Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tornadoes Happen Here

The South has experienced more tornadoes in the past few days than ever seen before. I'm waiting for someone to blame global-warming-climate-change, but hopefully the dirt-worshipers will keep that opinion to themselves out of respect for those injured. An unprecedented 280+ people were killed in this unholy battering from Mother Nature, and thousands more were injured or lost their worldly possessions.

I would urge you to donate to the Red Cross, or whatever agency you prefer. There is tremendous need, right now.

My heart goes out to those who were caught in these horrific storms. I had the joy of riding out a tornado in Omaha in 1975, and it remains the most frightening experience of my life. Below is an artist's rendering of the storm, that coincidentally depicts the funnel roughly one minute before it hit the building I was in at the time, Temple Israel Synagogue. The steeple of the church across the street is visible to the left of the image; the church was hit as well, but the steeple remained standing. (Image courtesy shayden.com)

Here is an aerial view of the Temple (to the right) and the adjacent Playhouse Theater after the storm (image courtesy noaa.gov):


I got a few scratches, and a few of the other kids got cut up a little, but we were otherwise OK. "Only" three people died in this terrible storm.

We tend to forget just how powerful these natural events can be, but trust me, the view from the middle of a tornado is pretty awe-inspiring. That is if you happen to be looking and not kissing your ass goodbye as I was...

Seriously, be generous to the Red Cross or the charity of your choice in this time of need. Tell 'em Dalai sent you, and when they stop laughing, give. From the heart.

ADDENDUM

Sometimes I hate to be right.  Here's a dirt-worshiper's comment on the storms:
Storms Kill Over 250 Americans In States Represented By Climate Pollution Deniers
Today, news agencies are still tallying reports of deaths from the most devastating storm system in the United States in decades:
Dozens of massive tornadoes tore a town-flattening streak across the South, killing at least 250 people in six states and forcing rescuers to carry some survivors out on makeshift stretchers of splintered debris. Two of Alabama’s major cities were among the places devastated by the deadliest twister outbreak in nearly 40 years.
 “Given that global warming is unequivocal,” climate scientist Kevin Trenberth cautioned the American Meteorological Society in January of this year, “the null hypothesis should be that all weather events are affected by global warming rather than the inane statements along the lines of ‘of course we cannot attribute any particular weather event to global warming.’”

The congressional delegations of these states — Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and Kentucky — overwhelmingly voted to reject the science that polluting the climate is dangerous. They are deliberately ignoring the warnings from scientists.
So "ignoring" the proclamations from the dirt-worshipers' High Priests of Gaia brought about tornadoes that killed 300 people, eh?  Talk about supreme arrogance....I just can't wait to see what they'll come up with next.

3 comments :

stacey said...

Is it me or do the Climate Zealots sound as irrational as the overly religious? Or, perhaps it is a religion? You have to believe in it...

stacey said...

Please let folks know that they should also consider donating blood. The line to donate at UAB is 2 hours long and the need is great. I'm proud to see folks lining up to help but the pipeline is only so big right now.
Many trauma victims still arriving...At last count 1500 brought to hospitals. DCH in Tuscaloosa had issues with Power and Water as well. They are really struggling over there.

Dr.Sardonicus said...

Please remember the superoutbreak of tornadoes on April 3, 1974 that killed 315. The worst hit was Xenia, Ohio. The path was nine miles long, and up to a mile wide. 300 homes destroyed in Xenia, 27,000 damaged. 32 died in Xenia

http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1974_tornado.htm