Tornados in the Southeast US

[Santa Wally]

My thoughts and prayers for all folks who lost loved ones, friends, neighbors, homes and/or businesses. My wife and I were traveling north from FL in our RV and were watching the weather Channel last Thursday morning and heard of severe thunderstorms/tornado watch for Valdosta GA. As we got closer to GA we watched the sky closely and intended to stop at the GA Welcome Center on I-75. The sky darkened, the clouds got black and low and we decided to not venture any further and pulled off at exit 2, a couple of miles before the Welcome Center. It was about 11:00 a.m. We waited out the thunderstorm at the Flying J truck stop.

After waiting a couple hours, we proceeded north and got off at Valdosta's exit 16. We found out that a small tornado had touched down at 10:30 on a farm about 15 miles west of Valdosta.

On Friday, as we were nearing the GA/TN border, a portable electronic message board said the exit for Ringold GA was closed due to tornado debris on the road and access to Ringold was denied. Shortly further north, the 3 lanes of traffic slowed to a crawl at 5 to 10 MPH for about 4 miles when we started to see twisted trees and debris on both sides of the Interstate. The exit ramp had 2 utility trucks with workers replacing poles and wires. On the west side of the highway, at the exit, was the remains of the motel that had the second story ripped off by the tornado. We recognized it as being the one we had seen on the evening news Wed night.

To actually see, with your own eyes, the devastation that happens within seconds makes your heart and prayers go out to those affected.

I pray that X markers are all safe.

[Southern Breeze]

There's no damage where I live. Ringold Ga and parts of Cleveland Tenn. were hit very hard. My thoughts and prayers aref or all folks who lost loved ones, friends, neighbors, homes and/or businesses. I've been helping some my friends in Cleveland who lost their homes. The power of nature can bee very humbling when you think about it.