Report from Dale

[MTGuru]

Dale asked me to post this for him.

Dear Friends,

Thanks to those of you who have checked on us in Birmingham. We're fine. Shaken to the core, but fine. Our home was slightly damaged and we will be without power indefinitely. Death toll in the area at 130 and expected to climb today. Our daughter Claire was in the Tuscaloosa tornado and, thanks to her very heavy duty apartment complex, was unhurt in spite of the tornado more or less coming right through it. If you haven't seen this video yet, I recommend it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohIVzIZLuQ

My wife and I used to live right in that most severely impacted area of Tuscaloosa.

I won't be online much until we get power & Internet back and I don't know how long that will be. I'm now able to get to work and we have power and internet there, but I can't get to the board.

Thanks. Keep the people of Alabama in your thoughts & prayers.

Dale

[pipersgrip]

I am glad to hear that Dale and his family are safe. I am saddened though by the loss of so many lives taken.

[dwest]

I gave blood this morning, I'm O+ so it helps but any helps at this stage. It doesn't hurt and it really doesn't cost you a thing plus I got a wonderful bag, actually the wife got a wonderful bag, I got a bottle of mineral supplemented water. The Salvation Army and the Red Cross are going to be in these communities for some time.

[Dale]

Quick smartphone update. We're ok, just horrified today as started to get a full picture of what has happened to our friends and neighbors.

[ambaiste]

Glad to hear you and your family are safe Dale. Our thoughts are with all the families who have suffered loss.

[The Weekenders]

Thankful for your personal safety, shocked and dismayed by the event and losses of life and property. I talked to my bro. in Tennessee yesterday and they escaped damage but he described the trees snapped off at four feet from twisting winds, and attempting to drive home in ultra heavy rains and such....

Take good care.

[devondancer]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Dale, and with all those who have suffered so badly. We are relieved that you and your family are safe.

[Nanohedron]

It's hard to get my head around, and to know what to say. I hope that in the face of all, my relief that Dale and his family are all right will do.

[Charlene]

Dale - glad you and yours are ok.

[Whistlin' Will]

Glad to hear that you're okay, Dale. May you find that fewer of your friends have died than you thought.

[Walden]

Sounds rough.

[benhall.1]

Glad you survived the worst, Dale. And I hope things settle down and get back to normal as soon as may be.

[Daniel_Bingamon]

Dale, we are glad to hear that you are okay. Prayers going out over your area.

[s1m0n]

Good to hear you and yours are ok, Dale.

~~

In the whole video I could only see one other moving car, and no people. Does anyone know how foolish the camera-people were being? How much danger were they in? How likely is a large tornado to abruptly change speed or direction?

~~

Its not the time to say something heavily ironic about climate change and severe weather events, but boy is it tempting.

[emmline]

Does anyone know how foolish the camera-people were being? How much danger were they in? How likely is a large tornado to abruptly change speed or direction?

I am always taken aback by that also.