A Timely Subject

[Dennis1209]

Severe weather, Tornadoes, and Hurricanes

Severe weather here in the US seems to be increasing in frequency and intensity, following the Biblical description of a woman beginning labor. The records for the NWS and NOAA I checked appear to bear this trend out. This spring, the Central US (Tornado Alley) and Eastern part (Dixie Alley) of the US have been especially nasty. Meteorologists and weather forecasters have called this spring break-out of severe weather unprecedented, historical, and generational.   

Thus far, in my area, we have had two bouts of nonstop weather threats lasting four days and nights. Cell phones constantly go off night and day with tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, 60-90 M.P.H. wind gusts, large hail, and flood warnings. Needless to say, we did not get much sleep during these events. We could say we were anxious about the constant threats and unprepared.

Destruction from these events was widespread from the Gulf states to the Canadian border and eastern states, with tornadoes, flooding, and hail causing billions in damage and lives. Hail dropped in areas from pea size to marble size, golf ball, baseball, apple, and grapefruit, and places in Texas had 5.25" hail, yes, bigger than a CD, big enough to penetrate sturdy roofs.

In the fifteen years I have lived here, several tornadoes on the ground have swept through a mile or two from me. A long history of devastating whirlwinds, even completely sweeping away my church (less than a mile away) decades ago.  

Our home is on a concrete slab with no basement. Needless to say, it is not comfortable not having a safe place to escape for long periods. Knowing that if a direct hit comes, I would not be able to tell my wife I did all I could. Sorry.

When I purchased this home, the owners had an above-ground steel tornado shelter anchored in the concrete. I tried to negotiate the safe room into the sale, but no, they wanted to take it with them. I should have suspected they knew something I did not at the time. Ah, no big deal; I do not need any stinking tornado shelter anyway. Now, hindsight is 20/20, fifteen years older, wife with mobility issues, etc.

At this point, I want to confess I have faith and assurance in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved and know where I am going; when and how the Lord calls me home, I will not know. It is a long story, but thus far, my wife has not been born again, and that deeply concerns me to my core.

Doing my diligent research on tornado shelters and communicating with many companies, I finally ordered one, if for nothing else, a little peace of mind for myself and my wife. Because of the recent severe weather outbreaks, the lead time to get one installed went from about a week or two to 13-16 weeks, go figure.

At one point, I owned a Midland NOAA weather alert radio that worked great. I tried to order another one (Amazon, Lowe's, Walmart, etc.), but everyone was sold out, and no restock was expected. I went to the manufacturer's website and was able to order one.

I question if it is faith-based to be prudent in protecting yourself and your family when you see potential danger in life and limbs on the horizon, and prepare a defense.

Anyway, do any of you live in Tornado or Hurricane Alley? What preparations have you made, if any?

[AnOrangeCat]

30 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

I question if it is faith-based to be prudent in protecting yourself and your family when you see potential danger in life and limbs on the horizon, and prepare a defense.

Anyway, do any of you live in Tornado or Hurricane Alley? What preparations have you made, if any?

I'd look to I Timothy 5:8. "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Taking steps to safeguard living space and livelihood falls under that umbrella, IMO. Keeping with the notion that faith without works is dead when you prepare defenses and backups you're acting wisely. I think if we're in harm's way and don't prepare for it then the situation is similar to being a farmer and saying "God will provide" and then doing nothing to plant or work the land.

I live on the outskirts of Tornado Alley. Few actual tornadoes come this way so I mostly just see the leftover bad weather and occasional intense storms (nothing compared to Kansas foul weather, which I experienced once). I'm of limited finances and have to use my monthly income just to get by. But I've found surge protectors to be invaluable and suffer far less appliances and computers getting fried now.

Hypothetically if I was able to I think I'd just have a large portion of the house underground. That way I'd suffer less in the hot summers too.

[tatwo]

1 hour ago, Dennis1209 said:

At this point, I want to confess I have faith and assurance in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved and know where I am going; when and how the Lord calls me home, I will not know. It is a long story, but thus far, my wife has not been born again, and that deeply concerns me to my core.

Well Bro...and I know you are very likely aware of this...but for encouragement I will post it anyways. Salvation and the subsequent calling, justification and glorification are an individual choice really...the Holy Spirit can be counted upon to do His part. The sanctifying effect of your faith and life upon hers may take years...and still...she needs to hear from the Lord directly as He calls her to Himself...it’s not for everyone...remember.  

1 hour ago, Dennis1209 said:

I question if it is faith-based to be prudent in protecting yourself and your family when you see potential danger in life and limbs on the horizon, and prepare a defense.

Anyway, do any of you live in Tornado or Hurricane Alley? What preparations have you made, if any?

I live in a place where tornados travel through near to us every year. Last year my brothers and I watched a tornado travel its path just 1.5 miles away from us. We get several severe thunder storms, several inches of rain, very high winds...50-75 mph and those devastating “straight line winds”...annually.

So yes we have taken the time and effort and poured some resources into preparation for weather among other things...guns however...are not something we see as necessary preparations...if you were wondering...others must do as they feel lead.

My identity is as a son of my Father, He is my source...He is my protection and provision when His purpose for which He put me here is complete...my flesh will be laid to rest...by Him...not until.  

Remember that, for the “obedient” sons of God they have a destiny “in Christ” that is unalterable really...meaning that their days have been set in eternity...nothing can change that...most either do not realize this have forgotten it, or don’t believe it. Which it is why it will be proven as essential...that one grow to a fully mature status in their calling...this is God’s will for each of His sons.

As for those around us that are not in Christ or who may yet be spiritual infants or toddlers if you will...in the Body of Christ...they will need, benefit and appreciate the benefits of some...”ahead of time physical preparations”...to go along with the appropriate spiritual and prophetic preparations...to help them move through a crisis such as you are describing here...some will see God in it.

That’s my perspective and I have seen these preps speak loudly to immature brothers and sisters as well as my unsaved friends over the years. And some of them have realized the godly wisdom in taking time to prepare for them or to simply assist them in preparations themselves.

When love moves...it is always for the benefit of others Brother Dennis1209!

Tatwo...:)

[AdHoc]

2 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Severe weather, Tornadoes, and Hurricanes

Severe weather here in the US seems to be increasing in frequency and intensity, following the Biblical description of a woman beginning labor. The records for the NWS and NOAA I checked appear to bear this trend out. This spring, the Central US (Tornado Alley) and Eastern part (Dixie Alley) of the US have been especially nasty. Meteorologists and weather forecasters have called this spring break-out of severe weather unprecedented, historical, and generational.   

Thus far, in my area, we have had two bouts of nonstop weather threats lasting four days and nights. Cell phones constantly go off night and day with tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, 60-90 M.P.H. wind gusts, large hail, and flood warnings. Needless to say, we did not get much sleep during these events. We could say we were anxious about the constant threats and unprepared.

Destruction from these events was widespread from the Gulf states to the Canadian border and eastern states, with tornadoes, flooding, and hail causing billions in damage and lives. Hail dropped in areas from pea size to marble size, golf ball, baseball, apple, and grapefruit, and places in Texas had 5.25" hail, yes, bigger than a CD, big enough to penetrate sturdy roofs.

In the fifteen years I have lived here, several tornadoes on the ground have swept through a mile or two from me. A long history of devastating whirlwinds, even completely sweeping away my church (less than a mile away) decades ago.  

Our home is on a concrete slab with no basement. Needless to say, it is not comfortable not having a safe place to escape for long periods. Knowing that if a direct hit comes, I would not be able to tell my wife I did all I could. Sorry.

When I purchased this home, the owners had an above-ground steel tornado shelter anchored in the concrete. I tried to negotiate the safe room into the sale, but no, they wanted to take it with them. I should have suspected they knew something I did not at the time. Ah, no big deal; I do not need any stinking tornado shelter anyway. Now, hindsight is 20/20, fifteen years older, wife with mobility issues, etc.

At this point, I want to confess I have faith and assurance in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved and know where I am going; when and how the Lord calls me home, I will not know. It is a long story, but thus far, my wife has not been born again, and that deeply concerns me to my core.

Doing my diligent research on tornado shelters and communicating with many companies, I finally ordered one, if for nothing else, a little peace of mind for myself and my wife. Because of the recent severe weather outbreaks, the lead time to get one installed went from about a week or two to 13-16 weeks, go figure.

At one point, I owned a Midland NOAA weather alert radio that worked great. I tried to order another one (Amazon, Lowe's, Walmart, etc.), but everyone was sold out, and no restock was expected. I went to the manufacturer's website and was able to order one.

I question if it is faith-based to be prudent in protecting yourself and your family when you see potential danger in life and limbs on the horizon, and prepare a defense.

Anyway, do any of you live in Tornado or Hurricane Alley? What preparations have you made, if any?

God reported a council among many. It is "Let US make man ..." That is, notwithstanding that God is One, the word "US" is multiple. So the bottom line is that the Triune God had a conference and decided to attach themselves to man for the purpose of displaying the unseen God and for managing His affairs as good Stewards. The very notion of connecting Himself to man is a declaration that man is to act with the intelligence that God displays. God has power over His creature, but He still constructed the human nostrils facing down. Rain cannot go up your nose. God could abolish rain if He so wanted, but He made the nose and the rain.

If you don't wear your seatbelt while in a car God can help you in an 80 mph collision, but He also said that a man will reap what he sows. For this, natural laws are in place, and Newton's third Law says that your innards are going to be strawberry mush if you abruptly stop from 80 mph. If you have $600,000 mortgage and you love your wife, a $300,000 life insurance is the bottom line - unless of course she likes money better than you in which case even the rat-poison mus be monitored. These are just some of the many practical solutions to very real dangers. God will help when the bear gets between you, your 3-year-old and the rifle, but if you live in bear country a rifle is more likely to be needed than a fire-blanket in your kitchen.

In His grand prayer our Lord Jesus prayed; "Lead us NOT into trial ...".  Satan asked for Job and Peter - and got them. Be practical. Gravity always works on earth.

[other one]

4 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Anyway, do any of you live in Tornado or Hurricane Alley? What preparations have you made, if any?

We live in central Oklahoma and in the middle of Tornado Alley.  I do have two of the radios you are speaking of, but we seldom need them when at home.  Because we have so many, tornados have become a sport here in the central land.

Each of our local TV stations have serious weather reporting tools, including very sophisticated Doppler radars.  Actually, KWTV here had one before the National Weather people did.   We get alerts from those stations if we sign up to get them on our phones, and our county disaster people also alert us along with fixed sirens that warn of a tornado.  What used to be the TV alert system.

We rarely have people killed by tornados, however they do a lot of damage when they happen.

We have a whole house generator for power outages and a 10 by 16 underground cellar.  We almost always have a 90-day supply of food and some water set back when we know trouble is coming.

We have had two small tornados E2's hit us over the past 20 years that did a lot of roof damage and destroyed a carport over our RV.

I say that tornados have become a sport here because when really severe storms come, two and sometimes three of our local TV stations will preempt all programming and do constant weather reporting with as many as 4 or 5 remote tornado chasers with live pictures and reports.  An example:::

This is what we are accustom in seeing when they strike.   I keep this one for it is the original monster.  When this was taken it was nearly a mile wide and wind speeds in access of 300 mph.  And yet they have the knowledge of dodging them to keep us safe.

I can't find an image of the doppler radar when it was approaching Moore (suburb of OKC) but the mesocyclone that formed it was seven miles wide   Gary England our local famous TV guy on KWTV when they switched to the radar made the comment in a somber tone, Oh My God, people if you can't get underground you need to run. (Which is usually the worst thing you can do) however, people did, and it probably saved thousands of lives.  Still, we lost a couple of hundred.   Everyone here takes tornados seriously.  Our last one at home was two years ago and it damaged our roof, Winnebago carport and my truck.  We lost all but two trees.

Anyway, we are always prepared.

BTW, during our last one that damaged our house, we ran the generator for over a week for power.  It took that long to repair the grid here.

[walla299]

When I was in Florida we were always prepared for hurricane season. It just made sense to have a supply of non-perishable (i.e. canned) food and drinking water stashed because the grid can be out literally for weeks after a big storm depending on the area. Last storm took the roof off half the house I was staying in and the power wasn't back up for almost 6 weeks due to none of the poles survived the storm. We had food, water, and were armed so we had no problems with looters. One benefit of being in a 'hood known for a large veteran population.  lol.

We hated the storm and the aftermath - but around 80 billion mosquitoes loved it.

 

[TheBlade]

7 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Severe weather, Tornadoes, and Hurricanes

Severe weather here in the US seems to be increasing in frequency and intensity, following the Biblical description of a woman beginning labor. The records for the NWS and NOAA I checked appear to bear this trend out. This spring, the Central US (Tornado Alley) and Eastern part (Dixie Alley) of the US have been especially nasty. Meteorologists and weather forecasters have called this spring break-out of severe weather unprecedented, historical, and generational.   

Thus far, in my area, we have had two bouts of nonstop weather threats lasting four days and nights. Cell phones constantly go off night and day with tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, 60-90 M.P.H. wind gusts, large hail, and flood warnings. Needless to say, we did not get much sleep during these events. We could say we were anxious about the constant threats and unprepared.

Destruction from these events was widespread from the Gulf states to the Canadian border and eastern states, with tornadoes, flooding, and hail causing billions in damage and lives. Hail dropped in areas from pea size to marble size, golf ball, baseball, apple, and grapefruit, and places in Texas had 5.25" hail, yes, bigger than a CD, big enough to penetrate sturdy roofs.

In the fifteen years I have lived here, several tornadoes on the ground have swept through a mile or two from me. A long history of devastating whirlwinds, even completely sweeping away my church (less than a mile away) decades ago.  

Our home is on a concrete slab with no basement. Needless to say, it is not comfortable not having a safe place to escape for long periods. Knowing that if a direct hit comes, I would not be able to tell my wife I did all I could. Sorry.

When I purchased this home, the owners had an above-ground steel tornado shelter anchored in the concrete. I tried to negotiate the safe room into the sale, but no, they wanted to take it with them. I should have suspected they knew something I did not at the time. Ah, no big deal; I do not need any stinking tornado shelter anyway. Now, hindsight is 20/20, fifteen years older, wife with mobility issues, etc.

At this point, I want to confess I have faith and assurance in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved and know where I am going; when and how the Lord calls me home, I will not know. It is a long story, but thus far, my wife has not been born again, and that deeply concerns me to my core.

Doing my diligent research on tornado shelters and communicating with many companies, I finally ordered one, if for nothing else, a little peace of mind for myself and my wife. Because of the recent severe weather outbreaks, the lead time to get one installed went from about a week or two to 13-16 weeks, go figure.

At one point, I owned a Midland NOAA weather alert radio that worked great. I tried to order another one (Amazon, Lowe's, Walmart, etc.), but everyone was sold out, and no restock was expected. I went to the manufacturer's website and was able to order one.

I question if it is faith-based to be prudent in protecting yourself and your family when you see potential danger in life and limbs on the horizon, and prepare a defense.

Anyway, do any of you live in Tornado or Hurricane Alley? What preparations have you made, if any?

Hey D.. for me I was never promised tomorrow yet I can prepare for it. Looking back some do this yet some have just went way over board. He will aways when we seek Him for the answer.. give us peace about.. what were doing.. make sense.

[Dennis1209]

4 hours ago, other one said:

We live in central Oklahoma and in the middle of Tornado Alley.  I do have two of the radios you are speaking of, but we seldom need them when at home.  Because we have so many, tornados have become a sport here in the central land.

Each of our local TV stations have serious weather reporting tools, including very sophisticated Doppler radars.  Actually, KWTV here had one before the National Weather people did.   We get alerts from those stations if we sign up to get them on our phones, and our county disaster people also alert us along with fixed sirens that warn of a tornado.  What used to be the TV alert system.

We rarely have people killed by tornados, however they do a lot of damage when they happen.

We have a whole house generator for power outages and a 10 by 16 underground cellar.  We almost always have a 90-day supply of food and some water set back when we know trouble is coming.

We have had two small tornados E2's hit us over the past 20 years that did a lot of roof damage and destroyed a carport over our RV.

I say that tornados have become a sport here because when really severe storms come, two and sometimes three of our local TV stations will preempt all programming and do constant weather reporting with as many as 4 or 5 remote tornado chasers with live pictures and reports.  An example:::

This is what we are accustom in seeing when they strike.   I keep this one for it is the original monster.  When this was taken it was nearly a mile wide and wind speeds in access of 300 mph.  And yet they have the knowledge of dodging them to keep us safe.

I can't find an image of the doppler radar when it was approaching Moore (suburb of OKC) but the mesocyclone that formed it was seven miles wide   Gary England our local famous TV guy on KWTV when they switched to the radar made the comment in a somber tone, Oh My God, people if you can't get underground you need to run. (Which is usually the worst thing you can do) however, people did, and it probably saved thousands of lives.  Still, we lost a couple of hundred.   Everyone here takes tornados seriously.  Our last one at home was two years ago and it damaged our roof, Winnebago carport and my truck.  We lost all but two trees.

Anyway, we are always prepared.

BTW, during our last one that damaged our house, we ran the generator for over a week for power.  It took that long to repair the grid here.

Watching YouTube videos, Oklahoma got hit pretty hard in places. When the power is not interrupted during severe weather, I watch the forecasting and live action on Ryan Hall Ya’ll and Max Velocity.

Due to my satellite TV, I do not get a good reception with thick clouds and heavy rain. Sometimes, but not always, we get NSW alerts on our phones; we barely get one bar with our AT&T coverage area, the only company we can get any reception indoors. Plus, I am a heavy sleeper. I’ve slept through a tornado plowing through our neighborhood, and over a million gallons of jet fuel exploded less than a mile away in RVN.

It must be an age thing. When I was fit and younger, I used to enjoy severe weather and say, "Bring it on." These days, not so, LOL. I remember well that monster, Moore, OK. EF-5 tornado, a tragedy. I think it was an EF-4 that tore through nearby Mayfield, KY., a few years ago, removing part of their city.

A tornado helped influence my decision to retire from my job earlier than I intended. In the spring of 2009, I lived in Cahokia, IL., across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. I got home from work shortly before a state(s) line of severe thunderstorms arrived, watching the dark, deep purple line of storms advance from my back deck.

The gusts of wind started and blew debris in my eyes, so I stepped inside the sliding glass door to watch the exciting action. Long story short, I did not see a funnel, but suddenly, the large trampoline I bought my daughter rose perfectly straight up like a Harrier Jet thirty feet, not even a wobble. Like a Harrier jet, it shot off over my two-story house, removing shingles, sewer vent pipe, ventilation whirlybird, and guttering. The trampoline embedded itself in the neighbor’s house across the subdivision street, which was weird.

We were lucky; our electricity was out only nine days, and I had (and still do) a Coleman 7K watt generator and gasoline. We were the only lit house and noise in the subdivision, making me think and feel uncomfortable. The only prep that skipped my mind was a small room A/C. Each day in July was humid, with highs in the upper 90s, and I had to go to work after I secured the damage, and I was miserable trying to sleep.

To add insult to injury, my wife watched Twister, an older movie with Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, a few days ago. Yeah, that’s entertainment, alright.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the city sewer system lift pumps did not have emergency electric backup. Guess what kind of explosions some homes endured?

[warrior12]

9 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

At this point, I want to confess I have faith and assurance in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved and know where I am going; when and how the Lord calls me home, I will not know. It is a long story, but thus far, my wife has not been born again, and that deeply concerns me to my core.

Though the main theme of your topic was weather related, the lines above struck me at heart.  I could only imagine the conversations you have , as I was there when I was in rebellion and my sisters would try to  point me to salvation.   The Lord got my attention in a very deep way, in which I almost died and in that episode, the  spiritual would was opened up to me to see the side of evil.  The next day I quit smoking and drinking till this day.  At first I was scared to death of what I encountered with the unseen world, which still occurs today.   

As you well know, the Lord works in ways that we do not understand at times and as long as you have hope, then thats matters.  Many times I came close to tragedy and I was convinced that the Lord hand was in the matter to pull me out.   

So just be the man that you are with integrity and faithfullness and Your wife sure would see that it must be the almighty at work.  Then it's her decision and your work is done in that respect. Be bless brother. 

[Marathoner]

I understand that those with a household are concerned which is why I'm not writing about anyone else apart from myself. I don't have a family, a wife, nor children and I'm thankful that the Lord saw fit to keep me this way considering everything I have endured in this world. Because of this, I don't have a household and never had one. I've wandered for all of my life and was homeless for most of it. If it weren't for the Lord, I would have passed away a long time ago.

I wasn't in a position to prepare for any of it, my friends. I didn't have money, so I couldn't stock up on shelf-stable food; that was fine because I didn't have a place to keep all of it anyway. I found a place to shelter from tornadoes, but it wasn't my house nor basement; someone in their kindness permitted me to stay in theirs while tornadoes passed around us. 

I've been in monsoons, typhoons, hurricanes, blizzards, and the desert, and I learned that it's easier to keep warm than to cool off. I lived without electricity and HVAC for a long time and found it difficult to adjust to life in a city with all of the glaring lights and insane sounds. It was 90 degrees in my new apartment (the first I ever had) when someone I worked with came by one afternoon. "Why don't you turn on the AC?", he asked. "It's not hot in here," I replied. He looked at me like I had lost my mind. 

During the winter, I set the thermostat to 65 as a precautionary measure. Better safe than sorry... I thought heated air was preferable to crawling underneath a cabin to apply heat to frozen pipes. After my close call with the grave, I lost the fortitude to do those kinds of things. Indeed, I found myself much weaker than I had ever been before. I can't tolerate extremes of temperature like I used to, and walking upstairs is more challenging these days. 

I couldn't prepare for that either, my friends. However, the Lord is with me and so I'm not worried about a single thing. He permitted me to remain on this earth when I should have left it, so my life is in His hands. Indeed, He gave me His so I could live. I can't speak for anyone else, but I was never in a position to prepare for anything that came my way. It doesn't matter to me.