I grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Tornados were frequent in the summer. But they seemed more like the occasional bull that runs rampant through the china shop. 

In the afternoon the air pressure dropped and produced an eery feeling. The sky had a yellow cast. Oklahoma City television gave warnings. Local Radio KGFF took and broadcast calls from listeners about sitings. My father and mother and I sat out in the garden and watched for one, unless it was raining. If something looked really serious, we went to the basement (I guess so the house would fall in on us). But it really did not seem dangerous because almost all hurricanes landed just west of Meeker, about 9 miles up the road. I could never understand why people lived in Meeker. The power and novelty of the thing fascinated.

Those hurricane bore only a family likeness to these incredible, horrifying, devastating storms. The old storms might level a narrow swath of homes, destroy roofs, maybe lift a car in the air and carry it over a house. Now and again one hit a city but the area was thinly populated; the country people had tornado shelters and a clear view of the skies for an early wring, so human life was lost only occasionally.

When I moved to Florida I realize I'd traded tornados for hurricanes (with earthquake threats in between). Same atmospherics and human curiosity, but the magnitude of the threat is well-appreciated in Florida, and now it will be in Oklahoma.   

I do not have family left in Oklahoma, but it was grievous to watch CNN and see those schoolchildren and their families.

Ginny

Virginia G. Maurer, M.A., J.D.
Professor of Business Law and Legal Studies
Director, Poe Center for Business Ethics
Darden Restaurants Professor of Diversity Management
Warrington College of Business
352 256 0295 (cell)
352 376 2867 (home)


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From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Razook, Nim M. [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 8:43 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: DAN AND NIM, TELL US A LITTLE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SURVIVED THE TORNADO.

Those of us who grew up in the midlands understand the power and sometimes unbelievably weird destruction of tornadoes.  You can be relatively close to them, but safe, and their path often destroys one house and misses entirely another next door.  This one, like the one on May 3, 1999, was big.  If you're not underground, then you're likely not safe.  It hasn't quite soaked in yet, but, as Dan said, it's very sad.  Nim

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From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Ostas, Daniel T. [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 10:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: DAN AND NIM, TELL US A LITTLE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SURVIVED THE TORNADO.

I keep crying when I watch TV or listen to the radio.  Norman is okay ... but poor Moore.  So sad!  Thanks, Bill
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From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Bill Shaw [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 7:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: DAN AND NIM, TELL US A LITTLE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SURVIVED THE TORNADO.