...A little too close.
on April 29, 2017 multiple Tornadoes would touchdown East of Dallas, Texas two of them ready.
I've got a woman. I'm taking her to the hospital.
A stationary boundary positioned over the town of Canton would serve as a track for tornadoes to train down one after another.
Man, it's heading right for town!
For the folks in Canton, the nightmare was never-ending. Oh my God those people's gotta get out of there.
For a veteran storm chaser, the third and largest, tornado this family was the scariest tornado I've ever witnessed.
Tracking highly visible tornadoes over open land is more mesmerizing and scary
Continuous clear view of the rain free storm base helps you predict storm motion as you gawk with confidence.
The first tornado, I witness was small and rain wraps causing only EF0 dam age to trees and barns East of Canton.
After this weak tornado dissipated a large griller was developing upstream and racing Toward Town
We're right in it's path right here...
It's gonna jump over these trees any second now.
High precipitation storm modes with low cloud basis tracking swiftly over thick forests are
Extremely risky conditions to chase in. If you could see through this wall of trees you might see the low contrast
silhouette of the ready Tornado 60 seconds before crashing into you. And at 30 seconds away...
In these conditions at 15 seconds before impact you still might be completely unaware of your date.
There it is! Holy...
Big daddy coming right this way.Those people gotta get out of here.
Those people gotta get out of here or they're gonna fly.
Oh man those people better get out of there.
Hold on.
The shrouded tornado badly dam aging houses right behind me will strengthen to one of the most powerful tornadoes of 2017.
It will level a two-story brick home and sweep much of the foundation slab clean of debris.
Many people will be insured and two will lose their lives before this ef4 finally dissipates.
That's it right there.
That's it
Meanwhile another Powerful grinder Tornado is developing to the south.
Just got a glimpse of it.
There it is.
Let's go get it.
While positioning for a closer view the trees obscure clues that this intensifying tornado is moving much faster than I calculated?
I hope there's no people in those trailers.
Inside the bears cage and it is... Oh $#!+ It's too close.
Gotta run!
I gotta run Gotta run. It's coming. It's coming. Come on. It's coming
It's coming. it's coming fast!
it's coming fast!
This thing is moving fast.
Dude you guys better run.
Excuse me.
Ok I think I can watch it safely here.
little too close
Let's listen to it. (rolls window down)
It's heading right for town.
At this moment a wedding venue is being overrun with twenty people crammed in an interior bathroom
After the mile wide tornado passes it will be the only room still standing. Everyone will survive.
And there it is.
Tornado is now deploying a Dodge dealership tossing cars up to a half a mile.
A woman was sealed as her car was thrown from the interstate into a field
Another man will chose his life as well as many farm animals
It looks like over a lot of trees. There's houses everywhere out here that it missed the main part of town.
We're going to have to go to check on these people.
After the tornado has passed hazards are scattered everywhere
Twisted metal spheres of splintered wood and nails glass and rebar. wires everywhere I can't
Power Lines downed across lawns, roads and wreckage can easily fill you even if you're standing several feet away.
especially in wet conditions
Your throat and nostrils often burn from Broken Lines pouring gas into the air
The worst thing you can do while trying to assist tornado vic Tims is become a casualty yourself. I just saw another tornado right there
There's one following it right in there it
Another one. You guys can keep chasing If you want.
Guess I can go check out in that field for people. Oh damn it. There's cars. Be right back.
At this moment I'm running out to check this vehicle for possible vic Tims. it never occurred to me to check this leveled pile of rubble for Survivors.
The way a woman had crawled out of that mangled rubble
She was badly leading from her head and watching over her husband who was lying on the concrete with a broken deck
I've got a woman. I'm taking her to the hospital
The woman in my car had lost just about every material position she had. How you doing back there?
I'm good.
She said she's good. Despite the inquiries to her and her husband she hadn't lost her faith, or her sense of humor.
And your name again? Hank. I forgot your name. Good I don't feel so bad.
The Gravity of the situation was offset with joking and gratitude, and I tell you I might have met a stronger woman
But I can't remember when. We're tested, then we moan and then we have a testimony
Before walking together into the er with mud running down her face. She paused to say a prayer for me.
Father God I just thank you for Hank. protect him in his storm chasing.
And that you bless him and his wife for everything he's done for us. Amen.
The next morning when I was cleaning my car. I found a gun she left in the backseat. Welcome to Texas y'all.
shortly after all this craziness
I had the honor of meeting up with Vicki and her family for dinner and more joking and storytelling. Vicki and her husband Jim are
Recovering and slowly rebuilding, but as you can imagine they've accumulated a ton of bills. If you'd like to help them out
There's a fun drive helping to rebuild their community of Fruitvale... little town just outside of Canton. If you donate $20 or more
You could win a free
Mustang convertible or a harley-Davidson
I'll leave that link in the description below if
You're struggling to pay bills yourself even sharing this info can help them out. 'till next time Vicki happy trails