Last summer I survived a Hurricane. And last night? Last night I maybe-possibly-likely-probably survived a tornado. Well, if the twister didn’t actually hit my location – I was as ready for it as I could be in my extended-stay hotel suite room place.
So there I am, just got back from a self-motivated crossfit work out, ready to shower and relax at my new hotel home. I turn on the TV for dinner and news and all I can see on the local channels are these Tornado Watch broadcasts with the weatherman repeatedly saying: "If you are in the area I just mentioned, please take cover now".
WTH?!
Tornadoes in Pennsylvania? Yes. Actually, four touched down on Monday (one F-0, two F-1 and one F-2).
Great.
What am I supposed to do in case of a tornado again? Something about the basement or an inner-most room away from the South and West walls. Thank goodness for Android apps. I pulled out the compass app and google searched tornado safety to begin to prepare myself.
I also headed to the front desk to inquire about their plan. Let me tell ya, they were no where near as prepared for ANY kind of emergency as that Resort in St. Maarten with the hurricane last year. The kid at the counter was like, yeah – I heard one tornado was sighted, but that’s 45 minutes from here. Meanwhile i'm thinking...
Yo! Son, do you know how quickly a tornado can travel?! *good grief*
Yo! Son, do you know how quickly a tornado can travel?! *good grief*
Shaking my head – I resigned myself to the fact that my survival was in my own hands. *sigh* I looked outside and it had gotten VERY dark, VERY quickly. I prepared my tornado survival space and hunkered down.
Because I’m actually kinda nervous, I send my parents a text & post to fB hoping for some company and comic relief. Mission accomplished – hilarity ensues.
Examine the evidence:
[Text message between my Mom and I]
Me: I’m staying at the Suites 504 N. Blah Blah Road, Harrisburg, PA. Phone 717.###.7800. A tornado was reported to have touched down close by.
Mom: Are you okay? Any more storms predicted? May God bless you and keep you safe. Love, Mummy
Me: I’m in my hotel room, in the bathroom, under a table, wrapped in a blanket
Mom: Your room is on the 5th floor? Is there not a basement in the hotel?
Me: My room is on the first floor, 126. 504 is the hotel building number
Me: No basement, no true interior rooms
Mom: Okay, be safe and continue to pray
Me: Yes, ma’am
(~1.5 hours later)
Me: I’m in the clear. Keep the address & room # - this is where I’ll be living for the next couple of months while I’m in PA
Mom: Is this the Suites? The room is now 126 instead of 504?
<Oh, Mom! *smh*>
And facebook…
So we're still wating on the confirmed reports of the tornadoes...but if you're interested - here's a pic of my Hotel Bathroom Tornado Fort (with quick egress to bathtub):
{CLOUD} Life sometimes presents storms, okay TORNADOES, in the most unexpected of places...
SILVER LINING: ...just build yourself a fort, say a little prayer and you can weather any storm.
