I remember this scene so well. I cannot believe it has been 30 years ago. As we heard the sirens and looked out our back door to this sight, I can still remember the still in the air, the roar of the "train" and the fear in my heart as I saw this tornado getting larger. April 10th will always be linked to the words, "Terrible Tuesday" in Wichita Falls. It looked like it was headed straight for us. In the picture above you can see three funnels just touching down right before they became as single, 1.5 mile wide funnel. The building to the left is McNiel Jr. High, where I attended school. The picture below is of the school afterward. (My tennis racket and clothes are in that pile somewhere!) It is not the strongest, nor the largest on record, but it is one of the most destructive because of the wide 8 mile swath it cut through the middle of the city.
Today I remember a friend of mine, Richard Sherman, who was a student at McNiel at the time. He lost his life in the storm, from what I remember, because he thought the tornado had passed over and raised up from the ditch too soon— the eye of the storm is calm. 42 individuals lost their life on that day. The warning system was a great blessing that day, as it saved many lives by making them aware of the coming storm.
An interesting note: After the tornado, scientists studied the destruction and noticed an important thing--in houses that weren't completely blown away, there was usually an interior closet or bathroom still left standing. People who took refuge in these rooms generally survived the storm. Since that time, weather experts have encouraged residents to take advantage of these interior rooms, which is why you hear that recommendation when a tornado warning is issued. I can still remember being amazed by the little closets still standing when the rest of the house was completely gone!
We started school the next week at Rider High School, which was also partially destroyed. The Jr. High went from 6am to noon and the High School went from noon to 6pm for the remainder of the school year.
The years have come and gone, but it is strange how those kind of days never go away. These things have a way of making you solemn. Ricky died April 10th, 1979 in this tornado and my friend, Tim Hodgson, died May 30th, 1980 in a truck rollover I was in. They changed my perspective on life and living.
I guess today is just a day of remembering...
because I am also remembering One named Jesus, who gave his life for me. I will not have it be in vain. His death is my salvation. He also changed my perspective on life and living. I will never forget.
7 comments:
Definitely a storm I will never forget either! I was 12 years old and my family was headed towards Dallas, then Arkansas for a vacation. That ginormous tornado filled the sky, seemed to chase us all the way out of town. I was very thankful we made it, although us kids were pleading with my Dad to stop the car so we could take cover! Some of those who did, lost their lives. Thank God for His protection! We came back after a week...it looked like a war zone.
I, too, remember both of these incidents as though it happened yesterday. It does make you stop and think..... you never know what a day will bring.
At that time, our small home was right in the path of the tornado. Even though our family was not in church, God kept his hand upon us because although our neighborhood was effected- our house was not.
For me it is not as much a memory of an event as much as it is a reminder of another time when God was faithful to my family even though we did not know Him yet. My parents had stories and stories of God's faithfulness and gentle leading toward truth. God is so faithful and so good!
I was just over a year old and Jason was not even born but I have heard the stories all of my life. In fact, I have magazines and newspaper clippings from the day and months that followed which my parents saved. The devestation caused is an amazing thing to see and having to pick up and go on in the middle of all of that mess must have been horrible.
I've never been in a tornado (just earthquakes) so I can't even comprehend the feeling. But I was taken by your words: "The warning system was a great blessing that day, as it saved many lives by making them aware of the coming storm." It made me think of the storm our world is now in, and how the preaching of the Word is our warning system to many of what is about to happen. Have a wonderful blessed Easter.
I remember that day...we had just moved there and did not even know what to do when the warning came. Went to a restaurant across from the mall -- they made us go in the cooler and kneel down--the power went out- and after the storm passed and we went outside...I could not believe my eyes!! I still shake when I think about that day. NEVER want to experience that again!
I will never forget that day either, nor will I forget the power of the Name of Jesus!!! I remember standing at our back door pulling on Dad to take cover with Mom, Kevin & I. He just stood there until it reached the corner of our property and then just said, "Jesus." It stopped coming our way and turned another direction. What a memory! What a Name!!!
Wow! That must be the tornado that took the roof off of Johnny and Mindy's house with them inside! They were hunkered down in a closet! She was pregnant with Shawn. It destoyed their home but they were saved.
He was outside taking pictures and realized it was headed straight at him! He ran inside and got Mindy and himself into a closet just in time! He said the sound was deafening. Just like a freight train coming through the house.
Mom had had a vision of Johnny in a closet in his house ....in a tornado! She had warned him months before!
Now that's an advance warning system!
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