Some of the neighbors standing in front of their apartment watching the storm come in as the sunsets.
It's 11:38 am May 4, 1999 Javalujah Coffee shop Wichita Kansas
It's difficult to write about Kansas simply because I
am so close to it. It's hard to know what could be of interest
to others.
But I think tornadoes fascinate everyone. Kansans in general
feel that tornadoes are a part of their own fabric. They get exited
every spring just waiting for the storms. Last night was no exception
especially in my neighborhood … as soon as the wind picked
up and started throwing things around people came out on their
porches to watch the storm come in. Leaves were slowly being torn
off the trees and racing around the houses as if they were in
a frantic search for something lost. Then those familiar pinging
and ponging noises of hail bouncing off the air conditioner housings
and metal rain gutters are orchestrated into the experience. Green
skies with flashes of green and blue lightning usher in horizontal
rain. All in the neighborhood were out on their porches or peeking
out their windows, some in fear some in amazement as the sounds
of 200-tornado sirens sing acappella across the city. Most people
are so accustomed to this annual circus that they aren't even
phased … one of the young ladies across the street was moving
her belongings from her old apartment to a new one in the middle
of the hail … they were marble sized and just bounced off
her head. It's very difficult to tell the level of danger in a
storm. The tornadoes were killing people 10 miles south off us
but we had no idea … we were just enjoying the vibe. I compare
the experience to playing in 5 or 10-foot ocean waves … nature's
sublime energy toasting the tempest receptors on your body.
We had rough winds all over the city. I went out today to
visit a friend of mine. I just drove a few blocks south and found
more storm damage than I had expected. Many trees had been knocked
down and some in my favorite park. (I always hate that) Oh well,
It could have been much worse. Oklahoma City had an F4 or 5 that
stayed on the ground for hours and killed 40 people.
The picture I sent:
Some of the neighbors standing in front of their apartment watching
the storm come in as the sunsets.