By Michelle McIntosh
The Scene staff
As warmer weather came around, so did natural disasters. In the past few weeks, flooding and tornadoes have left many people without homes. I watch the news, and I feel like changing the channel when it’s time for weather reports.
Oklahoma has been hit with back-to-back tornadoes, reminding Missourians of the 2011 Joplin tornado and others that have hit our area.
The first tornado hit the small town of Moore, Okla. It operated in the same manner as the Joplin tornado, devastating everything in its path.
One of the schools, Plaza Towers Elementary, suffered severe damage. Seven of its 500 students were killed.
I have a friend who grew up in Moore. The houses that he lived in were all
demolished by the tornado.
The storm’s devastation was all too heartbreaking. As a mom, my heart ached when I heard about the mother who died while hiding in a freezer with her child, and the little boy who survived the tornado, just to be killed by a friend’s dog several weeks later.
Only 11 days after Moore, Oklahoma was hit again with the largest EF5 tornado in history. It was 2.6 miles wide, wiping out nearly everything in its path.
While Oklahoma was dealing with its tragedies, two tornadoes hit St. Louis, damaging houses and hotels and knocking out power to several thousand people.
As the people in tornado-stricken areas clean up, others are preparing in case the Mississippi River overflows its banks.
A levy broke in West Alton, Mo., on June 4. People were evacuated, and many watched as their homes got covered by water. Some even washed away.
In nearby Kimmswick, volunteers stacked sandbags along the river bank to keep the water at bay.
While St. Louis has more than enough water thanks to the rain, people in Colorado are dealing with the exact opposite: Wildfires have destroyed homes and other buildings.
This is scary to me because I have cousins and a sister who live in Colorado.
While keeping up with news about the Colorado wildfires and Midwest tornadoes, I ran across an article about the New Madrid Fault. Researchers are expecting fault to produce a major earthquake in next 50 years.
The danger for St. Louis is that it sits directly on the fault line. A major earthquake could easily cause St. Louis to fall into great devastation.
Many people say, “Well you live in the city. You don’t get that many powerful tornadoes.” But that’s where they are wrong. St. Louis has a long history of powerful tornados with two recent ones rated EF3.
No matter where you live, you can fall victim to tornadoes, flash floods and any other natural disaster that Mother Nature decides to throw your way.
The best way to handle them is be prepared. Whether at home, work or school, know what you need to do to keep safe.
If you’re in a car and you see a tornado, don’t try to race it. You won’t win. Find a ditch or a building that can provide shelter. Devise a plan with your family for your home, and find out what is planned at your school or workplace.