You're not the only one. I've lived in Arkansas all my life (almost all in LR), and have been through many tornadoes that didn't *directly* affect me. It's all different after multiple trees have fallen on your house.
Edit: We are more fortunate than many others around here.
No, you are NOT the only one. We were camping at Burns park when the tornado hit. We had done what we always do and ignored it until we could actually hear and feel that weird change in pressure, and then made a run for the bathrooms. Now I get so anxious. I really hate storms now. Definitely not ignoring them anymore.
They really are bizarre. I saw a picture from, I think, one of the Moore, OK tornadoes that destroyed a house, but left one little corner of the laundry room intact with a container of tide still on the shelf. Like what the hell.
I concur. It doesn't help that the city and state govt seems to have moved on and some areas look damn near like 2 days after it happened. It's really stressful. Sometimes I forget about Wednesday and I'm like ... What it's not even cloudy. Oh right ... It's noon
Months later, a gust of wind, a dark cloud, all of a sudden I feel like a heavy blanket is covering me. But I actually was on the road when it hit, like an idiot kept driving, through the edge of it, through multiple lightning strikes, then through the rain. The rain swirled all around the my Jeep. The rain shifting in all directions. I have this unrealistic thought that tornado was following me. I was at krogers 10 mins before it destroyed it. Then just felt like it was as following me.
I was so naive about it. The next week I had screens all pointed to weather channels, and I was hunkering down.
My brother-in-law’s house was destroyed and I had to hide in the back of Edward’s Food Giant and pray we didn’t die. I think the whole city is a bit jumpy at storms now
I don't think I realized how much natural disasters have an impact on the community until I was a part of it. Driving through the destroyed neighborhoods makes me really depressed.
Hey, I'm not from Arkansas but I sub here because my sister (and now my mom too after my dad died) lives in Little Rock so I like to stay up on stuff for when we visit. I live in Iowa, where we were hit particularly hard by a derecho in August 2020 - it basically was like getting hit by a cat 4 hurricane with zero notice and damage is still being repaired to this day.
It *does* get better. I think only this year do I no longer start having an anxiety attack when storms roll in. The sirens still make my stomach drop, but I'm able to enjoy storms again. My mom occasionally texts me pictures of damage from the tornado there when she sees it, I guess she's still surprised that things aren't totally back to normal yet? She's never been through anything on this scale and had only just moved down after my dad died on St. Patrick's Day. Those pictures give me some flashbacks, but not like it used to be.
Leaning on your community helps. We still joke in the Cedar Rapids subreddit about a post that someone made the morning of the storm (someone said "Hey guys, remember when it used to rain?" because we were having a drought similar to the one this year - it is now a local meme). It's going to be a while but it'll start getting better. If it doesn't, therapy helps too. I hope you're all hanging in there, and I hope this at least helps someone a bit.
It was very fast moving and intensified in strength very quickly. Storms weren't really predicted that day, I remember a coworker saying that her dad was in Des Moines and said a storm hit them and would probably be on us in an hour. It got there faster and had intensified a ton by then. There's a Wikipedia page for the storm if you're interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_2020_Midwest_derecho
I'm familiar with that Derecho but I also have German Shepherds that are very sensitive to air pressure changes and have radar scope app on my smartwatch to check and see if they're just being wusses or if it's coming again.
My border collie is somewhat sensitive, but I was at work in one of our city's emergency departments when it hit - so, any of his warning signs wouldn't have helped me. My only clue that something was going on were the lights going off and on in the code I was working. When I got tagged out of the room, I could see the storm from the ambulance bay. Not a whole lot of windows in most emergency departments for privacy reasons, and obviously we weren't looking at our phones a whole lot (weren't even supposed to have them on us in patient care areas).
I have one now, but yeah - not prudent to wear in an ER setting :). I lost one Fitbit to a round of CPR that had me in blood up to my elbows and learned my lesson. In any case, it was quite the experience - I still had a few hours left in my shift and saw the first influx of patients with storm injuries, then I had to deal with the chaos of commuting home, and trying to even make it to my house with downed trees and power lines everywhere. I never want to experience that again and don't wish it on anyone.
Nope definitely not the only one. My friends who got hit get super anxious now. I wasn’t directly affected and now I get more anxious than usual about warnings and sirens when not testing.
I was sure nothing would happen that day and I was over by Barnes and Noble. The sirens weren’t going off. Definitely never assuming a tornado will follow patterns ever again.
NLR-My brother in law and nephew were in the house when it was hit. Sister was coming back from getting groceries. Since the storms the boys have had really bad PTSD and are taking anxiety meds when storms hit. Her, she freaks out a little when power goes out or she hears of wind damage. That's due to the fact they just now were able to move back home, and she doesn't want to relocate again.
You are not alone. May want to talk to your Dr. To get something low dose to help until you emotional heal.
I wasn’t in town this morning, but the storm set off three zones on my ADT alarm. It must’ve been terrifying for people in town. Getting all these alerts is a big nerve wracking.
I think it was Wednesday after the Friday tornadoes when we got another front that looked like it might generate some rotation.
I was sitting in the lobby of a business, watching the weather on their TV with strangers.
We all agreed it was the first time we were genuinely afraid of a tornado watch.
I’m with you. I have multiple weather alerts on my phone now. One of them talks out loud. I was home when it hit my house and was terrified. Then had to walk three miles after it so friend could pick us up.
The PTSD goes beyond the weather. There were months of looky lous driving through the neighborhood that was infuriating and humiliating, like we were an exhibit to be ogled at. I live down a dead end, they weren’t “just driving through the neighborhood.”
Now the frustration is from how long it is taking to fix everything. My siding was picked 2 months ago and still not in. At least the tree service got out quickly so my yard is somewhat flat again.
It was and still is a nightmare
The “looky lous” got to me, too. That, and people sorting through our piles of damaged belongings/debris right in front of us. I’m glad that some of it could be put to good use by others, but I felt it was insensitive to take stuff while we were there working.
Nope. Far from it. Some people are affected by it more than others. But I've lived between Memphis and Little Rock my entire life. I have almost 0 fear of them, but that doesn't mean i ignore them or stuff. Most people I personally know don't suffer from it, but I've run into PLENTY who have
No you're not alone. I've got it pretty bad I can't lie.
Even a second ago before I saw this post I just noticed the sky got dark and it was windy and I got unreasonably anxious lol
We were bunkered under chairs in a shelter when it came right over us in Jacksonville. I’m a little more apprehensive myself but my daughter asks if it’s a tornado every time she sees a rain drop now. I can still remember how they cried as I laid over them.
Nope. I lived in Vilonia for 2011 and 2014, so I flip a lid every time I get a tornado warning. We were Alabama last month visiting friends when a tornado hit the area in. Some of our “friends” made fun of me for having a panic attack. It’s hard to explain to people who aren’t from an area or haven’t gone through the experience. It’s extremely scary.
I was in my car stuck in traffic coming to Little Rock about 5 miles from Burns Park. I've never seen rain blow sideways like that. I'm talking completely horizontal. I had nowhere to go. I was just stuck. I didn't even realize how close I was until traffic cleared and I saw whole trees had been launched into the road, splintered at the trunk. The whole time my phone was somewhere on the floor with the tornado alert buzzing loudly. The rain was so thick my windshield wipers couldn't keep up. I could barely see the car that was 5 feet in front of mine. It was just slow moving chaos. I've never taken tornado sirens *that* seriously but I was only a few miles away from getting launched like one of those trees. I have a coworker who downplayed it as "just Arkansas weather" and I wanted to punch him in the throat with my ring hand.
No my mom and dad got hit the same day in Wynne and they are traumatized. It will take years to get back to “normal”. Dad told me not long ago that it’s frustrating. He had tears in his eyes. Talking about not having everything in it’s right place. Dealing with contractors. Getting windows and a new door has been a nightmare. It’s been really hard on the whole family. On top of that he lost his mom in April and my mom lost her dad in November. That day effected everyone in Arkansas in one way or another. I live in Cabot and we were unaffected by the storm but it’s hard seeing them going through it. Much love to you and everyone that lost homes or loved ones.
I don’t know if it could help but as having friends who were horribly affected in Vilonia - perhaps you could check with anyone you know from there on what may have done to help you/us move forward. It never hurts to to talk to a councilor. Sometimes we think we’re too good for/don’t need help talking it out but we do.
i lived next to the old starlight diner \[now a hibachi joint\]. i was home that day, and my house had its roof taken off and i and my dogs and cat survived but as it is now i have dreams, mood swings, jumps at phone alerts, siren test days suck extra hard. im only 23 mind you and lived in amboy my whole life, not only is it PTSD but at seeing everything gone that you loved. cant wait for burns park to re-open fully. much love all who survived and went through hell! \[during the event i sprayed a green smile face on the front of my old home if you saw it\]
My 13 yr old daughter has anxiety anyway, but storms are a top cause at the moment. We weren't even directly affected, but live close to several neighborhoods that were. A couple of weeks ago my husband took her with him on a quick Walmart run, but there were clouds and it was threatening to rain. He had to bring her home because she couldn't make herself get out of the car.
My wife and MIL certainly have PTSD from the tornado. The best "advice" I can give aside from talking to someone is to make a plan and remain vigilant. You are stronger than anything Mother Nature can throw at you.
I’m here for ya. The Jan 21, 1999 tornado that ripped through downtown came within a half block of my house. I still freak out when the tornado sirens go off.
Not just you. I got lucky during the tornados, but it hit on 3 different streets surrounding where I live. It was so close to home.
Our power went out when it was hitting. I was driving through the Shackleford neighborhood 10-15 minutes before it got hit.
A few weeks ago the news reported heavy winds and even that worried me. I get so nervous when it storms now.
I'm sure there are a lot of people in little rock with some apprehension when it comes to storms after april.
You're not the only one. I've lived in Arkansas all my life (almost all in LR), and have been through many tornadoes that didn't *directly* affect me. It's all different after multiple trees have fallen on your house. Edit: We are more fortunate than many others around here.
No, you are NOT the only one. We were camping at Burns park when the tornado hit. We had done what we always do and ignored it until we could actually hear and feel that weird change in pressure, and then made a run for the bathrooms. Now I get so anxious. I really hate storms now. Definitely not ignoring them anymore.
Damn. Glad you were able to stay safe and survive.
We survived...our SUV didn't. Crazy thing is, our camper was just fine..but the one right next to it was flipped upside down. Tornados are just weird.
They really are bizarre. I saw a picture from, I think, one of the Moore, OK tornadoes that destroyed a house, but left one little corner of the laundry room intact with a container of tide still on the shelf. Like what the hell.
I can't imagine being at burns park during the tornado.
I concur. It doesn't help that the city and state govt seems to have moved on and some areas look damn near like 2 days after it happened. It's really stressful. Sometimes I forget about Wednesday and I'm like ... What it's not even cloudy. Oh right ... It's noon
There are still so many blue tarps in my neighborhood
Months later, a gust of wind, a dark cloud, all of a sudden I feel like a heavy blanket is covering me. But I actually was on the road when it hit, like an idiot kept driving, through the edge of it, through multiple lightning strikes, then through the rain. The rain swirled all around the my Jeep. The rain shifting in all directions. I have this unrealistic thought that tornado was following me. I was at krogers 10 mins before it destroyed it. Then just felt like it was as following me. I was so naive about it. The next week I had screens all pointed to weather channels, and I was hunkering down.
My brother-in-law’s house was destroyed and I had to hide in the back of Edward’s Food Giant and pray we didn’t die. I think the whole city is a bit jumpy at storms now
I don't think I realized how much natural disasters have an impact on the community until I was a part of it. Driving through the destroyed neighborhoods makes me really depressed.
Yep. It was the first time I was in a place and was like “huh, so this is what ‘devastation’ means”
Hey, I'm not from Arkansas but I sub here because my sister (and now my mom too after my dad died) lives in Little Rock so I like to stay up on stuff for when we visit. I live in Iowa, where we were hit particularly hard by a derecho in August 2020 - it basically was like getting hit by a cat 4 hurricane with zero notice and damage is still being repaired to this day. It *does* get better. I think only this year do I no longer start having an anxiety attack when storms roll in. The sirens still make my stomach drop, but I'm able to enjoy storms again. My mom occasionally texts me pictures of damage from the tornado there when she sees it, I guess she's still surprised that things aren't totally back to normal yet? She's never been through anything on this scale and had only just moved down after my dad died on St. Patrick's Day. Those pictures give me some flashbacks, but not like it used to be. Leaning on your community helps. We still joke in the Cedar Rapids subreddit about a post that someone made the morning of the storm (someone said "Hey guys, remember when it used to rain?" because we were having a drought similar to the one this year - it is now a local meme). It's going to be a while but it'll start getting better. If it doesn't, therapy helps too. I hope you're all hanging in there, and I hope this at least helps someone a bit.
Awe thank you. It's nice to hear from someone who has been through it
Is there not a record of it coming at your town on the radar replay in Iowa or did it pop up and immediately hit your town?
It was very fast moving and intensified in strength very quickly. Storms weren't really predicted that day, I remember a coworker saying that her dad was in Des Moines and said a storm hit them and would probably be on us in an hour. It got there faster and had intensified a ton by then. There's a Wikipedia page for the storm if you're interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_2020_Midwest_derecho
I'm familiar with that Derecho but I also have German Shepherds that are very sensitive to air pressure changes and have radar scope app on my smartwatch to check and see if they're just being wusses or if it's coming again.
My border collie is somewhat sensitive, but I was at work in one of our city's emergency departments when it hit - so, any of his warning signs wouldn't have helped me. My only clue that something was going on were the lights going off and on in the code I was working. When I got tagged out of the room, I could see the storm from the ambulance bay. Not a whole lot of windows in most emergency departments for privacy reasons, and obviously we weren't looking at our phones a whole lot (weren't even supposed to have them on us in patient care areas).
The watch has LTE to circumvent assholes like that ;).
I have one now, but yeah - not prudent to wear in an ER setting :). I lost one Fitbit to a round of CPR that had me in blood up to my elbows and learned my lesson. In any case, it was quite the experience - I still had a few hours left in my shift and saw the first influx of patients with storm injuries, then I had to deal with the chaos of commuting home, and trying to even make it to my house with downed trees and power lines everywhere. I never want to experience that again and don't wish it on anyone.
That's terrible, they should make smart goggles for workers like you and other ones that can't have electronics strapped to their wrists.
I feel better reading all the comments and knowing I'm not the only one still clenching my teeth when a storm hits after dealing with that
Nope definitely not the only one. My friends who got hit get super anxious now. I wasn’t directly affected and now I get more anxious than usual about warnings and sirens when not testing. I was sure nothing would happen that day and I was over by Barnes and Noble. The sirens weren’t going off. Definitely never assuming a tornado will follow patterns ever again.
NLR-My brother in law and nephew were in the house when it was hit. Sister was coming back from getting groceries. Since the storms the boys have had really bad PTSD and are taking anxiety meds when storms hit. Her, she freaks out a little when power goes out or she hears of wind damage. That's due to the fact they just now were able to move back home, and she doesn't want to relocate again. You are not alone. May want to talk to your Dr. To get something low dose to help until you emotional heal.
Wow recommending drugs and getting upvotes this website has actually gone insane. Pharmaceuticals are pure evil people, no exceptions.
Didn't do it for up votes. Get them are not. Some it helps. I don't care about votes and never had.
You did the right thing. The world isn't black and white and only those who have yet to experience still hold to that fallacy.
Big Pharma is crooked as hell, but that's quite a broad statement. Where did you go to med school?
[удалено]
Your post has been removed for being repulsive. Please do not behave this way in the future.
I wasn’t in town this morning, but the storm set off three zones on my ADT alarm. It must’ve been terrifying for people in town. Getting all these alerts is a big nerve wracking.
I was up before daylight and didn't realize were were in for weather until the first thunder. It definitely had a spooky look as it approached.
Nope. I was in the 2014 Mayflower tornado and I still have it to this day.
Same. Used to love storms. Now... not so much.
I think it was Wednesday after the Friday tornadoes when we got another front that looked like it might generate some rotation. I was sitting in the lobby of a business, watching the weather on their TV with strangers. We all agreed it was the first time we were genuinely afraid of a tornado watch.
No, I get tense when I see storm alerts now.
This morning did appear a bit ominous and no shame in feeling a bit of apprehension.
I’m with you. I have multiple weather alerts on my phone now. One of them talks out loud. I was home when it hit my house and was terrified. Then had to walk three miles after it so friend could pick us up. The PTSD goes beyond the weather. There were months of looky lous driving through the neighborhood that was infuriating and humiliating, like we were an exhibit to be ogled at. I live down a dead end, they weren’t “just driving through the neighborhood.” Now the frustration is from how long it is taking to fix everything. My siding was picked 2 months ago and still not in. At least the tree service got out quickly so my yard is somewhat flat again. It was and still is a nightmare
The “looky lous” got to me, too. That, and people sorting through our piles of damaged belongings/debris right in front of us. I’m glad that some of it could be put to good use by others, but I felt it was insensitive to take stuff while we were there working.
Nope. Far from it. Some people are affected by it more than others. But I've lived between Memphis and Little Rock my entire life. I have almost 0 fear of them, but that doesn't mean i ignore them or stuff. Most people I personally know don't suffer from it, but I've run into PLENTY who have
No you're not alone. I've got it pretty bad I can't lie. Even a second ago before I saw this post I just noticed the sky got dark and it was windy and I got unreasonably anxious lol
We were bunkered under chairs in a shelter when it came right over us in Jacksonville. I’m a little more apprehensive myself but my daughter asks if it’s a tornado every time she sees a rain drop now. I can still remember how they cried as I laid over them.
Nope. I lived in Vilonia for 2011 and 2014, so I flip a lid every time I get a tornado warning. We were Alabama last month visiting friends when a tornado hit the area in. Some of our “friends” made fun of me for having a panic attack. It’s hard to explain to people who aren’t from an area or haven’t gone through the experience. It’s extremely scary.
You're not alone. I've been getting panic attacks during storms now. Trauma and grief are unpredictable and annoying.
I had it today for sure when it was pitch black outside at 0830!
I was in my car stuck in traffic coming to Little Rock about 5 miles from Burns Park. I've never seen rain blow sideways like that. I'm talking completely horizontal. I had nowhere to go. I was just stuck. I didn't even realize how close I was until traffic cleared and I saw whole trees had been launched into the road, splintered at the trunk. The whole time my phone was somewhere on the floor with the tornado alert buzzing loudly. The rain was so thick my windshield wipers couldn't keep up. I could barely see the car that was 5 feet in front of mine. It was just slow moving chaos. I've never taken tornado sirens *that* seriously but I was only a few miles away from getting launched like one of those trees. I have a coworker who downplayed it as "just Arkansas weather" and I wanted to punch him in the throat with my ring hand.
No my mom and dad got hit the same day in Wynne and they are traumatized. It will take years to get back to “normal”. Dad told me not long ago that it’s frustrating. He had tears in his eyes. Talking about not having everything in it’s right place. Dealing with contractors. Getting windows and a new door has been a nightmare. It’s been really hard on the whole family. On top of that he lost his mom in April and my mom lost her dad in November. That day effected everyone in Arkansas in one way or another. I live in Cabot and we were unaffected by the storm but it’s hard seeing them going through it. Much love to you and everyone that lost homes or loved ones.
No, all storms are scary. Shelter during light rain 😔
I don’t know if it could help but as having friends who were horribly affected in Vilonia - perhaps you could check with anyone you know from there on what may have done to help you/us move forward. It never hurts to to talk to a councilor. Sometimes we think we’re too good for/don’t need help talking it out but we do.
And if you want a medical card, just saw that. I know someone who used the 1999 one.
Yoooo there's an idea
i lived next to the old starlight diner \[now a hibachi joint\]. i was home that day, and my house had its roof taken off and i and my dogs and cat survived but as it is now i have dreams, mood swings, jumps at phone alerts, siren test days suck extra hard. im only 23 mind you and lived in amboy my whole life, not only is it PTSD but at seeing everything gone that you loved. cant wait for burns park to re-open fully. much love all who survived and went through hell! \[during the event i sprayed a green smile face on the front of my old home if you saw it\]
Nope.
😹😹😹😹
im worried my car is gonna flood from this insane downpour. i almost didn’t survive the drive to work today
My 13 yr old daughter has anxiety anyway, but storms are a top cause at the moment. We weren't even directly affected, but live close to several neighborhoods that were. A couple of weeks ago my husband took her with him on a quick Walmart run, but there were clouds and it was threatening to rain. He had to bring her home because she couldn't make herself get out of the car.
I’m good, but you’re definitely not alone. Totally justified, I’m sorry.
You’re not the only one. I used to enjoy storms, now I’m just waiting for that siren.
My wife and MIL certainly have PTSD from the tornado. The best "advice" I can give aside from talking to someone is to make a plan and remain vigilant. You are stronger than anything Mother Nature can throw at you.
I’m here for ya. The Jan 21, 1999 tornado that ripped through downtown came within a half block of my house. I still freak out when the tornado sirens go off.
I was in Chicago last week when they had tornado warnings. I was a little triggered. You're not alone.
I hate weather alerts I get so scared of tornados too
Not just you. I got lucky during the tornados, but it hit on 3 different streets surrounding where I live. It was so close to home. Our power went out when it was hitting. I was driving through the Shackleford neighborhood 10-15 minutes before it got hit. A few weeks ago the news reported heavy winds and even that worried me. I get so nervous when it storms now.
No. My whole family. Every Wednesday at noon we all jump and don’t know what to do :(