This is Oklahoma...we're USED to it

Oklahomans are tough...we are hardworking, and we've earned what we've got. We are friendly, we are helpful, and Im proud to be from Oklahoma. Every year we know that storm season is coming, and since this is Oklahoma...we're used to it! 

In April and May, we watch the forecast for any "SEVERE" storm chances, and know when to pay more attention to  the weathermen. We have the iPhone app that goes off with severe thunderstorms or tornado warnings in our area. And since they always happen in the afternoon, most of us start paying closer attention about 2 or 3 pm on those days. We've all gone halfway into our storm shelters or safe places, knowing it would come close but most likely not even drop down or if it did, it would miss us for sure. 

We're all a little scared and on edge on the days our local weatherman, Mike Morgan, wears his bedazzled tie. But we don't leave town, or board up our windows, or get sandbags ready. There's nothing to prepare for. We go about our day, send our kids to school, and go to work and lunch and rock out to music in the car on the way. After all, this is Oklahoma...we're used to it! 

But when the big one comes, and there's no escaping, and the sirens mean business...even though we're used to it, we can never truly prepare ourselves to walk out of our storm shelter and everything be gone. To see sunlight through the holes in the door where a garage or second floor used to be. A neighborhood unrecognizable, even to its residents. And devastation that can't be put into words...

Moore, OK

Just over a week later, on May 31st, we had another round of tornadoes come through our area. This outbreak was so large that we couldn't hardly come out of the shelter before the next round came through. This is the first time I have truly gotten down in the storm shelter, shut the door and prayed to God that whatever was happening above us, would not hurt us. Ive never heard wind like this, close to 100 mph, whipping around our house. And you could see the clouds overhead, spinning in circles against each other. We fit 8 adults and 8 small children (and 2 dogs) in the shelter that night, and were so lucky not to be directly hit. We had a few fence panels down, some debris and toys thrown around our yard, and a trampoline that came from a house 2 doors down and behind us, and wrapped itself around our mailbox! 

The boys cleaned up, and we waited 3 days to get power back, but that's nothing compared to what could've been. 

The outpouring of generosity by so many people, and the determination by the residents who lost their homes is what makes me love this state! We'll rebuild, and pray for the next storm season to take it easy on us, because This is Oklahoma, we're used to it.