Twister in Oz

[Dave_Trible]

The massive near mile wide tornado here in Kansas last night went dead center over our flying field.  I will be attempting to go to the field after work and see how it faired.  Doubt the field itself was harmed but the gravel road leading in is lined on the west with a lot of very old trees.  I can envision those coming down across the road blocking all access to the area.  Damage to homes in the area was total in some cases.  The twister roared along the ground for over 45 minutes and at least twice split into duel tornadoes.  At least no fatalities reported so far.  Don't know where Toto ran off to........Bet the eagles nearby became homeless.

Dave

[WR Crane aka MrClean]

See, you have to drive there and see the Tornado.  I live in Kearney and got to watch it go through.  Nah, it was too far south less then 2 miles.  Got a whole bunch of lightning though. 

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Access to the latest satellite images would be nice.  Not sure exactly how one goes about buying that service. Good luck with your access.

[Dave_Trible]

Just an update for anyone interested.  Got to the field and found no damage but a fair amount of chunks of insulation in three different colors strewn around the field.  Also maple twigs in a fair amount.  There are no maple trees I know of in this valley.  The TV weather crew was saying the twister was going into Wilder which is a clump of houses just east of the field about 1/4 mile and within eyeshot.  In fact it stayed about that far to the west of the field over the levee.  The debris must of come from Linwood which got destroyed.  It lies just on the other side of the river and a little south.  There is a strange patch of flattened weeds about thirty feet off the west edge of the flying circle.  It's about 100' long and 25 feet wide.  Brief touchdown from a secondary vortex?  I started to set up to fly then realized there wasn't a breath of air blowing.  I lost a good airplane last year in the same place and conditions.  Packed up and will go back tomorrow.  I feel sad for those many folks who lost everything.

Dave

[Dan McEntee]

     Glad all is well with you guys out in Kansas. I don't think we have heard too much from the Oklahoma gang? Oklahoma has been getting really hammered, along with many in southwest Missouri. The people in Joplin must be really on edge. With the way we are all spread out around the country , and it seems like no part of the country is getting spared from severe weather, it would be real good news to hear everyone is OK. We just had storm and tornado watches here again tonight. The rivers are coming back up to near 1993 record levels. Just what is Mother Nature mad at us for? 
   Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[Elwyn Aud]

Some large power lines about a half mile from me were blown down. They had a major street blocked for several days while they worked on getting them back up. A lot of flooding in low lying areas near rivers but I think all the Gluedobbers are safe.

[Dave_Trible]

I saw where the engineers were opening a dam there in Oklahoma to let pressure off-zillions of gallons more water heading toward Tulsa I think.  Geez....  A few years ago I remember eating at a restaurant somewhere in Tulsa and looking out at a near-dry river bed.  You could walk across in spots.  Bet not now.

Dave

[Elwyn Aud]

There have been discussions for ages about putting in a low water dam to make the river look more like a river year-round, but I think now the discussion has turned to updating some of the aging levees that protect the area during extreme flood events.

[Tim Wescott]

... extreme food events.

I know this is a serious discussion, but I can't resist.

What is an extreme food event?  Should I be worried -- or will I be OK if I wear a T-shirt that says "over 50, only good for stew meat"?

[john e. holliday]

His keyboard must be related to mine.  Once in a while it does what it wants to.  I heard the sirens going off here in Shawnee.   Was in the shop and I closed shop and took dogs into the house.   Turned on the TV and all the stations stated that unless the tornado changed directions we were safe.  Contacted my nephew who live just east of Lynwood and he said, Yes there is a lot of damage.  Also said maybe just some shingles gone on his house  Said his daughter and son-in-law were spared also.  Reports stated that debris from Lynwood and the Legends plus race track was deposited some 20 miles to the NE.   And as David said no fatalities that the media knew of.  Would have checked on the circle my self, but grand daughter thinks my Suburban is hers.  She is close to being evicted if she goes on another tirade on me.