Tragic Weather

As I was trying to think of something to write about today, all I could seem to think about were the deadly tornadoes that went across parts of the United States this week.  I am so saddened to see the pictures on the news and hear about the lives lost.  It is all too familiar of what we experienced in 2008.

Weather is something that has always been of interest to me.  I am amazed by the awesome powers that the weather has.  It is amazing how so many tiny snowflakes can multiply and cripple an area such as what happened to this area in late winter.  Even more astonishing to me is how a tornado can tear up so much in just a matter of moments.  I have a great amount of respect for severe weather though, so I could never be a storm chaser.  The other day, right after the tornadoes occurred, I read an article that stated that there were over 800 tornadoes touch down in the United States just in the month of April.  I cannot seem to come across that article to cite it, but if that is true, that is absolutely astonishing.  I have always heard that everything happens for a reason, but sometimes I cannot help but question how everything that came from these storms is for a reason.  I definitely do not see how it can be a good reason.

As I was reading the news today, an article that caught my attention, mentioned that a tornado that went through Smithfield, Mississippi had winds of 205 mph.  A tornado with winds of that intensity is considered an EF-5 tornado, which was making it the first EF-5 tornado since 1966.  Link 1  Another article I read, stated that the death toll from these deadly tornadoes is now up to around 318 and close to 300,000 people are without power.  Things like this can be so hard to cope with and it seems like when there is a lack of power, or water, it just makes things all the harder and much more miserable. My heart goes out to the people that have been effected by this.  It is so sad when people lose their lives so suddenly.  I know that it is sad any time a life is lost, but when someone has been warned that they will die at some point, it seems that it would be a tiny bit easier at least, to cope with it.  The article also said that this storm outbreak is the deadliest storm outbreak since the great depression.  Link 2  This is also the most devastating disaster that the United States has faced since Hurricane Katrina. 

With all that being said, I feel more fortunate than ever.  If I understood the weather right, earlier this week, this same line of severe storms were expected to go through the Joplin area.  However, we were fortunate enough that these storms moved past us.  I also have a friend that was my best friend from grade school that lives in Alabama that I heard from.  I feel very thankful knowing that she is safe as well as her family.