Tornado in Atlanta

[bsmart]

Quite an exciting evening here in Atlanta, I am trapped at school, they still have us on lockdown here on campus...I was here finishing a city planning project when the warning came out and there is quite a bit of damage around campus and especially in dowtown, the CNN Center and Georgia Dome were hit. I will post more in a few hours when we are allowed to leave :\

[Tootsie]

omg. this is terrible news. so glad you are okay even if you are trapped. stay put til its safe.

thanks for the update. keep us informed. I'll go check out the news.

[cp]

Yeah the State/AL game was delayed for 64 min. You could see the whole top of the dome swaying.

[bsmart]

omg. this is terrible news. so glad you are okay even if you are trapped. stay put til its safe.

thanks for the update. keep us informed. I'll go check out the news.

Maybe I should not have used a strong work like trapped, I hope my mom does not see this...the campus police are in the process of securing the campus and then will let us go out, apparently there is some tree and powerline damage.

[gotothebeachmom]

Quite an exciting evening here in Atlanta, I am trapped at school, they still have us on lockdown here on campus...I was here finishing a city planning project when the warning came out and there is quite a bit of damage around campus and especially in dowtown, the CNN Center and Georgia Dome were hit. I will post more in a few hours when we are allowed to leave :\

Be safe bsmart. It's nasty. Hope you find your car is ok. All ramps in and out of Atl are closed at this time. If you are headed to Gwinnett not so bad here. Lot's of rain and a light show that puts the 4th of July to shame. Damage downtown looks widespread and unfreakin' beleviable. Stay safe.

[organicmama]

Be careful! I don't remember one ever hitting the city, metro parts, yes, but not downtown.

http://www.11alive.com/video/default_live.aspx?storyid=112917

[Ocean Lover]

Oh my goodness...I hope everyone is okay...BR...how about out BeachJ is she close?

[gotothebeachmom]

Just got a call from my brother in Athens, we have a tornado over Snellville now, headed towards Athens. What wild weather!

[DD]

:eek: Be safe, gttbm!!!

[Beach Runner]

Oh my goodness...I hope everyone is okay...BR...how about out BeachJ is she close?
BJ is in Midtown; thankfully the storm was downtown (south of that). But she has a view from her condo. She's okay. We were on the phone through it all.

BTW the SEC tournament has been moved from the Dome to the Boob (which she can see from her living room and says it is unharmed). The Boob (Alexander Memorial Coliseum at Georgia Tech) doesn't hold nearly as many people as the Dome, so a lot of ticket holders will be SOOL.

[Miss Kitty]

:shock:...oh my! Glad everyone is safe! gttbm, I can't believe the bad stuff is still there! Duck and cover!

[DD]

BR, I'm seeing there's more on the way. You be safe too!

[Beach Runner]

BR, I'm seeing there's more on the way. You be safe too!
That's what they are saying on the news -- another bad cell heading our way. I have to work this AM (visitation day for potential students), but if it gets bad, I'm gonna take my car and head home to put it in the garage -- we've had the hail damage before -- don't wanna go through that again!

[DD]

That's what they are saying on the news -- another bad cell heading our way. I have to work this AM (visitation day for potential students), but if it gets bad, I'm gonna take my car and head home to put it in the garage -- we've had the hail damage before -- don't wanna go through that again!

Hail. :eek:Worse than wind.

[30A Skunkape]

Betty Nguyen is safe:wub:

[BrownEyedGull]

I was just downtown yesterday on the Fifth Grade field trip. We were everywhere around the storm area. - MLK museum, toured the CNN center, Fernbank, The Breman Center (Holocaust Museum). It is so strange to see everything on the news this morning in such shambles.

And Skunky, Betty was broadcasting yesterday when we toured CNN.

Anyone heard from NoHall? There were bad areas in Hall Co. early this morning.
.

[gotothebeachmom]

:shock:...oh my! Glad everyone is safe! gttbm, I can't believe the bad stuff is still there! Duck and cover!

It's been a long night. I just got up for the second time. Nana and PaPa are driving in from SoWal to our house today! Hoping they'll make it safe!

BR, I'm seeing there's more on the way. You be safe too!

Yes BR, you guys stay safe as well. :wave:

[DD]

It's been a long night. I just got up for the second time. Nana and PaPa are driving in from SoWal to our house today! Hoping they'll make it safe!



Yes BR, you guys stay safe as well. :wave:

Hope they make it safely. :wave:

[olive]

The loft building in Cabbagetown that was hit was where Am and I lived when we first got married.

Cabbagetown has been hit twice now, the fire in '99 and now this. It is so sad. Cabbagetown is a quaint and beautiful part of town. They say a lot of the historic mill homes were damaged.:cry:

[Beach Runner]

Hope they make it safely. :wave:
Ditto.

The loft building in Cabbagetown that was hit was where Am and I lived when we first got married.

Cabbagetown has been hit twice now, the fire in '99 and now this. It is so sad. Cabbagetown is a quaint and beautiful part of town. They say a lot of the historic mill homes were damaged.:cry:
So sad.

[Ocean Lover]

This is just hard to believe. I was just looking at pictures of the damage.:eek::(

[30A Skunkape]

It looks like a bomb went off near those lofts in Cabbage Town:eek:

[peapod1980]

Betty Nguyen is safe:wub:
Skunky, who was that other newslady (weather, I believe) that Punzy outed you for crushing on? It was a while back. What is it with you and newsreaders, anyway?

[bsmart]

Dr. Forbes on The Weather Channel just said that the storm in Cherokee County has maxed out the rotation velocities on the Doppler Radar! Unreal!

[futurebeachbum]

Here's what the local news looks like on TV right now. The circle area is one of the tornadoes. Its the NW side of town catching it. Multiple fatalities have been announced.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado.png

[JeanLafitte]

Concerning, indeed.

[DD]

:eek::eek::eek:Holy Moly! Hang on you guys!

[futurebeachbum]

The news keeps getting worse.

The storm is 10 miles wide with 1+ inch hail.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado2.png


http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado3.png

Another new warning has been issued.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado4.png

Seems more like Kansas than Georgia.

[Miss Kitty]

Here's what the local news looks like on TV right now. The circle area is one of the tornadoes. Its the NW side of town catching it. Multiple fatalities have been announced.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado.png

OMG! Are y'all near the path? Please stay safe!

[Beach Runner]

We're south of Atlanta, and even though we're under a tornado watch, I think it's going north of Atlanta. I can't get daughter on her cell. She was talking about visiting her BF's parents in Alpharetta, which means she's in the path. I wish she would return my call.

[gotothebeachmom]

OMG! Are y'all near the path? Please stay safe!

This is NW of us. This is where FuBar's Dad and my wife-in-law live!

[Beach Runner]

Now a tornado warning for Hall County. NoHall, stay safe!

[DD]

NoHall....grab a mattress!:eek:

[Biff]

No Hall; drop the RoHipNall; you need to be alert:eek:


:wub:

[bsmart]

Baseball to softball size hail reported in Cherokee County.

[Biff]

Crapola~ I hope that Mini is in a garage...... (or the living room ;~)

Baseball to softball size hail reported in Cherokee County.

[Beach Runner]

Gttbm, I guess you know that the tornado is supposed to hit Snellville at 4:40. Supposed to hit Atlanta in about 20 minutes. Beach Jacket isn't answering her phone.:eek: NoHall, hope you're okay. My guess is that you have no power or Internet. They're talking 3-inch hail going up 6 miles! And it will come down.

Take care, everyone.

[gotothebeachmom]

Gttbm, I guess you know that the tornado is supposed to hit Snellville at 4:40. Supposed to hit Atlanta in about 20 minutes. Beach Jacket isn't answering her phone.:eek: NoHall, hope you're okay. My guess is that you have no power or Internet. They're talking 3-inch hail going up 6 miles! And it will come down.

Take care, everyone.


HOLY CRAP!!!!! They are showing this tornado on the ground barreling down on Atlanta moving right down the path it took last night!!!!!! This is the scariest thing I have ever seen! FBB's folks are in Columbus headed this way! BR you take care as well!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!!

[bsmart]

Live coverage, another tornado on the ground in Atlanta near Turner Field.

[futurebeachbum]

Here is what it looks like as it approaches Turner Field.

They say it is really big and moving at 50 MPH.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado6.png

We're moving to the basement here pretty soon.

[bsmart]

The tornado damage from the earlier tornado in Polk County looks to be an F5 (EF5), a well constructed brick house was blown off of its foundation, and trees have been debarked and sheered off at ground level according to damage reports.

[aleonard]

Here is what it looks like as it approaches Turner Field.

They say it is really big and moving at 50 MPH.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado6.png

We're moving to the basement here pretty soon.
OMG:yikes: You guys are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay safe:shock:

[DD]

:eek::eek::yikes::eek::yikes::eek::eek:

[Beach Runner]

The tornado damage from the earlier tornado in Polk County looks to be an F5 (EF5), a well constructed brick house was blown off of its foundation, and trees have been debarked and sheered off at ground level according to damage reports.
Did you see that their car ended up about 500 yards away from the house? At least one fatality in that incident.

Another severe storm in my old 'hood, Cascade Heights, heading toward the city.

These storms are really weird. Usually they move up I-85. They traditionally hit the trailer park at the Palmetto/Collinsworth Road exit on 85. This time they are following I-20.

Beach Jacket said there was big hail in Midtown.

[tistheseason]

And the fun continues. . . .when will it end?????? Our sirens went off for the 3rd time in 24 hours. I just cleaned out a closet for the boys and I to head into if it gets scary. My husband is in Tampa this week. (Looks like it has passed now, thank goodness!) I think the boys are disappointed not to be camping out in the closet -- they stocked it full of snacks (marshmallows!), juice boxes, flashlights, swords (?), snoopy, oliver the bear and squishy pillow. There is hardly any room for people.:eek:

[gotothebeachmom]

And the fun continues. . . .when will it end?????? Our sirens went off for the 3rd time in 24 hours. I just cleaned out a closet for the boys and I to head into if it gets scary. My husband is in Tampa this week. (Looks like it has passed now, thank goodness!) I think the boys are disappointed not to be camping out in the closet -- they stocked it full of snacks (marshmallows!), juice boxes, flashlights, swords (?), snoopy, oliver the bear and squishy pillow. There is hardly any room for people.:eek:

There's more headed our way from Alabama. I think even our Channel 2 weather guys are getting weary of the weather. Their new 3-D radar is amazing!

You and the guys have fun in the closet and stay safe.

[DD]

And the fun continues. . . .when will it end?????? Our sirens went off for the 3rd time in 24 hours. I just cleaned out a closet for the boys and I to head into if it gets scary. My husband is in Tampa this week. (Looks like it has passed now, thank goodness!) I think the boys are disappointed not to be camping out in the closet -- they stocked it full of snacks (marshmallows!), juice boxes, flashlights, swords (?), snoopy, oliver the bear and squishy pillow. There is hardly any room for people.:eek:

Tis...hope you're ok. Looks like on the radar here that there's more coming. :eek:

[tistheseason]

So far we've had some hail and a little rain, but it's all passed by. Think we'll have normal programing on TV by the time we go to bed tonight???? I don't ever remember a day like this. It's incredible -- and I mean that in the scariest way. I think they just mentioned that 8 new cells are heading this way! I feel so sorry for the people along I-20!

[futurebeachbum]

Looks like the weather has kind of split and is slightly north of us and slightly south of us. We have blue skies and a lot of wind. I can look south and see some significant weather. We live near Hwy 78 and it appears to be a clear corridor.

The temp here has gone from 72 to 77 in about 15 minutes.

My folks are driving up from Columbus right now. They'll probably deal with this as they come around the SE side of the Perimeter.

[Ocean Lover]

Baseball to softball size hail reported in Cherokee County.

Yikes!

How's everyone doing?

[Beach Runner]

I have a major fear of basements (long story). But today I wish we had one.

I finally told Beach Jacket that there is such a long "train" of cells (as the weather forecasters are referring to them), it's hard to keep her informed. I told her to turn on WSB (their 3-D weather radar is awesome), but if she loses TV or power, I will be her weather eye. :eek:

[gotothebeachmom]

I have a major fear of basements (long story). But today I wish we had one.

I finally told Beach Jacket that there is such a long "train" of cells (as the weather forecasters are referring to them), it's hard to keep her informed. I told her to turn on WSB (their 3-D weather radar is awesome), but if she loses TV or power, I will be her weather eye. :eek:

I'll have to say BR. Glen Burns and his crew have been impressive throughout this ordeal. Glen is very calm and professional and keeps you very informed. Glad BJ is ok. Stay safe.

[pgurney]

This was taken from the airport looking north about an hour ago.
http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html

It produced baseball size hail in downtown Atlanta.

[Beach Runner]

I'll have to say BR. Glen Burns and his crew have been impressive throughout this ordeal. Glen is very calm and professional and keeps you very informed. Glad BJ is ok. Stay safe.
You too, sweetie.

This was taken from the airport looking north about an hour ago.
http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html

It produced baseball size hail in downtown Atlanta.
It is AMAZING how black the sky got!

[tistheseason]

I'm OVER the weather. I think it's time to dye easter eggs! :biggrin:

[gotothebeachmom]

I'm OVER the weather. I think it's time to dye easter eggs! :biggrin:

Good plan. Dye them and post some pics for us. We need some brightness in this otherwise dull day.

[Miss Kitty]

So far we've had some hail and a little rain, but it's all passed by. Think we'll have normal programing on TV by the time we go to bed tonight???? I don't ever remember a day like this. It's incredible -- and I mean that in the scariest way. I think they just mentioned that 8 new cells are heading this way! I feel so sorry for the people along I-20!

:eek:...I just went and checked the radar...it just doesn't stop! Hang in there to all of our GA pals!

[gotothebeachmom]

Nana and PaPa have arrived safe and sound!

[Miss Kitty]

Nana and PaPa have arrived safe and sound!

Did they miss the house? :wave:

[jdarg]

Did they miss the house? :wave:

:floor:

And do you want me to check your house here and make sure they didn't drive through the front door?

Have fun tonight!:wave:

[gotothebeachmom]

:floor:

And do you want me to check your house here and make sure they didn't drive through the front door?

Have fun tonight!:wave:

Wouldn't be a bad idea! ;-)

[Paula]

:yikes:Hope you're all OK and will have no scary stories to tell us about the tornadoes at the soiree. I'm sending good safe thoughts your way.

[DD]

Nana and PaPa have arrived safe and sound!

:clap:

[NoHall]

I was just downtown yesterday on the Fifth Grade field trip. We were everywhere around the storm area. - MLK museum, toured the CNN center, Fernbank, The Breman Center (Holocaust Museum). It is so strange to see everything on the news this morning in such shambles.

And Skunky, Betty was broadcasting yesterday when we toured CNN.

Anyone heard from NoHall? There were bad areas in Hall Co. early this morning.
.

Now a tornado warning for Hall County. NoHall, stay safe!

NoHall....grab a mattress!:eek:

No Hall; drop the RoHipNall; you need to be alert:eek:


:wub:

Here is what it looks like as it approaches Turner Field.

They say it is really big and moving at 50 MPH.

http://www.johnharlow.com/tornado6.png

We're moving to the basement here pretty soon.


I'M HERE!!!

You all have been so sweet to ask, so I'll tell you about my day. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. from a dream about a plane crashing near my house to realize that I was in the middle of a bad storm. I flew out of bed to turn on the t.v. because my parents were due to fly in to Atlanta at 5:30 a.m. this morning. That's when I found out about all the damage in Atlanta. I finally got my Mom on the phone, and they were already in the car. I went back to bed to the sound of hail hitting the roof, but I had to go back to sleep because I had to play a recital this afternoon.

My parents and I went up to Dalton (near Chattanooga--I have lots of family there) for my recital and the sky stayed ugly all the way up. Just before the recital (about 1:30) one of my cousins came in and said that there was hail and tornado warnings in Dawsonville. That's 10-20 miles from my house. Mom called my sister-in-law, and she was already in her basement with the kids. The sirens were going off--there was a tornado on the ground in Cumming. Brown Eyed Gull? You still okay? (My brother was down in Fayetteville today, so he was headed the opposite direction through the mess when mom and dad were coming home this morning.)

At the end of the recital, she called back, and they were about to head back down. Another tornado on the ground in Dawson County.

We went back to my aunt's house and watched in horror the pictures you've posted. They were reporting 3.5" hail near Gainesville, multiple tornado warnings, tornado warnings and hail near my aunt's house in Cobb County...as soon as one would end, another would come up.

When it seemed clear, we started home. On one stretch of road, there were drifts of ice and pine needles all over the sides of the road. We stopped at the grocery store in Dawsonville, and Dad & I ran in. We had only gone through the front doors when I turned to look and I could no longer see their car in the parking lot. Wind, hail, high winds. I finally got mom on the phone, and she said that two buggies had flown around and hit the car and that the light poles were swaying.

By the time we got back outside, it was over, and we could see a full arch of rainbow over the parking lot. It was beautiful, but very strange.

I hope it's over. I'm tired.

[Ocean Lover]

I'M HERE!!!

You all have been so sweet to ask, so I'll tell you about my day. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. from a dream about a plane crashing near my house to realize that I was in the middle of a bad storm. I flew out of bed to turn on the t.v. because my parents were due to fly in to Atlanta at 5:30 a.m. this morning. That's when I found out about all the damage in Atlanta. I finally got my Mom on the phone, and they were already in the car. I went back to bed to the sound of hail hitting the roof, but I had to go back to sleep because I had to play a recital this afternoon.

My parents and I went up to Dalton (near Chattanooga--I have lots of family there) for my recital and the sky stayed ugly all the way up. Just before the recital (about 1:30) one of my cousins came in and said that there was hail and tornado warnings in Dawsonville. That's 10-20 miles from my house. Mom called my sister-in-law, and she was already in her basement with the kids. The sirens were going off--there was a tornado on the ground in Cumming. Brown Eyed Gull? You still okay? (My brother was down in Fayetteville today, so he was headed the opposite direction through the mess when mom and dad were coming home this morning.)

At the end of the recital, she called back, and they were about to head back down. Another tornado on the ground in Dawson County.

We went back to my aunt's house and watched in horror the pictures you've posted. They were reporting 3.5" hail near Gainesville, multiple tornado warnings, tornado warnings and hail near my aunt's house in Cobb County...as soon as one would end, another would come up.

When it seemed clear, we started home. On one stretch of road, there were drifts of ice and pine needles all over the sides of the road. We stopped at the grocery store in Dawsonville, and Dad & I ran in. We had only gone through the front doors when I turned to look and I could no longer see their car in the parking lot. Wind, hail, high winds. I finally got mom on the phone, and she said that two buggies had flown around and hit the car and that the light poles were swaying.

By the time we got back outside, it was over, and we could see a full arch of rainbow over the parking lot. It was beautiful, but very strange.

I hope it's over. I'm tired.

Get some rest, glad you're allright.

[DD]

Wow NoHall! Crazy day! I'm glad you and yours are ok.

[BrownEyedGull]

Glad you're okay NoHall!

This weather has been crazy all day! Somehow all the storms were either north or south of us:idontno:.

Had a baby shower to go to in Dacula - Hamilton Mill, and sure enough they had the TV on and it was heading right towards there! I must have someone looking out for me because the storm had touched down about 2 miles away from where we were, and there was hardly any rain or anything else.

I have heard reports of all the hail and tornados in Cumming and North Forsyth County. We are in the very southern tip of the county, and Cumming covers a large area. We're actually closer to Johns Creek/Suwanee and Alpharetta, so just over the Fulton/Forsyth line.

Safe here!
.

[NoHall]

Yay...you know you were the first person I though of when I heard they were in Forsyth? :yikes:

All seems calm. Thanks again for the love, y'all!

[DD]

Glad you're okay NoHall!

This weather has been crazy all day! Somehow all the storms were either north or south of us:idontno:.

Had a baby shower to go to in Dacula - Hamilton Mill, and sure enough they had the TV on and it was heading right towards there! I must have someone looking out for me because the storm had touched down about 2 miles away from where we were, and there was hardly any rain or anything else.

I have heard reports of all the hail and tornados in Cumming and North Forsyth County. We are in the very southern tip of the county, and Cumming covers a large area. We're actually closer to Johns Creek/Suwanee and Alpharetta, so just over the Fulton/Forsyth line.

Safe here!
.

:clap:

[Beach Runner]

Glad everyone is OTAY!

[NoHall]

SILVER LINING to a RULLY dark cloud: 2.21 inches of rain in Gainesville. I told Dad that I hope it soaks straight through to my well so that the Corps won't send it down to Alabama and Florida. I'm selfish that way.

[organicmama]

Just got in from P'Cola and glad everyone is okay.:wave: I am still in shock because I've never seen anything this bad in ATL. Need to call my parents at Lake Oconee & my bro out south of Cartersville, my stepson in Cobb.... Have friends in Cumming we need to check on. What a crazy time.

[NoHall]

The storm that hit Polk County, GA had two fatalities rather than just one, as was reported (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJef9x8MoNwhcKq4psD-GUJZwkQAD8VEDQIG0). (<--click) I just found out this morning that one of my colleagues/friends from church (the same guy who sent me the Ides of March (http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=21207) message) grew up near to this family, on a farm a quarter of a mile away. These were his life-long friends.

My friend's family lost their barn and found a 500-lb. piece of farm machinery in a tree. He has gone to his family's house to help clean up this week.

Life can change in an instant...:(

[Biff]

yea! watt she said!! ;~)

Glad everyone is OTAY!

[sowalgayboi]

Glad everyone is okay, been working like a loon the past few days. Thought I had it rough because of the occasional drizzle. :doh:

Glad to hear everyone is alright and safe. :wub:

SILVER LINING to a RULLY dark cloud: 2.21 inches of rain in Gainesville. I told Dad that I hope it soaks straight through to my well so that the Corps won't send it down to Alabama and Florida. I'm selfish that way.

Just when I was going to ask if the lake was filling. ;-)

[NoHall]

The storm that hit Polk County, GA had two fatalities rather than just one, as was reported (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJef9x8MoNwhcKq4psD-GUJZwkQAD8VEDQIG0). (<--click) I just found out this morning that one of my colleagues/friends from church (the same guy who sent me the Ides of March (http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=21207) message) grew up near to this family, on a farm a quarter of a mile away. These were his life-long friends.

My friend's family lost their barn and found a 500-lb. piece of farm machinery in a tree. He has gone to his family's house to help clean up this week.

Life can change in an instant...:(

My friend came back from helping to clean up his family's farm. It turns out that there was just one fatality, thank goodness. Mike Turner is expected to recover, although he is still in bad shape.

But get this: Just after the storm, a lady in Habersham County, more than 100 miles northeast of Polk County, noticed a picture lying in her driveway. Other than a little bit of edge wear, it was undamaged. It was a picture of Bonnie Turner, who died in Polk County. The next day, another Habersham County family found registration papers for the dogs that the Turners raised on their farm. (Story (http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/4307/))

Unfortunately, less than half of the 60 dogs were found. Also missing: The Turner's SUV. (Yes--as in their large vehicle has vanished without a trace.) Their other car was thrown something like 300 yards, and from the pictures you couldn't tell if it was right side up or upside down.

On the lighter side, my friend George was talking about the damage to his parents' farm. He said on one side of the property, it looked only like it had taken a hard rain. The other side looked like "holocaust."

He said the irony was that this happened on the Ides of March. Remember--I said that he was the one who sent the funny message about the Ides. But the barn they lost was built by his grandfather, whose birthday was March 15th. His parents were married on March 15th. The house was built on March 15th.

At their house, it pulled the roof off the garage, where his mother stored materials for the local Sylvan Learning Center. He said he looked out the back window, and saw a damaged textbook lying on what was left of the deck. Part of the book had been torn away, and the top page said, "GETTING THE MAIN IDEA." George looked out across the deck railings toward where the roof was sitting in the back yard, and said, "Yeah...I got it..."

[DD]

Wow.

[NoHall]

I just realized I sound like an ambulance chaser/rubber necker/whatever...but growing up in a place that is plagued by deadly tornadoes, I've always been fascinated by the strange stories that come out of them...

But I certainly don't want to boil down the loss of life to an "interesting story." I've seen too many families lose their neighbors in the blink of an eye while their homes were barely touched--the trauma of it sincerely boggles my mind...

[aggieb]

My friend came back from helping to clean up his family's farm. It turns out that there was just one fatality, thank goodness. Mike Turner is expected to recover, although he is still in bad shape.

But get this: Just after the storm, a lady in Habersham County, more than 100 miles northeast of Polk County, noticed a picture lying in her driveway. Other than a little bit of edge wear, it was undamaged. It was a picture of Bonnie Turner, who died in Polk County. The next day, another Habersham County family found registration papers for the dogs that the Turners raised on their farm. (Story (http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/4307/))

Unfortunately, less than half of the 60 dogs were found. Also missing: The Turner's SUV. (Yes--as in their large vehicle has vanished without a trace.) Their other car was thrown something like 300 yards, and from the pictures you couldn't tell if it was right side up or upside down.

On the lighter side, my friend George was talking about the damage to his parents' farm. He said on one side of the property, it looked only like it had taken a hard rain. The other side looked like "holocaust."

He said the irony was that this happened on the Ides of March. Remember--I said that he was the one who sent the funny message about the Ides. But the barn they lost was built by his grandfather, whose birthday was March 15th. His parents were married on March 15th. The house was built on March 15th.

At their house, it pulled the roof off the garage, where his mother stored materials for the local Sylvan Learning Center. He said he looked out the back window, and saw a damaged textbook lying on what was left of the deck. Part of the book had been torn away, and the top page said, "GETTING THE MAIN IDEA." George looked out across the deck railings toward where the roof was sitting in the back yard, and said, "Yeah...I got it..."

wasn't there a fatality in rome (my town), i'm thinking the man had a heart attack during the tornado.:idontno: i'll do some research. yes i should be on top of my game, but i have been out of town.:blush:

[DD]

I just realized I sound like an ambulance chaser/rubber necker/whatever...but growing up in a place that is plagued by deadly tornadoes, I've always been fascinated by the strange stories that come out of them...

But I certainly don't want to boil down the loss of life to an "interesting story." I've seen too many families lose their neighbors in the blink of an eye while their homes were barely touched--the trauma of it sincerely boggles my mind...

I think it's totally facinating too.

[NoHall]

wasn't there a fatality in rome (my town), i'm thinking the man had a heart attack during the tornado.:idontno: i'll do some research. yes i should be on top of my game, but i have been out of town.:blush:
I didn't hear about a heart attack, but yes, an older man died in Rome. His family went to his daughter's house, where it was safer, and he opted to stay in his house. I felt so bad watching the news about it because (brace yourself for this shallow comment!) the picture they put up was awful. I hated it because all of his neighbors talked about what a wonderful person he was, and how kind. I always feel like nice people should at least have a flattering picture in those cases.

[sowalgayboi]

I didn't hear about a heart attack, but yes, an older man died in Rome. His family went to his daughter's house, where it was safer, and he opted to stay in his house. I felt so bad watching the news about it because (brace yourself for this shallow comment!) the picture they put up was awful. I hated it because all of his neighbors talked about what a wonderful person he was, and how kind. I always feel like nice people should at least have a flattering picture in those cases.

To an extent, the ones that kill me are the obituaries where the person was 102 and the picture shown is from about 1945.

I understand people being remembered the way they were, but IJMO.

[NoHall]

To an extent, the ones that kill me are the obituaries where the person was 102 and the picture shown is from about 1945.

I understand people being remembered the way they were, but IJMO.

I LOVE those! I'm a sucker for old pictures, though. I want this one on my obit, (on April 12, 2088)

[organicmama]

I just realized I sound like an ambulance chaser/rubber necker/whatever...but growing up in a place that is plagued by deadly tornadoes, I've always been fascinated by the strange stories that come out of them...

But I certainly don't want to boil down the loss of life to an "interesting story." I've seen too many families lose their neighbors in the blink of an eye while their homes were barely touched--the trauma of it sincerely boggles my mind...

I don't miss living up there and that's a lot of the reason.

[sowalgayboi]

I LOVE those! I'm a sucker for old pictures, though. I want this one on my obit, (on April 12, 2088)

That is honestly such a cute picture! :wub:

[Smiling JOe]

http://atlantatornado.org/ATL_TORbig_MG_6751.jpg
Professional photographer, Shane Durrance, captured this incredible shot of the tornado that struck downtown Atlanta on Friday, March 14, 2008.

www.atlantatornado.org

[aggieb]

wow. i keep coming back to this thread to stare at that picture, that is too cool.

[sowalgayboi]

It reminds me of Ghost Busters II at the museum toward the end.

[klauricella]

http://atlantatornado.org/ATL_TORbig_MG_6751.jpg
Professional photographer, Shane Durrance, captured this incredible shot of the tornado that struck downtown Atlanta on Friday, March 14, 2008.

www.atlantatornado.org (http://www.atlantatornado.org)


That is a crazy/scary picture!!! :yikes:

[Beach Runner]

I'm trying to figure out where that was taken from. Atlantic Station?:idontno:

[aggieb]

I'm trying to figure out where that was taken from. Atlantic Station?:idontno:
Shane Durrance, after hearing our warnings, went to the roof of his apartment off Howell Mill Road and captured what he thought was only lightning and unusual clouds. What he captured was history. So far it's the only picture of the Friday night tornado that ripped through the city