I get done with my last job today and start heading home. Just got a tornado alert on my phone when the radio announcers break in and say a tornado has been spotted on University Blvd. Wait ... I'm on University. Then they say University and 95. Ok that's like 5 miles south of me. Then they quickly say University and Beach. Oh crap that's heading towards me. Then University and Atlantic. Berk I'm at the next major intersection in the direction it's going. I got home a block off University and after getting inside heard one major gust outside. Don't know the damage so far but that was too close for me.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/07/damage-reports-roll-in-after-tornado-touches-down-in-jacksonville/
I've actually had the unique opportunity to see a couple (blessedly relatively smaller ones) up close and personal. One, working nights at a power plant, on the 2nd floor of a 3 story open turbine deck, I watched as it came across the parking lot and across the deck above me. An enlightening experience.
Stampie said:
I get done with my last job today and start heading home. Just got a tornado alert on my phone when the radio announcers break in and say a tornado has been spotted on University Blvd. Wait ... I'm on University. Then they say University and 95. Ok that's like 5 miles south of me. Then they quickly say University and Beach. Oh crap that's heading towards me. Then University and Atlantic. Berk I'm at the next major intersection in the direction it's going. I got home a block off University and after getting inside heard one major gust outside. Don't know the damage so far but that was too close for me.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/07/damage-reports-roll-in-after-tornado-touches-down-in-jacksonville/
We are grateful that you personally did not make the news. Or your butthole. Especially your butthole.
I've been in 2 tornadoes.
1 I was in a car as a 10 year old.... we got blown off the road and sent into a ditch. That was just wind, before the tornado just missed us.
The other was in my parents house when I was about 12. We were in the basement and I just remember pea soup blowing around and that's all you could see. Our house was fine. Neighbors house was gone. Other houses had roof damage.
Tornadoes like pick and choose which house to take out.... It doesn't seem like any rhyme or reason...
In reply to Stampie :
So if the tornado dropped a car on your property do you have to FMV it for the Challenge? Or did you just win some weird Challenge/tornado/free car lottery?
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
I'm pretty sure Act of Tornado gods equals free.
I'm glad we can joke about this. Wouldn't be the same here without you.
In reply to Stampie :
I'm glad Mother Nature didn't ruin your butthole
First... totally glad you're safe.
Second.... I've lived in mudslide states, hurricane states, earthquake states, and tornado states. I've experienced all of them but a tornado. When I drive through Utah or Nevada and I see those dust devils I feel like I've popped some very small cherry.
I realize I sound like some kind of masochist, but I'm not looking to die from one... I just want to personally witness one.
And, again... Stampie... glad you weren't hurt. Everyone else OK in JAX?
As Brian Johnson (of AC/DC) said once on TopGear, "makes your arsehole go like a rabbit's nose..."
Glad you're safe, makes me thankful we never pursued any potential relocation plans because the weather here in the PNW is crazy enough!
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Seems just property damage from reports. A coworker near where it started barely missed having his house hit.
I'm just going to start calling you The Extreme.
Been through three. Really nice times. Hunkered in an unfinished basement. Family's Arms linked together around a toilet bolted to the cement floor. There's a reason they call it "the finger of god".
the last tornado I went through I was on my way home from work, because you cannot do roofing in a tornado.
As I am driving home on the interstate, I can see the tornado about two cornfields over on the right. I go pedal to the metal, probably doing about 90. When a state trooper shows up with his lights on behind me. And I'm thinking, "oh good lord, what do I do?!?"
I start to slow down, and he passes me and the other two cars in front of me, tucks in the right lane, and is doing every bit of 90. The three of us and the state trooper caravan'd at 90 for about 5 minutes before he slowed us all down. That was fun.
Some years ago at my shop in NJ, I looked out to see a tree branch about 6" in diameter go flying by in my parking lot. There was a tavern next door with no windows on that side so I went to warn them. As I got to the corner of the tavern I went to turn and realized I was a bout a foot off the ground. I grabbed the corner and swung around dropping back to the ground. Went into the tavern and saw the tornado pass by and make a path through a wooded area leaving a swath of downed trees. My gravel lot was swept clean down to bare dirt, but there was no damage to the shop or the cars parked across from it. That funnel passed through an area about 25 feet wide.
I've seen a few over the years. As a kid we watched one go across the hilltop across from us (1/4 mile at most). Wife and I followed one halfway across central Illinois. watching the path criss cross the road we were on. watched one at the steel mill go across the road from us.... staring at it like an idiot surrounded by thousands of steel bars. I've seen so many they just don't phase me. I told the wifethe last time we were under a watch/warning to just let me sleep. If it kills me in my sleep fine.... at least I'll get some rest. She was not amused.... and I still had to sit in the laundry room with herfor half an hour.
This has some video of it. For a reference seems it was most destructive around the 95 and University area. I'm in Arlington where it dissipated. I went through that area today and while I didn't get to the industrial area they refer to I didn't see much damage.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/08/destructive-jacksonville-tornado-was-115-yards-wide-had-wind-speeds-of-100-mph/
Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:
As Brian Johnson (of AC/DC) said once on TopGear, "makes your arsehole go like a rabbit's nose..."
GRM article where he talked about the "Bunny Nose Zone".
edit: August 2000. Looks like this:
