Oklahoma tornado

[ris8_allo_zen0]

Hi all,

it's been a long time since the last time I posted here...

 

I've just heard about the Moore, Oklahoma disaster. I feel really sorry for the population.

I also remembered that two of my orders of nice MIDIbox stuff came from somewhere in Oklahoma, packaged by SmashTV. I don't remember which city, though. I hope that it wasn't one of those hit by the tornado.

 

SmashTV, are you OK? How are your family and friends?

 

I hope to hear news soon.

 

Best regards,

Enrico

 

[technobreath]

I'm sorry dude but Moore, oklahoma is where smashtv lives. I have no idea about his current whereabouts, but I guess we will find out at some point.

So wether he is ok or not, his area is going thru a disaster right now...

[technobreath]

I'm taking the liberty to come with a small update. It's only second-hand info, so it's not confirmed by myself, but this dude wrote something on smashTV's facebook, saying he is happy and relieved to hear that neither smashTV or his family was injured during the tornado.... something like that... So, personally, I take that as a confirmation that he is probably alright. The dude is probably just helping where it's needed etc, and I'm sure he'll be back here to yell at me for copying his facebook wall onto this forum :).

[TK.]

Thank you for the update!

 

After I got the shocking news, I was searching in the internet for informations as well, and found this map at CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2013/05/us/moore-oklahoma-tornado/?hpt=hp_t2

SmashTV lives ca. 0.5 miles north from the affected area - this is relieving!

 

Best Regards, Thorsten.

[technobreath]

Wow, that's a close call. I had a little bit less acurate information (chart from norwegian newspaper) that made it look like it went right over his rooftop, If this is correct it's definetly good news (relatively good news that is) :). At least our hammerman is ok!

 

I spent the whole afternoon in front of the computer to watch this, and also the whole way home from work :P. It's relieving to know that he and his family seems to be ok.

[technobreath]

For all those who aint in the IRC channel - a guy passed through with some solid news.

 

I think situation calls for a small recap:

 

" just wanted to give you the heads up that SmashTV and entire family are fine in OKC!"
"They have no power and are off-line.  He wanted me to tell the room that they are ok in Oklahoma City!"
"yes... no power, no net connection.  Kindof cut off from the world for a bit.  Don't really know when it will all be back up and running, but he wanted to tell everyone he and his fam survived the storms"

 

Basically a part of the conversation between <midiboxer_372> (a friend of SmashTV's) and bugfight.

 

So then it's definetly confirmed! :D thankgod!

[ris8_allo_zen0]

That's some happy news :) Thanks for the updates folks, I hope that everything gets better for him as soon as possible. Best regards, Enrico

[smashtv]

Thanks guys sorry I worried you!

 

Please pray for the people who lost loved ones.

 

I live roughly 5 minutes by foot away from this surreal nightmare.  I rode bikes and played here as a kid, back when kids spent the day outside.

 

The response has been amazing.  The minute you step on scene it restores your faith in humanity.

 

Best regards

 

Tim

[TK.]

Thanks for the sign of life! :smile:

 

How did you experience the tornado? According to the newspapers it was one of the worst ever!

Is it almost so horrible like in the destroyed area at your place, or not worse like after a heavy storm?

 

Best Regards, Thorsten.

[smashtv]

I watched it from here.  Impossible to correctly describe.  Similar to standing near the tracks with a heavy freight train moving fast multiplied by 5.  Intense sound, the ground shakes, low and high velocity debris.

(disclaimer: do not ever do this.  I had two separate real time radar feeds going which gave me plenty of time to decide whether to stay or get out of the way.  Without live info and an understanding of what it means the only correct move is to seek shelter underground.)

 

Definitely one of the worst ever in regards to damage.  Awareness/advance warning had a large effect on the death toll, as did the response.  Within an hour they had military and law enforcement helicopters scanning the area with thermal imaging systems.  This helped quickly rescue over a hundred people trapped in debris.

 

Here it looks more like after a heavy storm.  Some trees down and a lot of dust from insulation. 

 

My location marked on the CNN map linked in the post above:

original image credit CNN w/edit by smashtv

 

Before/after Moore Medical Center:

(upper) image credit Google - (lower) photo credit Richard Rowe / Reuters

 

Before/after Moore Bowl:

(upper left and upper right) photo credit mrs. smashtv - (lower) photo credit Richard Rowe / Reuters

 

An old friend (one of the kids I used to ride bikes with!) grew up to be a fire chief for Oklahoma City FD, this photo he posted on facebook of his crew at Plaza Towers shows the "Oklahoma standard" better than words can describe:

photo credit Mike Walker

 

Best regards

 

Tim

[Hawkeye]

Woah, that was close, glad you and your family are ok!

Many greets,

Peter

Edited May 23, 2013 by Hawkeye

[latigid on]

Glad that you're okay! It's hard to imagine so much damage being done in so little time... 

 

Wishing you the best,

Andy

[Altitude]

Damn Tim, glad you and your's are fine.  EF5 is no joke.

[jojjelito]

Phew! Too close for comfort. Glad you're ok.

[Antix]

I had a thought and a prayer for the people who lost their ones or their homes before I realized that Oklahoma is your home Tim.

I am glad that you are OK

[ris8_allo_zen0]

I'm glad you're fine Tim. I hope you and your people can recover from this event and get back to do amazing things in your lives.

[Shuriken]

Good to hear you and your family are ok Tim. Sad times for the people who lost their loved ones and their livelihood.

[kristal=]

Best wishes from me, too! Hope you guys can fix the damage quickly and get back to normal life.

[smashtv]

Thanks guys!

 

Internet access is still mostly unusable here (extreme packet loss - pages/email won't load but IRC works). 

I am hoping to be back to normal with the shop by the end of the week.

 

Best regards

 

Tim