Don't worry, I'm alright... Options

[Bargod]

It was a close call last night, but the tornado pulled back up into the storm as it passed over my neighborhood. I can't believe that I came that close to a tornado. My wife was putting the kids to bed and I was cleaning the kitchen when I barely heard the tornado sirens in the distance. I turned on the TV to get the national weather service tornado warning. Well, the tornado was just east of FT Worth at the time, and I live in far East Dallas, so I figured we were ok. The storm moved very quickly and in seemingly no time it was through Irving and passing through N. Dallas. It was on a direct line to my neighborhood. When it was about 20 minutes away the rain started. I still wasn't too worried. When it was about 5 miles away things got eerie. When the wind died and the rain died I grabbed the wife and kids and went to the tornado hideout (no basements in texas). For a couple of minutes I felt like I was overreacting until the wind got crazy. That lasted a few minutes and seemed to pass over. The rain quickly died to a drizzle as well. I went outside to see if our half dead tree had fallen (it hadn't) but in my neighbors yard 2 trees were split in half and corrogated alluminum sheets were thrown all over her yard and several other yards. One sheet had taken out her light post. The news reported there was some severe damage very near by. I assume the metal sheets were from nearby buildings that got hit with wind sheer. However, no damage at all to my house.
I called to check on a friend who lives about 2 miles from my house. He had quarter sized hail hit their neighborhood. Just 2 miles away and he got a totally different experience. About 10 miles north of me another friend said he and his roomate stood on their balcony during the whole storm, even with the marble sized hail coming down. He said it was more of just a bad thunderstorm near him.
Amazingly, we never lost power, though we did have some brown outs. This neighborhood loses power in every storm, yet tornadic storm passes with serious wind sheer and nothing. Ha!
I'll see if I can get some pictures of the local damage.

[Goosefly]

Man, must say that it is always good news when you here that someone is safe after a tantrum from mother nature, she could be a real Bitch. Glad you and your family are OK. The planet is definately changing for the worst, for ex.: in South Africa we don't have tornados or huricanes or earthquakes, but now we are starting to show signs of these weather phenomena more often. We have been screwing with this planet and now she is starting to screw with us and she is much better it.