too close for comfort!

**clueless campers** · 06-06-2010, 08:00 AM

In the middle of the night, while most people where sleeping, 4 tornadoes hit the area where our Sunline is stored. A nearby mobile home park has damage. The police department (3 miles south of our camper) and high school took direct hits. A small town 5 miles to the southwest was also wiped out. After the first storms came through about 11:30, another round followed the same path at about 2:30 am.

Sadly, three people lost their lives. One was on her way home from vacation. Her family was following in another car and saw hers get picked up and thrown.

It was reported that a train was blown of the tracks. No word on exactly where but the switching yard is close by. In fact, a track runs along the back of the storage facility.

We haven't been able to check on the camper yet since police and rescue are still in the area checking damage and trying to get people out--they don't want more people coming into the area.

I talked with my brother about 6:30. He keeps his camper in the same lot and assured me that the onsite owners would contact us if there was damage. I'm sure nothing major happened but I'd still like to check myself for any stray limbs from the trees that border the lot.

**JohnB** · 06-06-2010, 09:50 AM

Dona, Hope the camper is OK.

Early this morning we had really heavy monster rains down here. And tornado warnings where issued for southern Ohio until 9:15AM.

Strange weather we have been having the last few years.

John

HappyCampers · 06-06-2010, 10:09 AM

We have had hail at our house three times already this year. Thats more than I've seen in the last 5 years combined. Earlier this week the high wind took a branch out of the approx 75 year old honey locust by my driveway and dumped it on top of our Volvo. It didn't cause any big damage, just a broken marker light, but still concerns me a bit. I agree we have had some really strange weather lately.

Honda03842 · 06-06-2010, 10:29 AM

"I agree we have had some really strange weather lately. "......

Weather is variable, the reason we have weatherman in the first place. Surprisingly to me tornados occur in every state though rarely here in NH.

It should be noted that there were no tornados in the USA in February this year, the first time since 1950. As well the number of tornados was down by about 30% from the 10 year average (1400/year) in 2009 (1100).

Of course with weather the past provides no guarantee for the future. Their devastation is certainly awesome with little that can be done when they strike locally, at least for buildings and RVs.

Stay safe

**Sunline Fan** · 06-06-2010, 11:44 AM

Oh geez Dona, I hope everything is OK!

We have had crazy weather up here too. We had a horrible storm come through Friday evening. In fact, the school next door was having the annual carnival thing and they had to close up a little early and they all started to panic to get everything packed up before the storm. They didn't and the rain just really came down. Then about five minutes later, the bad stuff really came. Really heavy rain, very strong wind (60-70+), and hail. We had half inch hail here that I saw, but it hit the house harder a couple minutes later and I moved away from the door. The news said 2" hail in our town here. During that storm, we lost our power. It still hasn't come back on, though hopefully that will be today.

We didn't have a tornado, but the sirens were going off and it sure seemed like it with all the trees down in town. There was one south of us in Dundee last night at about 2:30 A.M.

I can't express how thankful I am that we took my coach back up north to its second home. This hail certainly wouldn't have helped the aluminum siding! We talked to the neighbor out at my grandparents place yesterday and they had hail there too, though not as much as we had here. So either way, I probably would have had a few dents.

They say everything happens for a reason, and though I really want to go to Buttonwood, I'm very thankful that I can't since this would have done some damage.

Jon

EMD_Driver · 06-06-2010, 01:14 PM

Sure hope your coach is Ok Dona... This is just one more reason, we need to get our Sunny under-roof.

As far as the weather goes, it has been strange and the forecasters have really been off their game. It seems as though they have missed the mark considerably, for the last two years. It's not just here or there, but it seems as though the forecast is way-off MOST of the time.

Viking · 06-06-2010, 08:48 PM

Norm,
Is it just my impression, or do tornadoes prefer flat country?
NH is hilly, isn't it, and it seems you never hear about tornadoes out in the Rockies.
Roar

Honda03842 · 06-06-2010, 09:10 PM

It's my understanding that every state has had tornandos. Of course the flat states provide more opportunities. States are generally large and have a lot of flat area - take eastern Colorado as an example, high but flat. Actually Colorado is number 10 in number of tornados.

As to NH, the seacoast where I live is relatively flat and we've had one in recent years. NH is number 41. The first tornando damage I ever saw was in CT and it was unbelievable, simply twisting huge trees like they were Twizzlers.

As you might suspect, Alaska is number 50 of the states with only one tornado in the last 50 years.

Their unpredictability make them so very dangerous.

**clueless campers** · 06-06-2010, 10:29 PM

We just got back home a while ago. There are a couple puddles in the lot but I didn't see even one small twig. The camper is fine. After seeing the nearby area and all that was lost, the camper seems so insignificant.

The area 3 miles south is a disaster. We were able to park and walk along the south side of Rt 795 which is still closed to traffic.

Charlie used to work at a factory on a little road that runs parallel to 795. They lost 2 self storage buildings they operate and had slight damage to the factory. They also have a lot for rv storage out back that we couldn't see much of.

Two houses and a barn facing that little road and backing up to 795 collapsed and there was no sign of the restaurant that was on the corner.

There were some semi's parked at a gas station a mile to the east with broken windows and aluminum siding draped over them. One had a 2x4 stuck in its windshield. Another had a blocking dummy from the school a 1/2 mile away wedged under it. The trailer from one was ripped off and laying on its side about 250 away along the side of I280.

We saw at least 2 complete electrical towers laying in fields and another 2 with their tops broken off.

The devastation was heartbreaking. They are now saying it was at least an F3 and that 7 people didn't survive.

luvrque · 06-07-2010, 03:24 PM

Dona,
I am glad to here your Camper didn't get damaged.

Norm,
I have only seen 1 tronando here (app.3 or 4yrs.ago) in this part of NY in the last 35 yrs.
Before that I don't recall.
It was bad, it took down every tree in it's path going east into CT.
You said HN is #41
Where did you find the information of what # each state is..

Thanks

Honda03842 · 06-07-2010, 04:17 PM

NY is number 30 in tornados from 1950-1994 with 249 tornadoes. Consider yourself blessed if you rarely or never encounter one.

The following site lists tornadoes by state, also fatalities, cost and tornadoes per 10,000 square miles.

Tornado Ranks by State, 1950-1994

Safe travels,

Galaxiedriver · 06-07-2010, 08:49 PM

Missouri is #7 and we have had some bad ones. Fortunately the closest one to us was several years ago and 5 miles away. We still pay close attention to the warnings and have spent many a night in the basement.

We saw the Ohio school that was destroyed on the news here. very sad.

Gene · 06-07-2010, 09:08 PM

I saw video of the destruction in Ohio on the evening news, it really is sad. My heart goes out to those that lost so much. Glad to see Dona and family and Sunline are ok.

Yes, New Hampshire gets tornadoes too. A couple of years ago one touched down in several places from Wolfeboro to Ossipee which is quite hilly. I saw one area it hit near Rt 25 in Ossipee and it was unvelievable to see a building destroyed and 100 yards away another building not touched.