Bud Morrison was in the bathroom, with his wife, praying the storm would pass and everything would be alright. His prayers were answered.
But before the Morrisons were praying in their bathroom, they were watching television. They heard that a tornado warning was issued for their home in Bastrop, Louisiana and decided to take action. WeatherNation field correspondent Brandon Clement caught up with Bud moments after the tornado tore over his home. Here’s what he had to say:
Heeding the warning: Take a listen to Bud, a Louisiana resident, who heard a tornado warning two different ways, went to his safe place, and made it through a #tornado last evening. #LAwx pic.twitter.com/8VNOeE5MgF
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 8, 2021
“We were in the house and were watching television and they gave a report of warnings for Bastrop and then the telephones went off. About that time I heard it. I told my wife we better head to the bathroom. About the time we hit the bathroom, trees started falling. They hit the house. It wasn’t very long but I’m glad it wasn’t any longer. We were blessed. The Lord blessed us to be alive. I ain’t worried about the rest of it [house] it’ll all take care of itself.”
The National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi covers Bastrop, Louisiana. The meteorologists at NWS – Jackson, MS issued a tornado warning, including Bastrop, saying ‘TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.’
Bud heard the warning, and he took action with his family.
“I was praying. I was praying to the Lord to keep us safe and He did. I give Him all the praise and glory for it. I’m glad all these people are safe here. This one lady here got her head cut the storm tore the roof off her house. There are parts of her house out in my backyard. So, we’re all blessed,” recounts Morrison.
This event is an example of the warning process and dissemination process working. The storm was warned. Bud heard the warning on television and his telephone, proving multiple ways to get warnings is best. The family then took shelter in the most interior room in their home and survived to tell the story.
A storm cellar, basement, or underground room is one of the best places to go to during a tornado warning. If no basement is available, then the lowest and most-interior section of a sturdy building is best.
This particular event happened on Safe Place Selfie Day, when the National Weather Service was urging folks to take a selfie of them in their safe place to demonstrate that they know where to go during a weather warning. On this day, the Morrison’s safe place was the inner bathroom and the process of warning, dissemination, and action worked perfectly!
Know where to go in the event of severe weather, whether at work, home, or outside. Stay up-to-date with the latest weather information and have multiple ways to get warnings!