Devastation in Iowa City Tonight

On 13 Apr 2006 22:06:51 -0700, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

So I was at our airport commission meeting tonight when the tornado
sirens went off. We had noticed the skies becoming black, but were all
too wrapped up in talk of paving taxiways to pay much heed.
snip
Eventually we made it out of the area, and were able to get home. Our
garbage -- with six bags of leaves -- is sitting out front, absolutely
unmoved. Not a blade of grass is out of place.

Nature is amazing, and we were so very lucky. Our hangar and plane are
unscathed, the hotel was just nicked a glancing blow, and our home is
fine. There's no word on casualties yet, but from the looks of things,
there almost had to be some.

Glad you made it out OK Jay.
Nature is really strange. I've seen 5 tornados and one really large
water spout (tornado on water) off Key West. lucky we normally don't
get the big tornados up here in Michigan, but there have been
exceptions such as the Beecher tornado (North Flint) back in the 50's.
We had a little f-1 go directly over our house a few years back and
most of the neighbors were running around their back yards trying to
catch the lawn furniture. My neighbor was chasing something and it
was like he ran into a wall. Then I heard a cracking and popping over
the wind noise and was surprised to see the tops coming out of the
trees behind the house and then spiraling up into the clouds. Then as
you describe it became still where I was standing, yet a 100 yards to
either side I could see small stuff flying around.

About 400 yards east it *screwed * the top half right out of a big Oak
tree, yet there was no damage to any homes. Still, about a half mile
to the south of us there was a down burst that left a mile and a half
of straight line wind damage.

There was another down burst right on the edge of 3BS which took out a
bunch of trees and went right down the taxiway in front of our hangar.
There was only one plane tied down in front of our hangar and it was
toast. It pulled the tie downs right out of the ground but one and
then proceeded to beat the plane on the ground. It put *shoulders* in
the wings where the struts attach.

If I can find the photos I'll send you some.

Again, congratulations on making it through in good shape.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com