Hi Joe,

I've lived in this in and around this area all my life (42 years). I've yet to see one tornado, alot of the times it's just too dark to see anyway. About 10 years ago, in the middle of the afternoon, we had what they were calling a micro burst, not really sure what exactly a micro burst is, but it just as well have been a tornado. I was in a older metal building (40x80 feet) with just one window and really no safe place to take shelter. All the metal was flapping making a horrendous noise... I knew there was large culvert a ways from the building so I went to open the walk-in-door when the thing flew right out of my hand slamming open. There was this strange shade of green all through the air. The rain wasn't coming down, but going sideways (along with a bunch of other stuff). I decided I'd better stay where I was and had a heck of time getting the door closed again. I looked out my one window just in time to see the awning on a building across the road wiggle a bit, then disappear straight up. It was all over in about 10 minutes.

Of course I had to drive around and check on family, there was debris everywhere. I was most amazed to see large swimming pools bone dry. I think that was close enough.

Jon