I'm only beginning to understand just how vast the devastation here in Tuscaloosa is

[Syrinx]

I was without electricity for a few days, so I had no television, or internet. I wasn't allowed to travel into the affected areas of the city, or county, under force of National Guard-enforced martial law. All I had was my mini-boom box powered by six C batteries.

I knew that there were Tuscaloosa police, Northport police, Coaling police, Tuscaloosa County sheriff's deputies, state troopers, highway patrol, Homeland Security, and National Guard personnel, all charged with keeping us away from the affected areas. And maybe even some agencies I've never even heard of.

I've yet to successfully venture into the eye of the storm myself. They let Charlie Sheen in, but not yet I.

I think I'll get a chance later today, as most of the main arteries are reported to be open at last.

I've only got dialup, and I've only watched less than half of this clip so far, and they have at least three sequels to it.

I'm having problems determining which parts of town are depicted in this video, because there's not much left to recognize.

I've been hearing that it was the worst tornado damage ever, but to actually see it is so horrible. And they say to see it first-hand is an order of magnitude even worse. I hope I can handle it.

I'm old enough to remember the terrible tornado around 1974 or 1975. But that was nothing compared to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6giQ3csbUg&feature=related

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Jeebus Syrinx! Very glad to hear you're ok!!!

[Syrinx]

3. thanks DD

Are them cows mooing in Chinese? We need to investigate 'em. :)

Thanks.

[Dennis Donovan]

7. They're Meaningful Use cows...

MU! (I'm in Healthcare Information Technology - "Meaningful Use" is a standard for endusers (of Electronic Medical Records) that they have to meet in order to get grant money from the Fed. Long story... ;-):hi:

[Syrinx]

13. I'd get me a cow if I could get some grant money

But knowing my luck, my cows would be lazy and I wouldn't be able to educate them. ;)

[liberal N proud]

2. Good to hear you are safe

[Syrinx]

4. thank you

I'm also proud to be liberal.

Don't wipe out the national weather service, for a start. Without them, we'd have thousands of dead, instead of hundreds.

:hi:

[laylah]

5. Oh my, Syrinx!

I am so sorry! I am very glad to hear you are okay. Prayers to all down there. :hug:

[Syrinx]

6. thank you so much

I, personally, got a little bit lucky. Well, make that a whole-lot lucky.

Thanks for the love. :hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

8. My thoughts and prayers (blood and whatever funds I can send)....

are with all of those who are suffering from this horrible tragedy.

I'm glad you are okay. :hug:

I have family there, and it was several days before we found out that they were okay.

I also get the sense, as you've said that, unless you see it yourself, you can't comprehend the magnitude of the destruction.

I am simply so sorry; no adequate words.

:cry:

[Syrinx]

10. you need no words

Your actions have been nothing short of amazing. I really admire you.

Thank you for your work. I only wish I could do a fraction of the good you do.

:patriot:

[dipsydoodle]

9. That's dreadful

Difficult for us here in the UK to relate to such devastation.

Thoughts are with you.

[Syrinx]

11. thank you very much

I heard someone on CSPAN say that 90% of deadly tornadoes in the world happen in the U.S. I don't remember who it was, but they were all official sounding. :)

If it is true, I really wonder why.

Thanks a lot.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. So glad to know that you're safe, my friend.

When I first heard of the damage, I immediately thought of you. It sounds incomprehensible, and can't imagine what you and your neighbors are going through. Hang in there, my friend, thanks for checking in, and welcome back to DU.

Rhiannon :hug:

[Syrinx]

15. Thank you. You're so sweet.

You are the sweetest person I know that I don't actually know. :)

I love ya!

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Hey, we're family here...

And worry about each other, whether we've met IRL, or not... :) :loveya: :pals:

[Syrinx]

19. I'm looking for the emoticon for "smooch"

And loving your "bunny rabbit." You're my kind of girl, I must say.

[Scuba]

14. Thanks for posting. We too soon move on to the next story....

...and forget what happened just last week. The People were devastated by these tornados and deserve help from the rest of America. Call that socialism, please.

Glad you're safe.

[Syrinx]

17. I'd love me some socialism

I guess that ain't gonna happen anytime soon, though.

I agree about moving on to the next story. CNN and MSNBC can only have one story at a time, for some reason. (I don't even consider FOX.)

I remember CNN when they'd tell us about 20 or 30 different events during a news day. Nowadays we are limited to one.

The whole world is just stupid today. I'm not sure about the root-cause, but I suspect it's about who has the big money.

Thanks!

[dgibby]

18. Glad to know you're safe.

I have a friend who works for one of the hotels there. The hotel survived, but the malls across the street from it are gone. The folks she works with are doing what they can to help, but it's an overwhelming task.

I was stationed at the Navy hospital in Charleston,SC, when Hugo hit. The damage was unbelievable. Street signs were gone, power, traffic lights out, landmarks destroyed. I know it sounds trite, but it looked like a war zone. It was very disconcerting to try to drive around, especially at night.

I told my sister that no matter what she saw on tv, she'd never understand the scope of the damage until she was standing in the middle of it. She and my nieces came down from Va, with a van full of supplies for people here, and they were flabbergasted. The closer they got to Charleston, the more awestruck they became. They said it looked like a moonscape in some areas, and they were right.

Here's wishing you and yours well. It's going to be a long haul, but it will get better. Take care and get help for the enevitable depression and PTSD that will follow.:hug:

[Syrinx]

20. thank you so much

Normally, I'd say a lot more. But I've just gotta have a nap now.

Thank you!

[blondeatlast]

21. God bless you all and I'm so glad you are okay. My heart goes

out to your neigbors and friends who have suffered loss; let them all know we are thinking of them.

Stay safe. :hug:

[SPedigrees]

22. That video is horrific! So glad you're safe. nt

[FirstLight]

23. Please keep posting and keep us updated

I shudder to think what that must be like. My mom grew up in Mississippi, we still have relatives in vicksburg. i guess right about now they are worrying about the river cresting...

what magnitude was that tornado? F-5? I think i remember hearing that was like 'the finger of God' :scared:

Glad you are safe! :hug:
( and please spread the word to others in your area that there are those who want to help... you know Wishadoo may have some helping people available there...) ;)

As someone said above, the media will move on to the next disaster or shiny thing and forget about these folks, so we need you and others to help us keep iit in the forefront. looks like that entire city will have to be rebuilt from the ground up....

[eppur_se_muova]

24. Holy crap ... if you don't to d/l videos, just use this Googlon ...

http://www.google.com/search?q=tuscaloosa+tornadoes&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&wrapid=tlif130462685804610&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=vi&biw=928&bih=507

[Scurrilous]

25. Kick

:kick:

[pecwae]

26. Kicking this up.

This is a situation that isn't getting nearly enough coverage anywhere. You may be one of the few sources for information and I hope you can keep us informed as you can. It's really helpful.

I'm glad you're okay :hi: