Tornadoes, WiFi calling, and Idiots

Hello people of the Internet! Yesterday I got to know what my college's tornado warnings procedures were first hand when we got  a warning of one that could possibly form near our area. Around 2:15 pm I was in the library looking up TED talks for my field hours when the hum of an alarm suddenly echoed throughout the computer space. At first I, and everyone else around me, thought that the maintenance crew had once again triggered the fire alarm while working on the ceiling lights until the alarm sounded again and I realized that it was coming from my phone. Confused, I woke my cell out of sleep mode and found a message, like this one, filling the screen:

It was then I noticed how dark the clouds were in the sky, and how hard the trees swayed in the wind. Now, even though I had enough sense to know that the library-with its wall of two story high windows-was not the best place to be in if a tornado hit, I wasn't sure of where I should go. My dorm was on the other side of campus, and I wasn't even sure I could make it to the dinning hall next door without a branch or sign taking me out. As I sat stewing in my uncertainty two librarians came rushing towards the computer area using blow horns to tell everyone to log out and get to the ground floor as soon as possible; instructions I did not need to hear twice.

There is a possible column of wind and death on the way and I am not going to be here when it arrives.

The library didn't have a basement, or storm shelter, but it is built on the side of a hill so the lower levels might as well be underground. As I hoofed it down the stairwell to safety thoughts of my mom's, sister's, and aunt's well being sprang into mind. My sister would still be at work, and there was a pretty old tree right next to my house. Of course not wanting to fall and break my neck I waited till I had found a spot in the narrow hallway the librarians had shepherd us into to call and check on my family. Or at least I tried. Even though a decent WiFi signal had absolutely no problem what so ever finding my phone through the layer of concrete and drywall, the barest amount of signal I needed to ensure that my loved ones were still breathing couldn't find its way through a sheet of paper!

Before you ask: Yes, I am aware that androids can use WiFi to make phone calls however I had no idea how to activate the one on mine, and at the time I was too busy wondering if I was going to die that to wade through an online tutorial. For a whole hour I sat on the cold hard floor listening for the roar of wind, or a shattering of glass, that would signal the start of mother nature's bitch fit; which thankfully never came. The funny thing is I had just summoned up enough courage to ask the girl beside me if I could borrow her phone to call my mom when they gave us the all clear. However, my calm did not return until hours afterwards since as I was walking out of the building I over heard a boy boasting: "Why were you guys inside? We were out her the whole time and didn't see no Tornado."

Readers, I want you to pay close attention to the following words because they will not only help you stay alive during a time of crises, but  identify the members of your group who should not be allowed to breed:
Even though the human race has created technology that has allowed us to determine what the weather is going to be like we have yet to make a machine, or program, that can pin point the exact time, place, and duration of a tornado hence the reason why we have Watches and Warnings. 
During a tornado watch it is not a good idea for you to go outside, however there is no need for you to barricade yourself inside a storm shelter. That is unless the area you are currently in receives a tornado warning like my college did. Even though warnings do not guarantee that a tornado will form they do show that their is a high chance that one might. Meaning, that unless you want to take the risk of a one hundred mile-per-hour breeze parking an umbrella stand into your skull, you need to get to the nearest shelter as soon as possible!

That's all I got to say, so until my next post I hope you will Live Well, Laugh often, and Love much. 

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