Re: Tornadoes in Missouri & the St. Louis area.

Re: Tornadoes in Missouri & the St. Louis area.

I am extremely fortunate and thankful that we were spared the destruction and devastation that visited the St. Louis area on Dec 31, '10.

Lindbergh Blvd, which is a busy St. Louis thoroughfare, passes just 2 blocks north of our home.  If we would get on that street, and take it less than 7 miles south (just a hop, skip and a jump by St. Louis standards), the street was closed for most of the day on Dec 31 due to these storms. There were many homes that were completely destroyed, while other homes and businesses suffered extensive damage.  That morning, Mark was going to suggest that we visit the area, as we often do, to do some shopping and to have lunch.

The devastation skipped over the area that we live in, and continued about the same distance - 7 miles into north city St. Louis.  Our home is in the Ladue residential area of St. Louis.  There are a *lot* of very tall,  old growth trees in this neighborhood that are not in the best of condition.  If there are ANY high winds or other weather in the area that appears to be capable of producing damage, we are in the basement in a flash!  On this particular day, however, we did have some moderate thunderstorms, and some of the rainfall was a bit on the heavy side, but we  have experienced MUCH heavier downpours in this area on a regular basis. We did experience some "mildly" heavy rain, but nothing drastic, and there was very *little* wind - virtually nothing to speak of!

We also had a storm in the early fall that produced yet another tornado about 4 miles from our house. That particular storm did produce massive amounts of rain, and high winds. We did have some limbs down in the back yard that were bigger than the diameter of my thigh (and that is HUGE! he he he), we we never lost power, and no damage was done to the homes in this area.  Due to the old, tall trees for miles around us, our power goes out here quite often in storms or windy conditions, and we never lost power on either of these occasions.

My heart does go out to my neighbors in both the Sunset Hills and North St. Louis areas of St. Louis.  Sunset Hills is a part of the St. Louis metropolitan area, such as Clayton, Bridgeton, Richmond Heights, Ballwin, etc. I wish them a speedy recovery, and to echo the sentiments of those interviewed on TV, we were lucky that only minor injuries were sustained, and no lives were lost.   The residents of the Rolla, MO area weren't as fortunate.  There were lives lost in that area.

Here is just one video of many on YouTube of the recent St. Louis area damage.  I have seen video of war zones with less damage. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Pd_KoZoVg

(You can find other videos of this storm by searching "tornado st. louis Dec 31" or other similar searches on YouTube.)

The lives of those that were effected by nature's power cannot possibly ever be the same.  I wish them a speedy recovery.   May their hearts find the strength they need in the days, weeks and months ahead.  There will be times ahead that it does not seem possible, but if you are still breathing, you have another chance at life.  I encourage you to go forward and make the best of the situation.  Become stronger.  If you do not have a zest for life, now would be as good of a time as any to GET zest!  Literally - stop and smell the roses. Try a cuisine that you would normally not.  Try different music and try different clothes.  Change the hair style!  Don't change for the same of changing.  Change for the experience, and to keep your mind and body flexible and receptive.

May you find the strength, wisdom and perseverance that you will need in the future to overcome these obstacles.

- Michael