SO, as far as the weather goes,... you may have heard on the news about the tornado that hit Chapman, Kansas. If you look on a map, you'll see that it's quite close to Manhattan. Well, a tornado also hit Manhattan that same night. Let me tell you that we were watched over and protected by Heavenly Father. Our apartment was in direct line of the path that the tornado was taking, but somehow it changed course, disappeared, never reached us. The next day, checking out the damage that occurred, we've discovered that it got as close as .35 miles from us. We were indeed very blessed.
I don't feel freaked out about torndados anymore, though I don't doubt we'll get more tornados this season (plus we're living here three more years anyway). But I feel so much peace. It is amazing to feel the sweet assurance the Spirit brings. To know without any doubts that Heavenly Father is all powerful over any disaster or calamity. He can temper the storm -any storm- and soothe the worried heart.
The night it happened...
It was Wednesday night, Isabelle was sleeping and Richard was at mutual; I was talking to Loni (who is in Cali) on the phone, folding laundry and what not. (Ironically,) I told her how much I love living in Manhattan and told her she simply must move out here and teach. Richard came home, we got ready for bed. It was around 10:30. I was writing in my journal and he was reading the scriptures. The tornado alarms went off. I moaned. "Oh great, don't tell me we're going to have to wake Isabelle up. Maybe it's just a little practice run or maybe somebody set them off on accident and they'll stop in a second." I was hopeful. It was deja vu because just the previous week we got a tornado warning (the Brooksby's first).
The night it happened...
It was Wednesday night, Isabelle was sleeping and Richard was at mutual; I was talking to Loni (who is in Cali) on the phone, folding laundry and what not. (Ironically,) I told her how much I love living in Manhattan and told her she simply must move out here and teach. Richard came home, we got ready for bed. It was around 10:30. I was writing in my journal and he was reading the scriptures. The tornado alarms went off. I moaned. "Oh great, don't tell me we're going to have to wake Isabelle up. Maybe it's just a little practice run or maybe somebody set them off on accident and they'll stop in a second." I was hopeful. It was deja vu because just the previous week we got a tornado warning (the Brooksby's first).
Richard and I slumped off to the living room radio to hear what was going on with the weather. A warning for a severe thunderstorm heading straight for Manhattan was given; the storm was said to be capable of producing a tornado, so a "tornado watch" was issued for our area.
By now, we expected our friends to come down to our apartment because we live on a bottom floor and they live on the second and third floors. Also, our apartment is a bit more safe because it is right against a hill. We called the Boyles and no one answered- they were already on their way over. Later the Haggeys came down also.
It hadn't even really looked stormy. About 20 or 30 minutes after the tornado sirens had gone off it started to rain. I have always loved rain, but I think this was the most ominous rain I've ever experienced. It was the diluvial precursor of doom.
After saying a prayer, we three families listened to the stream of weather information on the radio and watched the weather mapped on the internet and could see the storm approaching. We were ready to pile into our bathroom (the safest place in our house) when and if the need arose. (Some of us kind of hung out in the bathroom the whole time anyway.) We had lots of blankets in the bathroom, brought in the radio with batteries, water, the computer. Conveniently, Rich and I had mattresses in our hallway from our old bed that we had recently replaced. (Mattresses are suppose to be good tornado protection.)
The radio reported that a tornado had formed and hit the city of Chapman, causing damage. (Chapman is about 30 miles southwest of Manhattan.) When the storm that had passed through Chapman was definitely going to hit Manhattan, the "tornado warning" was issued. We got Isabelle up and brought her into the bathroom where everyone gathered. Ah, yes, another party in our bathroom: six adults and five kids. Good times. We then heard that a tornado touched down on the southwest corner of Manhattan, heading northeast, straight for us. Then the tornado was reported to be on Kansas State University campus. (We live right next to campus!) Further, it was said to be on the northeast side of campus. WE LIVE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF CAMPUS! As helpful as the information on the radio was, it was still sketchy; we didn't know how destructive it was or exactly where it was....
Next thing we knew, the tornado was gone- the warning cancelled. Exhale. (Richard wants me to add, "We all quickly left the bathroom because it must have been a hundred degrees in there.")
We were instructed to stay indoors because of lightning, heavy rains and winds, downed power lines, etc. By this time, it was really raining hard transforming the parking lot into a river. I don't think I've ever seen in rain so hard in the states. There was tons of lightning- it looked like a huge strobe light across the sky. I was thankful the tornado (and chance of tornado) had passed and I didn't think we'd be threatened again that night.
The next day, we heard about the damage on the radio. In the evening, Richard and I went around town and took some pictures.
The next day, we heard about the damage on the radio. In the evening, Richard and I went around town and took some pictures.
Around KSU campus:
A fraternity (above) with part of it's roof across the street (below).
Some local businesses:
All the windows are blown out (above).
This is the Midas where we took our car to get the alternator fixed. All the garage doors were sucked out (above).
Near our apartment:
This building is missing part of it's roof and is only 0.35 miles from our house (above).
Same with this sign and debris, 0.35 miles away (above).
The tree branch had fallen on this truck (above).
The hard-hit southwest side of town:
The garbage can was impaled on the tree (above).
Right behind the car is a foundation of a house that is no longer there (above).
In the background are houses in rubble, and if you look closely, you can see the path the tornado took (above).
