Chapter 1: Tornado Warnings and Family Concerns

This morning, I received a call at 4 A.M. from my son in Bainbridge Island, Washington. “Dad, we’re under a tornado warning,” he said. For someone who grew up in the Deep South, particularly in areas like Tornado Alley, those words are unsettling. Tornadoes are a frequent concern, and those of us raised in such regions tend to be acutely aware of weather patterns. We look for unusual cloud formations, distinct colors, and specific movements, always on the lookout for the ominous signs of a tornado.

Section 1.1: Personal Experiences with Tornadoes

My first encounter with a tornado took place in February 1971 while in the Mississippi Delta. We heard the unmistakable sound akin to a freight train and quickly moved to the safest part of the house until the noise subsided. Thankfully, the only damage was to some shingles and our 30-foot TV antenna, which had been uprooted. However, devastation struck in nearby Inverness, where the tornado caused severe destruction and loss of life.

The next notable event occurred in 1982 while I was stationed on the USS Simon Lake off the coast of Georgia. From the weather deck, I spotted a squall line and counted a staggering ten waterspouts—a sight I had never witnessed before. Astonishingly, it seemed that none of my fellow crew members noticed this remarkable phenomenon.

Section 1.2: Tornadoes in Unlikely Places

When I relocated to Washington state in 1984, I believed I had left tornadoes behind. However, tornadoes have been recorded in every state, and I had sent my youngest son to high school in Manila, Philippines, thinking it would be a safe environment. In 2016, I was startled to learn that a tornado had struck just outside our family home, damaging a nearby 7-Eleven store my son had visited moments earlier. It was an unprecedented event for Manila, marking the first tornado in its recorded history.

Chapter 2: Coincidences and Climate Change

Earlier that same year, I learned from a cousin in Florence, Italy, that a tornado had also touched down in his neighborhood in 2014. In 2018, an F2 tornado struck Port Orchard, Washington, alarmingly close to my family in Bremerton. This morning’s warning added to my concerns, as I found myself in Manila while my son faced threats of severe weather in Bainbridge Island.

While these occurrences may seem coincidental, experiencing multiple tornado warnings within the family raises questions. However, one must consider the broader context: global warming. The increase of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is leading to more severe storms and, consequently, a rise in tornado occurrences, even in regions where they were once rare.

This video, titled "What Happened When a Tornado Tore Through This Family's Home," offers a firsthand account of the devastation caused by tornadoes, highlighting the unpredictability of nature.

In another gripping video, "We Survived A TORNADO 🌪️," viewers witness the harrowing experience of surviving a tornado, emphasizing the need for awareness and preparedness.

In conclusion, tornadoes are not simply following my family; rather, they are a reflection of the broader impacts of human-induced climate change. As a species, we are contributing to these phenomena, and the consequences will be felt by families worldwide in the years to come.