[dtw]

That sounds awful. Must feel pretty helpless...glad you're ok!

I was in a massive tornado several years ago. Y'know those landscape-style road signs that are visible from the interstate, and supported by huge steel 'I' beams? This twister folded one of those in half - at the base of the beams. The tornado went right over us - fortunately we were in an older building that was built like a brick scheisshaus. It had a basement, to which we fled.

The sounds it made as it approached and then went over us, were the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced.

The aftermath is nearly as scary. When you come out, the seemingly arbitrary nature of the damage is chilling. Our building had one steel door ripped off the hinges, never to be found. No other damage to our building, yet we took a direct hit. A hundred or so yards away, aforementioned sign was folded up. Other buildings leveled. No rhyme or reason.