From here just south of Lake Sumter all looks OK. We had torrential rain for about a half hour and some wind, but, nothing too extreme. All is well.

Our weather radio did go off this morning but it wasn't until several minutes after we had already received the Sumter County Code Red Weather Warning phone calls (land line and cell). It was about 5am when the phone rang, because it was 5:02 by the time I got the tv tuned in to Tony on WESH 2. We actually questioned why the radio had not gone off, but then it finally did. Probably around 5:10 as Villages07 mentioned.

If you haven't signed up for this service I would recommend it as an additonal information system for threatening weather (as well as other community emergencies). Here's the link for additional info and to sign up. http://www.sumtercountysheriff.org/e...nt/codered.asp

Jeanne, grabbing the dogs and huddling in the bathroom is a good idea. Always try to stay in an interior part of your home away from exterior walls. If you didn't do it, I'd suggest putting your dogs' leash on so they can't get away from you and go hide. That was the first thing I did after jumping out of bed is to put the leash on the dog and hold on to her. Grabbed my purse, my husband's wallet, our cell phones and shoes to put on. If there should be damage and debris from a storm you don't want to be walking around barefoot.

Fortunately it was a fast moving storm and passed quickly with no damage. I was here in 2007 and know what can happen so I take all warnings very seriously.

2007 Tornado Pictures
 

For all of you who never saw pictures from the Groundhog Day tornado of 2007, I downloaded a few pictures I took that morning in the Village of Mallory.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...hp?albumid=241

These pictures are a reminder of what can happen. Fortunately it didn't happen today:smiley:

Feb 2, 2007 Tornado - You Better Take It Serious
 

Mine Did
 

Mine went off at 5:02. I turned on the TV to Channel 6, Tom Sorrells. My radio is set for Sumter, Marion, Lake...the fire department did it for me. They can do it faster than you can read/follow the directions. I come from Tornado Alley and he's right, you better pay attention.

Still can't get an answer...where are those of us who live on historic side supposed to evacuate to:shrug::shrug::shrug:

Thanks
 

Thanks F16 for the link to the Daily Sun re: the tornado 2/7/07. A good way to remind us of the importance of the weather warning system.It may scare you to death when your weather radio wakes you...but it could also save your life.

Is everything ok?
 

Oh dear, just reading this. How did things turn out? Did a tornado touch down? I hope no injuries or major damage!

There seems to have been contradictory reports. The message that we got from the automatic phone announcement and, I believe the weather radio was that a tornado had been sighted in the area. However, upon turning on Channel 2, they indicated that no circulation had been detected by their radar. If the latter turns out to be true, I question the reason for issuing a warning versus a watch. If they start issuing warnings before actual sightings, people may eventually treat them as "the boy who cried wolf" and start to ignore warnings.

better to be safe than sorry....gn

Quite true, but I thought that it was said that some rotation was noticed in a particular comma cloud type formation. The funnel cloud doesn't have to touch down to have the warning issued I believe...if the clouds aloft are showing rotation, it could be only a matter of a few seconds and suddenly you have a funnel cloud on the ground, a tornado. Checking on the weather, the rain, and trying to listen to tv from our bedroom closet, I thought that's what I heard.

Let me know.....
 

They can and should let me know, via the emergenacy radio, when there is any possibility of a tornado in the area. Just look at the photos posted in this thread! The wind at the height of the storm last night was scary.

When I was a kid, I saw first hand the devistation a tornado can cause; a three story house turned 180 degrees off it foundation; pieces of houses rising in the sky.

Tell me loud and tell me early!!
_

i thought a watch meant conditions could produce one, warning meant one had been confirmed on the ground...gn

GN, that is how I understood the difference between watch and warning!

My weather radio wakes me up for both watches and warnings.

To me, a tornado watch means I roll over and go back to sleep.

I take tornado warnings for Sumpter County seriously. I head for the interior laundry room with my pillows, dogs and cat.