Tornadoes are terrifying. My fear of tornadoes began as a child the first time I saw one barreling towards Dorothy’s house in the Wizard of Oz. Even though the special effects in those days were almost non-existent, the tornado they managed to create on the sound stage gave me nightmares. Although tornadoes can occur in just about any spot in the world, “Tornado Alley” in the U.S. is a hot spot for tornadoes. (1)
Texas is located at the southerly tip of the alley, making it a high-risk state for tornadoes. That’s where Charlesetta Williams was when a tornado found her – in her bathtub. (1, 2)
“We Heard A Boom”
As Charlesetta and her son watched television, her son spotted a tornado coming towards the house. He immediately told his mother to get in the bathtub for shelter where he joined her. The next thing they remember is being in their yard. (1)
“We were laying in the bathtub in the bathroom, and we heard a boom,” the 75-year old Charlesetta says. “Then when we woke up, we were in the yard.” (1)
Tornado Safety
According to the Texas Storm Chasers, to stay safe during a tornado you should do the following:
- Move to the lowest floor.
- Shelter in a small room with no windows. Put as many walls between you and the outdoors as possible.
- Examples: Bathroom, closet, under a stairwell.
- Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.
- Cover yourself with protection or get under a sturdy object (mattress, blankets, etc).
- Pants, long-sleeve shirts, sturdy shoes, and a helmet are recommended for personal protection. (3)
EF2 Tornado
However, hearing Charlesetta’s story might have many people avoid choosing the bathroom the next time they hear those tornado warnings sound. The EF2 tornado that hit Charlesetta Williams’ home managed to take out about 15 homes but luckily did not cause injuries. (1)
Tornado rankings use the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale. EF2 is considered “significant” with winds reaching 111 to 135 mph. The scale ranges from EF0 for gale force winds up to EF5 for violent or “incredible” winds. (4)
Remembering The Sound
Interestingly, Charlesetta described the tornado based on its sound. “Woo, woo, woo, woo. Boom,” is what she remembers. (2)
In my 30’s I encountered a tiny tornado that spun its way through the parking lot near my office. Even though it lasted seconds, the sound of that thing terrified me, as did the darkness traveling with it. I can’t imagine what it would be like faced head-on with a tornado of any size surging towards your home with nowhere to go.
No Injuries
Tornadoes cause 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries each year in the U.S. Charlesetta and her son got away with minor scratches and bruises despite being torn from their home and slammed to the ground. When Gray Volunteer Fire Department Captain, Nancy Rogers, arrived at their home the severity of the damage surprised her. (1, 2)
“These were people’s homes this time,” Rogers says. “Every once and a while you’ll hear about somebody’s shop getting blown over, but these were people’s homes.” (2)
A Miracle
Nancy describes their survival as a miracle. “You had the hand of God over the top of you,” she said to the Williams. “He’s protecting you, because roofs were gone and [people were] still kneeling in hallways.” (2)
As for Charlesetta, she’s not ready to take on another tornado any time soon. “I couldn’t live through another one,” she says. “I’d have a heart attack.” (2)
