First of all, our family's ok, and our immediate neighborhood was not damaged. However the tornado passed 1-1/2 miles to the southeast. I'm in Warrick County, Indiana in the northern part of Newburgh just east of Evansville. Our power's been out for 16 hrs and was restored about 3 hrs ago, but the internet wasn't working at all until just recently.
Last night my NOAA radio alarm went off shortly before 2am. (Yes, thank God for those wx radios!) I got on the computer downstairs and didn't like the track I saw and the fact that it was moving at 60mph. We've had plenty of tornado warnings here, but this really felt different. Hard to describe. So I got the family awake and downstairs and prepared to go to an interior closet (no basement), when the power went out. No flickering, just instant dark. Shortly after, saw a transformer blow a couple miles to the south. We heard a distant rumble, sounded like thunder but steady. Only heard it a few seconds before the rain became heavier and in sheets.
After a few minutes, the rain stopped very abruptly, VERY abruptly, which I didn't like. Thanks to frequent lightning, I followed what appeared to be a persistent wall cloud feature passing to the south and east. Called it in to NWS (SKYWARN), and took a couple pictures. They came out decent. I'll try to post later.
We had no idea of the devastation that had occurred until we got a call shortly thereafter that someone who works for my husband was injured in the Eastbrook Mobile Home Park and lost everything. She has no family here in town, so we hopped in the car at 3am to the hospital. All along the way, we heard nothing but sirens in the still of the night. No power anywhere until we got to east Evansville.
The ER was just like you would imagine. People all around in their pajamas, dazed, moaning, lacerations, broken bones, searching for family members, parents frantically looking for children, children whose parents were missing. No one had any information on who was there; most arrived by ambulance with no ID. Overheard so many heartbreaking cell phone conversations. People relaying their stories and just desperate for information. We went to 2 different hospitals and couldn't find her. Finally found out she and many others were being triaged nearby the mobile home park. Her injuries are serious but not life-treatening. She has an amazing story to tell, but later. On the way home, drove by the mobile home park, which can be seen right off I-164. Just couldn't believe our eyes.
After very little sleep, today was just hectic. Long story. Got the generator going though, which had been gathering dust since Y2K.
Let the neighbors use our freezer. On the phone most of the day.
The fatalities and injuries are incredible. I've heard of at least one entire family wiped out. We're under a curfew in Warrick County, 7pm until daylight. Schools are closed tomorrow, but are open in Vanderburgh County (Evansville).
It's just unreal ... everything. Debris was found 50 miles away.
It's so sad especially that it happened in the middle of the night in the month of November. Most people didn't know what hit them. I know some of you, especially Garrett, knows firsthand a tornado's wrath, and all too many know a hurricane's.
I have to go to bed now. The Sandman is beating me to death. I'll see you all tomorrow.
Love,
Donna
