Head's Up Arkansas, Missouri, eastern Oklahoma

reply to post by pasiphae


We moved out here to west Texas form the DFW area last January 2011. Two weeks later, we were in a deep freeze. Our well froze completely. No water whatsoever. The temps dropped to around 3 degrees F, with a windchill of minus 20 F. I had no water stored. Try going potty like an animal out in an open field with the above-mentioned windchill, ice pellets hitting your bare backside. We are 13 miles from a small town, so it wasn't convenient to go find a bathroom there.

We couldn't unthaw the well pipes for 3 days. At the same time, the motor went out in our heater. It was pure insanity. As I tried squatting in a field, freezing my backside off, I vowed then and there that this would never happen again. I have gallons and gallons of non-potable water stored now so at least the toilet will work.

We didn't have a spring last year. It went from icy and snowy to hot and dry. I do know they have nasty storms out here because this house is 38 years old, and all the windows on the north side had to be replaced a few years ago because they were busted out by large hail. Also, our tornado shelter has a metal door, and it has huge dents in it like somebody dropped a load of boulders on it.

The previous owners claimed they only had to use the shelter twice in 20 years. Whatcha wanna bet we'll end up having to hunker down in it this spring? The weather is getting crazy, and I think you're fears have some basis in reality.

Yeah I am just moments away from a good storm. In KS here. Just look up 66018. severs storm warning. and its a coming!!

reply to post by FissionSurplus


wow. that's crazy! my mother lives in dallas and i know she was complaining about how cold it was. i'm more central so it wasn't THAT cold but it was still insanely colder than usual.

i really wish i had a basement.... or a closet made of concrete. i hope i'm wrong. i thought we would have bad storms last spring but it never was that bad. the spring before that i remember several storms that had me dragging a mattress in to the hall. sadly i've passed on my fears to my son so he panics now when there is a storm. i try to keep my panic to myself but it still shows when i'm making everyone hide in the hall.

reply to post by MoosKept240


Let us know how it goes.
Stay safe. I just checked
your radar at 66801, some
very bad weather coming in.
Hope you are safe and offline
right now.

reply to post by MoosKept240


Yowee, you're in the thick of it with some more to come. Hopefully it's just a nasty thunderstorm and nothing more.

Yup coming in good now.

Says 60 mph gusts. I believe it, because I have a fan venting out my window and the wind has stopped it a couple times.

Said maybe some hail so I put the cars in. Should be ok.

Thanks you

reply to post by MoosKept240

Are you under a tornado watch?

reply to post by pasiphae


LOL, it's pretty hard to hide our fears from our kids. I moved to Texas when my youngest daughter was 10. She had NEVER been through a real thunderstorm, so the first one that hit us made her cry and hide in her closet. She never got over her fear of them, either, she's just a little calmer about it now.

She lives by herself in Lubbock now, but there is no basement or place to hide. All I can tell her is to grab her mattress and get in the bathtub and cover herself with it. She lives in a converted garage so there are no hallways.

I don't understand why they don't build houses out here with at least small shelters in the backyard. I think it should be part of the building code, just like building houses with earthquake safety features are mandatory in California. When we were house-shopping out here, that was one of my requirements. Thankfully, all the farmhouses out here have shelters. Ours is nicely built, solid concrete, about 7' x 11'. I wouldn't consider any house without that feature, and there are plenty of mobile homes out here, no tornado shelter, not even a solid foundation. But for 10 years in DFW, I lived in a house with no shelter and no basement, and I watched clouds swirling overhead forming tornadoes. I was always deathly afraid in that house.

I live in NW Arkansas and it's windy as hell up here.
2nd line

reply to post by crazydaisy


None has been issued.

Just heavy thunderstorms and hail.

It is awesomely warm outside though

reply to post by MoosKept240


A warm thunderstorm in February? What is wrong with this picture???

Tornado warning, storm racing above the Joplin area, towards a town called Lockwood. Head's up!

Yep, I be looking, used to work in Lockwood actually, hope they will be ok. I am north and west of there, still under a watch here. Thanks OP

reply to post by FissionSurplus


I know, this weather is strange, but man I am not complaining. I am originally from Florida, so I like the heat.

It has let up some but I am sure more will come throughout the night.

I am happy because of the lack of snow, we really need this rain.

Thunder roaring my way, and wind picking up, I have satellite internet, so it will be out soon.

Will check back in after it passes, take care everyone!

Peace, NRE.

Wind and lights flickering... Eerie tonight here in Missouri. Great circulation in Lamar. Headed our way soon. Lots of wind and some distant lightning.

Harveyville, Kansas (southwest of Topeka), has been hit with a tornado. There are injuries, gas leaks, and destroyed homes. The whole town has been cordoned off by law enforcement. It's getting ugly folks, hang in there!

reply to post by FissionSurplus


Sheeze, that is bad news, I am watching KY3 I think, did not hear this what station are you watchingZ?

Confirmed tornado damage west of me in Milford. About to hit Stockton Lake area they are now under a warning. Sheet, not sure if I should wake the family and get them to shelter...

Very little time to prepare, they have down played this so much.