Well, I can't get ahold of home...

[Boy'nBlack]

...and it's really bothering me today.
18 dead in Missouri, Oklahoma after new round of tornadoes.

The last two nights have been flooding the rivers and breaking out of the levvies. As I was going to bed last night, the radio was reporting it sweeping from Picher, OK, through SE Kansas, and building again as it goes through Seneca, MO. That's Chum area and my family is littered along that very stretch.

I'm sure everything is OK...it has to be. But I can't get a hold of any of my sisters and my mother's line is just busy. Not sure if that's good or not, because it's been busy since 4am. I'll be more than happy when I can just tell one of them Happy Mother's day.

[Capper]

Keep us posted, those poor people have been through hell the last 24 hours.

[JazzyJake]

Originally Posted by Capper

Keep us posted, those poor people have been through hell the last 24 hours.

QFT

Flooding sucks....
If it's any conselation, there has been phone problems across the country with verizon, i don't know of any articles on it, but we just got in touch with 3 relatives who were having problems earlier today, one down the road, one in california, and one in arizona...
I hope that helps ease your concerns a bit, but it's scary either way.
I wish them luck and they'll be in my prayers tonight

[Boy'nBlack]

It's now 5PM here, 8 there and juuuust got off the phone.I'm stoked, but yet again lucky (that's what you do...you get lucky living there). Got hold of mom, and she related what's going on. It was really really close.

Might need a map to understand that little 4-states corner, but I'll just lay it out. Picher, OK and Treece, KS are right on the border and are pretty much the same town...if it wasn't for the state border. My eldest sister and brother in law have a ranch right there on the Kansas side and it touched down right there on their property. The news is a bit confusing as they are only stating one tornado for this area, when it was three. Picher got hit by a sister tornado of the same size. There was another one hitting within the hour north of there by a mile or two that did the big run from there to Neosho, MO.

Mom said they had been in Tulsa with my daughter watching Bill Cosby. On their way back they were going through it. To get up from Tulsa, you take the turnpike and turn off at Miami or Vinita, OK and head north through all that. They tried to get to sis's house, but it was blocked there North of Vinita. Admittedly stupid on her own admission (but I know my step dad), they took back roads and ran right into the back end of the sister tornado. The way she told it is just...amazing. It's just turning daylight and it's of course dark from the clouds. It's usually one tornado and they knew it had passed and carried on.

Albert, my step dad, is a Farmer and reminds me of my grandfather in every way. Go figure. Anyway, he's wise to what weather does. He stopped, pulled to the side of the road, and talked to the girls that something has changed and that it's not over. I just imagine that being scary for them, but we all trust him fully and that he'll do the right thing. They wait as he's watching the sky, and then he just says "OK" and goes on down the dirt road. They didn't make it 500ft before mom freaks out catching the shredded trees in the side beams. It had just passed overhead in front of them as they were parked. Waiting, watching...and IMO, being talked to.

So they pull the mile section and end up on sis's back property and mosey on up the back way (pasture and young alfalfa about now). They're ok and relate what just happened not moments ago. I'm sure that was a good talk, both ways. The tractor barn is collapsed on one side (pole barn), the header to the combine is 300ft east and crossing the highway, 8' round bales are about 3' high and flat, the Massy farm hand is tipped the freak over, and the worst of all...the two Aussie herding dogs are gone...I hope they are hid, and not gone (animals are good at that...I pray).

They're OK. Nothing is really bad for us personally. I didn't get them on the phone because they were not home, and the cells there in that family are for work pretty much (they're in tractors, or whatever is currently in use). It's just too damned close once again. They're saying storm /chasers watchers were reporting that it was right there, and this one continued on allllll the way to Missouri. Guys, that's a long run.

I'm stoked, yet morose. My mom, loving step dad, daughter...they stopped. My sister and brother in law are Ok. There's many not so lucky in this thing. I'm given a selfish reprieve. If they hadn't stopped, for whatever reason, I'd be out of a family...think about that. I have a wise leader in there, and I'm sure he has a wise leader to talk to. I thank them both with everything I have, now...and forever.
----------------------
The news is being very good about displaying Picher as a town that's lost. But It's been lost a long time. I've made comments before, but this town was, and has been, waste in a very long time. It's a SuperFund site for the last 20 years. It's a mining town and the land has been blighted for some time now. You can't drink the water, crops don't grow, and they've been moving us out of there, slowly, in the last decade. Those that were left, we're not sure why they're there except some last hope of home town spirit.

To tell you the truth is pretty mean. The town's been a joke due to the SuperFund thing. Nothing was left but chat piles as high as mountains and questionable residents...chatrats. If you see the AP pictures, you see Christmas tree lights in each and every one. The houses weren't much better before they were hit. But I digress...there's life lost there (9 right now) and it's enough in my humble opinion. I'm glad the news is being kind thus far. The SuperFund had made the last gestures to move the city just recently, but it's still there. Those that are still there, turned down the buys.

And the floods the last three days can be crippling. I know we had Corn coming up and soy beans just seeded. Gone. Albert is the Agco dealer for the midwest, so I'm sure my brother in law is "OK" on his equipment being in the highway. At the end of the conversation, it was chuckled that they have time to come out here and have a vacation finally. Deal! So the entire clan is coming out to visit little brother and have a good time.

I'm going to give my Daughter the tightest hug she'll ever feel. I'm a lucky man today...

Others are morning. And I pray for them to find light...

[Reloadron]

Try to relax Chums. The area was pretty hard hit so communications are likely messed up. Just keep trying and hang tight.

Per Capper, please do let us know and keep us informed.

<EDIT> Glad things are OK and damnit, quit posting while I am posting! :) </EDIT>

Ron

[Boy'nBlack]

Thanks Ron. Just updated probably a second before you posted.

I'm more humble than I have felt in my life time. With all that's personally happed in the last two years, I'm here back at a cool forum to release in. Hope ya'll understand.

I've kept my personal life kinda secret, and my friends here know a bit of the back log. I lost my dad, which was huge obviously...but in the last year have lost Dad's dad, all but one uncle (who's Forest Gump), granny, a brother to the war, and just everyone close...in one year. Since 4am this morning, I've been a wreck thinking the rest of the things close is gone in one shot. Knowing it lifted at Neosho, I have a bit of spirit that the Joplin/Webb City side is fine...it'd sure be nice for all of us to hear them though.

This storm wasn't isolated either. So to see Hitman running around would be very good. My buddy in Yukon, OK is talking to me saying they've been hit twice in one week. My Okie bud...got your ears on? OKC is north, but this thing he's been nailed by were from the South. Right in your 20.

Had another rant, but I'll update my Introduction page on that...

(Ron, I swear...you are my doppleganger. Don't take insult from that!)

[stinger608]

Dude, we always understand

We are just glad that you have reached family man, and prayers are out for everyone in that "neck of the woods"!!!!!

[oldman_gamer]

God Bless brother and prayers are always with those in need.

[Boy'nBlack]

Thanks stinger and gamer. I'm really a gutless wonder tonight. Might be long term. But thanks. I can't add anything, but can say I've been upside-down once again. I know this stuff has just happened, and happened time and time again...even to other members. We're just tested here and there to see where we stand. And as long as I keep standing, I'm me.

So again, thanks for at least understanding...and the prayers if given. If given, that's why I'm humble and not...just plain lost.

On the practical side...if we had a TFC server, I'd love to have some fun. For now...I'm going to try and COD4 it and let someone else frag my a55. See ya on the HL server!

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by Boy'nBlack

Thanks stinger and gamer. I'm really a gutless wonder tonight. Might be long term. But thanks. I can't add anything, but can say I've been upside-down once again. I know this stuff has just happened, and happened time and time again...even to other members. We're just tested here and there to see where we stand. And as long as I keep standing, I'm me.

So again, thanks for at least understanding...and the prayers if given. If given, that's why I'm humble and not...just plain lost.

On the practical side...if we had a TFC server, I'd love to have some fun. For now...I'm going to try and COD4 it and let someone else frag my a55. See ya on the HL server!

Man, please understand YOU ARE NOT ALONE MAN!!! This community, if any, will always be there to talk, try to comfort, and understand when a fellow member is in need!!!!!!!!
And there will be many of the great members of this community that will have you and yours in there prayers tonight bro