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View Full Version : Our Rv was hit by tornado on way back from AOTH



Donziweasel
05-22-2011, 09:39 PM
I am still shaking as I write this. Near Higginsville Mo on our way back from AOTH, a tornado crossed right beside us. Everyone on the interstate was pulling over. As I was pulling over the RV went up on two wheels and a sound like a frieght train was deafening. The rv slowly settled back on all wheels. I could not see anything as the wind was over 150 mph. 30 seconds of terror and it was all over. I have never been so scared in my life. All I could think of was that Boo Boo, me and the twins were going to die. I wil comment more later. Three touched down in the area.
.

Buddyc
05-22-2011, 09:49 PM
Omg:...I can't imagine how intense that could have been? Glad u guys are ok.

Conquistador_del_mar
05-23-2011, 12:46 AM
John,
That is about as scary as it gets in my book. Glad to hear you made it alright. I just read about Joplin's tornado. Bill

MOP
05-23-2011, 06:07 AM
Glad you had the luck and love of God!

Phil

Carl C
05-23-2011, 06:36 AM
What, no video? Glad it wasn't worse and didn't carry y'all to the land of OZ.http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m575/maxmoo/Funny%20Pics/Decor%20Smileys/smiley_twister.gif

rustnrot
05-23-2011, 06:48 AM
A really bad tornado. So glad you all are ok.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/joplin-tornado-analyzed-20700

The Hedgehog
05-23-2011, 07:05 AM
OMG, I have been worried about that. I will call in a while.

I am so glad it was not worse.

Donziweasel
05-23-2011, 07:06 AM
We read about the one in Joplin. Pretty far from us. We also found some video of the three that touched down around us. When the rv touched back down it damaged one of the rear duallies and it ended up blowing out. Cant find any other damage though. Got to find a tire this morning. Slept like a baby last night for some reason.

Z-Man
05-23-2011, 08:31 AM
WOW!!! I was about 3 hours behind you but was able to stop. The winds were so strong that I had to pull over in St. Louis after battling them in Illinois. I'm glad you are all safe. I ended up seeking shelter at a casino. Wishing you safe travels!
If you need anything, I'm in KC
63923

CHACHI
05-23-2011, 08:35 AM
John, glad to heard you and the family are ok.

Ran into somewhat the same secenario when I went to Little Rock to grab my 22, but I was 40 miles away.

Start breathing again.

Ken

Ghost
05-23-2011, 08:55 AM
That's horrifying. Thanking God you all are okay.

Donziweasel
05-23-2011, 08:59 AM
Andre, your zx is pretty heavy, you would have probably been fine. Ken, it was brutal. I found online where a guy video taped three twisters near us. Not sure which one got us. Didn't even look at them last night.

Donziweasel
05-23-2011, 09:21 AM
Thanks Mike. Good seeing you at AOTH. Wish we had had more time to hang out.

Sweet Cheekz
05-23-2011, 09:24 AM
Glad to hear you and the family are ok John

Safe rest of your travels

Parnell

LadyGrizz
05-23-2011, 09:45 AM
The angels were watching over you. Thank goodness you are all ok. Hope the rest of your trip is boring and uneventful.

Offset
05-23-2011, 10:00 AM
Glad you made it through a bad situation with just minimal damage to your RV. Having been through one I know the terror of being somewhat at the mercy of others and luck. Really it is good to know you are alright.

Thoughts go out to those in the Joplin, MO. and surrounding areas, sad indeed.

Donziweasel
05-23-2011, 10:01 AM
Thanks Parnell and Barb. Found more info. Touched down on I 70 right past a truck stop. I remember passing the truck stop right before we got hit.

zelatore
05-23-2011, 01:08 PM
Damn, don't know how you managed to not go over - that had to be one hell of a ride! :eek:

My flight was a little lumpy and they diverted us out of our way a bit, then on a layover in Phoenix I saw a 10 second news blurb about the tornadoes but didn't hear much else. Sounds like you got away with that one by the skin of your teeth.

ITTLFLI
05-23-2011, 02:17 PM
Glad the fam is ok! Wild weather we have been having!!

BTW...Great to finally meet you!

Donziweasel
05-23-2011, 07:37 PM
Thanks Byron and Don. Byron, it was likewise nice to meet you. Thanks a bunch for the offer for the ride up to the falls. You throw a hell of a shindig.

Now that I am on my computer and not on my phone (my fat stupid fingers do not type well on my Droid), I can eleborate a little more.

We had hit some bad thunderstorms earlier, but all the sudden about a 1/4 mile ahead of me all I saw was a grey wall. I have never seen anything like it. I started slowing WAY down and then I hit it. It was driving rain and debris. Well, I could not see more than 10-20 feet ahead of me when I hit the wall of grey. I went uner a bridge and saw people pulling over and scrambling to get up under the over pass. I knew immediatly they had been listening to the radio and new a twister was immenent. I was doing maybe 15 mph and started pulling over to the shoulder. All the sudden, the wind from the south went ballistic. The RV went up on the passenger two wheesl and then slammed back down. The wind then was all over the place spinning in front of the RV. I was still trying to get to the shoulder. The wind then shifted from to the north. I had the wheel all the way to the right but the RV was going left. It was crazy! Then, it was over. I am not sure if it was a direct hit or just real close. The outside dually on the drivers side was damaged and blew. We limped to a campground on on dually, made the strongest drink ever and looked on the internet. Sure enough, a tornado was reported in Higginsville just west of the truck stop on I-70, exactly where we were.

I don't know what else to say, except I am thanking the lord to be alive. It was the scariest thing I have ever encountered, except maybe trying to keep up drinking with Bill..... :)

The Hedgehog
05-23-2011, 07:56 PM
Thanks Byron and Don. Byron, it was likewise nice to meet you. Thanks a bunch for the offer for the ride up to the falls. You throw a hell of a shindig.
Now that I am on my computer and not on my phone (my fat stupid fingers do not type well on my Droid), I can eleborate a little more.
We had hit some bad thunderstorms earlier, but all the sudden about a 1/4 mile ahead of me all I saw was a grey wall. I have never seen anything like it. I started slowing WAY down and then I hit it. It was driving rain and debris. Well, I could not see more than 10-20 feet ahead of me when I hit the wall of grey. I went uner a bridge and saw people pulling over and scrambling to get up under the over pass. I knew immediatly they had been listening to the radio and new a twister was immenent. I was doing maybe 15 mph and started pulling over to the shoulder. All the sudden, the wind from the south went ballistic. The RV went up on the passenger two wheesl and then slammed back down. The wind then was all over the place spinning in front of the RV. I was still trying to get to the shoulder. The wind then shifted from to the north. I had the wheel all the way to the right but the RV was going left. It was crazy! Then, it was over. I am not sure if it was a direct hit or just real close. The outside dually on the drivers side was damaged and blew. We limped to a campground on on dually, made the strongest drink ever and looked on the internet. Sure enough, a tornado was reported in Higginsville just west of the truck stop on I-70, exactly where we were.
I don't know what else to say, except I am thanking the lord to be alive. It was the scariest thing I have ever encountered, except maybe trying to keep up drinking with Bill..... :)

That was one scary story. I was still tripped out about it when I got to work. Have a SAFE trip from here on out.

mike o
05-23-2011, 08:28 PM
Glad your all Ok. And hope the twins didnt freak:shocking: You'll be telling this story for.........Ever.:yes:

Tony
05-23-2011, 08:47 PM
Wow, DW, that is very crazy $hit. I've never been close to one, and don't ever want to. Thank God everyone is fine with just an extra workout on the heart muscle and repairable rig damage.

Thank God also for the weight of the RV, just imagine anyone in a Smartcar or a Cooper. Seems like they'd be a couple hundred yards away or better, kind of like those cows in that Helen Hunt tornado chaser movie.

Seriously, though, I'm thinking that you were being rewarded for all your clean living and generosity habits!

osur866
05-24-2011, 03:39 AM
John, thank goodness your all ok!! We went thru the same cell but where an hour or 2 ahead of the twisters, we got hailed on in Booneville, Mo. But no damage. Ditto on what Barb said hope the rest of your trip is boring and uneventful, wishing you and the family a safe return home.

Steve

McGary911
05-24-2011, 10:57 AM
Wow. That's scary. Glad you got out of it OK. I think your twins are likely young enough so they won't be traumatized.

We don't get hurricanes in Jacksonville, but we get Tornado from time to time. I even got myself a tornado radio that sets off an alarm if the weather service reports a touchdown in the area.

Glad everyone's safe...

yeller
05-24-2011, 02:43 PM
Scary stuff. Glad to hear everyone is ok!