“Holy Shit!” just about describes it. Tornadoes are an Act of God.
The unthinkable happened, a tornado came to downtown Atlanta hopping and skipping and tearing up buildings, cars, and generally called panic and havoc.
A basketball tournament was suddenly halted. The tornado ripped off roofs, destroyed walls, threw metals beams around and out of all this, only a few minor injuries has been reported and no deaths!
Watching all the damage reports live on TV last night about midnight I was wondering about all the people stranded in downtown Atlanta. A lot of people were there that came by bus that was to be picked up by the same buses after the game, but the police said no one could enter the city – so how were the bus drivers to pick them up. Well, it could be worse – much worse.
I also thought about the Atlanta Zoo at Grant’s Park. The tornado hit within a couple of blocks of the zoo. The TV reporters showed a warehouse building that the force knocked down two walls and sent concrete blocks flying and steel beams being speared away. What if it had hit the Atlanta Zoo – like the primate house where the gorillas are kept at night or the Cat House where all the Tigers and Lions are kept. That would have livened their cage boredom!
At Spring Street and the street that runs by the old Rich’s and the Postal Federal Annex is the statue of Phoenix, rising from the ashes. The city is resilient and will rebuild itself, just like it did, after Sherman left.
et,
ReplyDeleteI was watching the game last night on the internet (for some reason no Jacksonville or Savannah station was carrying the tournament), on the edge of my seat as my MSU Bulldogs were teetering on the brink of defeat to the hated Pink Elephants from Tusca-looser. Suddenly all hell seems to break loose and the commentator says "it sounds like a freight train in here". It was interesting watching the reactions of everyone. It reminded me watching the World Series earth quake in 1989 when Al Michaels says " everyone, I think were having an earthqu....." Amazing what you can see on tV!
I wondered about the damage, so I am glad to hear you say it was minimal - at least no deaths.
ReplyDeleteJ3,
ReplyDeleteThings like and I find myself glued to the TV. Storms just can't any privacy anymore.
Judy,
Yep, no deaths on the first tornado in Atlanta... however, unfortunately, more in the afternoon a tornado in north Georgia did kill someone. And, as I type this the second tornado is plowing through Atlanta.
A lot of our fellow bloggers were giving first hand accounts. Glad you are OK.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you think Atlanta was tough after Sherman? Meridian, Mississippi was burned down three times!!!! That's resiliency.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteAnd look at Chicago. It survived Mrs. O'Leary's cow, "Scar Face", and Senator Dirkson!
If a little green man ever came here and saw a tornado or a hurricane, would he just turn around and go home?
ReplyDeleteOr a war?
Si,
ReplyDeleteIf I ever saw a little green man I would turn around and go home.
Several people on the news said the area of downtown Atlanta looked like a war zone.... all they needed were a bunch of adolescent orphans running around robbing corpses.