47 Years ago today - I was almost killed.

[Bullwinkle925]

June 10, 1958 - El Dorado, Kansas.
The day began beautifully. Awakened to the sounds of lawn-mowing, flys buzzing and that lazy delicious feeling of summer just beginning.
Later that day my cousin, sister and I went to the Municipal Pool to swim.
Arrived home in the afternoon. Mom frying chicken, baby brother taking his afternoon nap.
Then it all changed!!
Storm clouds - sky turning a boiling black/green color.
TORNADO!!
I'll never forget fleeing to the car - gathering my sister from next door with the kids she was baby-sitting and seeking shelter.
Ended up at a little edge-of-town family farmhouse and ran to their
'dug-out' earthen tornado shelter. Dirt walls, dirt floor with two wooden planks for footing. About 20 people already squeezed in.
The tornado followed our route. The men barely got the cellar door shut when the tornado roared overhead.
15 Dead - 50 injured.
Our street was totally demolished both sides from 2 houses down from ours.
National Guard moved in to prevent looting.
People looking for loved ones.
My Dad was one of the volunteers to help clear the rubble.
Thankfully our family was intact.

This is a day I will NEVER forget.

[ewagner]

1. I'm sure you'll never forget

I came close once and I will never forget it either....glad you're still around. :hi:

[Bullwinkle925]

3. Thank you - I truly believe I have post-trauma-stress-syndrome from

that. It's something that one never gets over.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I will never forget the one that hit here

in 1957. I was only 3. But it is a very strong memory for me.

[Bullwinkle925]

4. Yes - leaves a firm imprint in your memory. Glad you're ok.

[Bullwinkle925]

9. Any fatalities ?

[Bullwinkle925]

10. I'll have to look that one up on the tornado site.

[Mizmoon]

5. what an amazing story

You should write the long version and post it somewhere. It's very interesting especially to those of us who've never seen one except on the Weather Channel.

Thank God you and your family were okay.

[Bullwinkle925]

6. Thank You -

I was also in the SF Bay Area for the 1989 earthquake.

God knows I don't want to experience a Tsunami, Volcano or Hurricane.

I've had enough for one life!!

[livetohike]

7. Glad you are still here!

:-)

Tornadoes frighten me the most. I've lived (live) where earthquakes occur and where there have been hurricanes. Lived in MN for a few years and when the tornado sirens blared, it scared me to death.

I think it has something to do with all of those air raid drills during the 50's. I was in elementary school, but I still have some dreams about disasters.

Oh well, that was a horrible thing to have to live through. :hug:

[Bullwinkle925]

8. Thank you - it's something that always 'lives' inside me.

Whenever we have earthquakes here - even small ones - the terror that I felt so many years ago rises up in me.