ask a priest? Atheists all seem to believe they are nothing but skin wrapped packages of minerals and water. In their cases maybe atheists are just that. But to those who believe in something more, that's personal and private in their own lives. And if they can find comfort in their belief in something greater, and give comfort to others in bad situations who also have faith, who does it hurt?
Hurts noone Marty but for some strange reason, seems to bother the atheists a lot.
seems to me the whole concept of "a mobile home park in Oklahoma" should be pretty much be filed in the "BAD PLAN" bin
A storm shelter is a great investment, if you live in a mobile home.
Condolences to the father and his daughters as they are with the Lord!!! RIP. Whats causing such SEVERE storms anymore, these things are ferocious earlier in the year and at all hours of the day/night - we'd better dig a storm shelter below ground and be ready to get in it (anywhere in the country) because no place is safe from a tornado anymore it seems
He chose to ride out the storm in his mobile home. Really? This is just the way nature weeds out the idiots.
If so, I would expect a serious windfall in your neighborhood soon.
He didn't chose to ride out the storm in his mobile home. Read the article. Their tornado sirens were not working, as they had been damaged by an earlier storm. They probably had no clue that a tornado was on the ground in that area. It was late, they were probably in bed.
Biff - Uh huh...there'll be a twister dropping down on your house soon...by the way, even if you have a basement - if your house takes a direct hit from a tornado, you are getting sucked out of that "safe" basement. Look at pictures of some houses where there is nothing left but a hole in the ground.
Be respectful of the dead.
It disturbs me that I had to watch 3 videos before I actually was able to see information on the devastation. News in NY is all about the NY Marathon? Really?
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by the tornadoes.
I simply cannot understand why people who live in tornado prone areas of the country are allowed to live in mobile homes. Its a recipe for disaster.
Carolyn, simply put. MONEY!! You people just don't seem to get it. Based on all the comments I've seen here, all of us are pretty much alike. Employed, living in a stick built house, or a condo, apartment, etc. Not a trailer. Unfortunately not everyone has those options, sometime the only thing they can afford is a trailer to provide shelter for their families. Count yourself lucky, blessed, smart, or whatever that you do not have to be concerned about severe weather blowing your home into splinters. However the way our society is structured there are winners in life and the are those that, well aren't as lucky, educated, motivated, etc. in life. Those folks do not have the same choices, not having money does that.
Carolyn,
"Allowed to live in mobile homes"?? You need to break out of your current circle my friend. Just because one lives in a mobile home does not mean they aren't smart, it means they deal with and appreciate everything God has given them and go on about their day doing the best they can.Maybe you shouldn't be "allowed" to post stupid comments.
If I lived in a trailer park in that part of the country, I would make make sure that the park had a shelter, underground big enough for everyone to fit in.
That should be a housing law in in all states that are always are in the path of tornadoes. It is just common sense. There is no protection for those people and the old storm cellars were dug just for that reason, and they worked.
If you lived in a trailer park in that part of the country, how would you make sure that the park had a shelter? Ask the owner to dig one? Maybe not that easy.
This is why we need to stop givng our money away to every Damned country in the world. We need to take care of America first. Tornadoes, Flood's, Hurricane's, earthquake's. Every time these thing's happen's the Government need's to lend a hand, but we are short on money because of the Damned Giveaway's. No country give's a Rat's Ass when we have a disaster, we should do the same.
Note that tornado alley is made up of primarily red states. You know, those people that don't want any federal government interference in their lives... except in telling people who they can marry and passing out disaster aid.
Me Tarzan, you possessive singular apostrophe.
@Me Tarzan,
Be careful about using too many caps also.
I know I keep repeating this every time I see stories like these. BUT All these states need to have solid shelters set up for people who want to take cover from possible early warning Tornado's. Especially if your living in a mobile home.
Ya know, I'm kind of a liberal guy, and even this idea seems wasteful to me. The state? Hell no, the developer of the property should be required to provide one, not the state footing the bill!
Please put aside the blame. How about structures built into the ground that are set to carry the capacity of people who live in these parks that are on site? MAKE it a zoning requirement! No squabble- JUST DO IT!
But that would be the ebil gubment interferin with our lives!
I would make damn sure,I had a storm hole to climb into! A shovel and a little concrete goes a long way! Closeby!
It's ONLY gettin worse! START DIGGIN!
You have no idea how much worse it's going to get. Start digging is right, but with a backhoe, not a shovel.
Huh? The number of violent tornadoes went down for the last 30 years. The same 30 years that saw warming temperatures.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/03/31/2011-us-tornado-year-analyzed-no-trend-indication-still-below-1974/
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/03/well-that-didnt-take-long-to-run-the-climate-is-weather-scare-story/
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/03/28/another-blow-to-warmist-hysteria-over-weather-is-not-climate-unless-we-say-it-is-2011-damage-is-qualitatively-indistinguishable-from-1974/
But if the Earth is entering the cooling half of a natural 60 year warming/cooling cycle then tornado numbers and strength could increase.
Remember it is the interaction of cold dry air aloft and warm moist air below that fuels storms. If it is just warm air the atmosphere is stable. That's why when the high pressure system stalled over Texas last year all we got was heat and no rain.
http://www.real-science.com/big-tornado-day-tomorrow
Remember that 1974 was the year of the super outbreak of tornadoes and there was a strong La Nina that year just like in 2011. And 1974 was when science and the media were ranting about global cooling and the next ice age. Cooling gets us storms and tornadoes, not warming.
Even tropical cyclone numbers trended down for the last 30 years of warming. And the US is setting a new record for the longest time since a major hurricane has hit the US. Old record goes back to civil war times.
Check with the National Weather Service and find out when Skywarn training is in your area. It is a great way to learn about how storms and tornadoes form and teaches you how to watch the sky and prepare.
Please make some underground shelters where people can go. Sorry to all the people who have encountered this horrible tradegy.
I know I wouldn't be sittin around waitin to get HAMMERED! Just set an old chest freezer in! Something! for CHRISTSAKES! Maybe sink your mobile HOME!
Hey setting in an old chest freezer is better than nothing