Around noon on May 22, 2008, I was at Denver International Airport waiting for a plane to Dallas.
My phone rang and it was my daughter calling from her school to tell me that Loveland and northern Colorado was under a tornado warning. Apparantly a tornado had been spotted and they had the students go to the safest place in the building.
A tornado? On the front range?
I spent 21 years of my life in suburban Chicago and saw my share of tornadoes.
I spent the next 12 years in north Texas. Plenty of tornadoes.
Next I lived in the Oklahoma City area for eight years. Welcome to Tornado Alley.
I figured by moving to the Colorado I would escape twisters!
No such luck.
While I was 45 miles away at the airport, a tornado was working its way through and around my city.
Here is some incredible footage shot by my video producer, Chris Harper, as the tornado moved past our Loveland office building.
We were quite fortunate as the tornado did no damage to our office or home in Loveland.
It DID, however, take our phone lines out! So if you are a customer trying to call us, you will not be able to get through. Sorry, but Qwest said it can take a few days to get it fixed.
If you need support, please visit our help desk at TheHelpDesk.us
On a more sobering note, the tornado made its way to northeast to Windsor where it did significant damage. We know that one person lost their life and entire communities of homes were devastated.
Our hearts go out to those families who have been affected by this storm.
We have just made a donation to the Tornado relief fun in order to help the victims.
I would like to ask you to join us in doing the same.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
May 23, 2008 12:59 PM
Saw your Tweet about this! So glad you and your family are OK!
May 23, 2008 01:00 PM
I thought when you said: "Incredible footage" you would mean cars blowing away, trees collapsing and the like, but it didn't seem too incredible (a quick youtube for tornado will find you something to watch).
However, on a far more serious note, I agree we could make a difference to lives shattered by this enormous natural disaster.
May 23, 2008 01:02 PM
It is one thing to be homesick, but still another to be reminded of home in such a way. I spent 17 years in NE Texas and saw my share of twisters... now that I live in Montana, I do NOT miss those nasty storms. We even had an in-ground storm shelter such as these - http://www.stormsheltersinc.com/inside_view.htm and when we needed it... was the best seat in the county.
Tom
May 23, 2008 01:09 PM
WOW, Joel... How was the flight? I'm surprised you could fly in that weather..
May 23, 2008 01:14 PM
Aloha Joel,
Wati here on Kauai. I think you should move to Kauai so I can experience a full blown tornado. I've never seen a "live" one in my life so may be if you move here then it will follow you. Hahahaha! .... Ooops! I better not talk too fast I know how much you love the islands. :)
I hope all is fine. Take care my friend.
Mahalo,
Wati
May 23, 2008 01:18 PM
Absolutely sobering how brittle our lives can be when natural disasters strike. Coincidentally my company's done some animation work on tornadoes before.
http://www.media-freaks.com/inhouse-animation-projects/tornado-special-vfx-mediafreaks.html
May 23, 2008 01:22 PM
WOW, that tornado was scary. I am glad that the InfoMedia, Inc is alright.
Keep up the good work.
Oscar
http://www.fishinginfo.co.za
May 23, 2008 01:34 PM
Hey Joel!
I saw the weather channel this morning and heard about it! I immediately thought if you because I knew Loveland was close to the damage footage I saw.
I'm glad everyone is alright.
I'm in Chicagoland and have dealt with tornadoes here and up in Wisconsin. Remember, there was a Tornado in Salt Lake City which was very surprising to me! Because of that, they don't really surprise me anymore wherever they pop up.
I heard people saying the early warning system wasn't working or they didn't hear a warning. I know every Tuesday morning at 10:30 we have the sirens tested around here. Freaked me out the first few times though!
- Mike
May 23, 2008 01:35 PM
Hello Joel,
Moments like these make us wonder about the African term "Ubuntu": "a person is a person through other persons".
We are all connected (not only through Internet) but through our acts of kindness, love, support, care and friendship.
I am glad you and your family are safe.
Ed Torres
May 23, 2008 01:38 PM
thats crazy! I'm glad to hear your ok. But thats pretty crazy that it came right through there.
May 23, 2008 01:40 PM
That is crazy. I saw it on the nightly news and the first thing that popped in my mind........"I wonder if Joel Comm's okay!"
The Gorilla Revilla
May 23, 2008 01:42 PM
A great idea to help a good cause. I've lived through a similar life-changing event (destructive house fire) and I remain grateful for the help of strangers.
May 23, 2008 01:45 PM
HI Joel:
I saw some incredible footage on 9News last night (Thursday) where huge trees that had been there 100 years or more were completely knocked over and just missed completely destroying houses.
Amazing, but it just goes to show you that The LORD Jesus Christ is coming back soon, because Luke 21 says there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and earthquakes and other storms in divers places in Matthew 24.
I've done studies on this over the last 10-12 years, and the earthquakes over the last 50-100 years have exponentially increased, as well as tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.
Take care, and hope everyone is doing well in your family. I will be praying that everyone is okay. I will tell everyone in the church I go to here in Denver, Colorado to pray, pray, pray for those families also. I will give some money for the tornado victims. Do you have a telephone number for the Northern Colorado Red Cross Relief Efforts?
Thank you, and May The LORD Jesus Christ Bless These People and Your Family Also.
Jon Lutz
May 23, 2008 01:55 PM
I saw the weather channels coverage where it did hit.Lots of damage.My thoughts and prayers go out to all who had a loss in the tornado.Glad to hear your daughter is o.k. as well God Bless you all.
May 23, 2008 02:13 PM
hi joel...glad everything is fine....
May 23, 2008 02:14 PM
Oh my goodness Joel! I too saw your tweet about this and thank goodness you and your family are ok. I live in Iowa so I'm all to familiar with the "Tornado sirens"; they send a chill up your spine every time.
I also saw that actual tornado on the news - it looked huge...they didn't happen to say if it was an F1, F2, etc.
Strange to have one on Colorado. I'll pass along the info for relief efforts.
- Kristine
May 23, 2008 02:35 PM
Joel...I'm from Fort Collins and was at Centerra with 3 of my Windsor friends when we got the news it had hit in Windsor. Unfortunately it did great damage to 2 of my friends homes. The community has been wonderful in their efforts to assist everyone. Makes me proud to be a Coloradoan when I see people give so much of themselves.
Thanks for the video shot...and the Red Cross is a great place to donate for assistance if anyone is wondering.
May 23, 2008 03:09 PM
Hey Joel, glad the tornado missed you. Springtime in the Rockies - what fun. I met you at T. Harv's NWA workshop last week and we talked about you doing an interview on my radio show. You didn't have a card with you and I don't see other ways to connect other than your blog. Let's get together and set a date to do the interview. Namaste',Ken
May 23, 2008 04:00 PM
I lived in Colorado, Ft. Collins, for 2 years. My parents were in Colorado Springs. I hated the summers because about noon the clouds would roll in and by 5 PM I thought the world was coming to an end. Some of the most freightening storms I have ever seen or experienced in my life were in Colorado. It is a scary place.
I was sorry too to hear about Windsor. It is such a shame.
Enjoy those summer showers. :) Glad all your's are okay.
Rhonda Morin
May 23, 2008 05:20 PM
Great job Joel.
May 23, 2008 05:29 PM
Glad to hear that your team is ok. Amazing footage, you need to submit this to tornadovideos.net
May 23, 2008 07:47 PM
Well Joel, glad the tornado missed you I live Provo, Utah and we have had 2
tornado's in the last few years. But worse we have had 3 Micro bursts in between the tornado's. The weather is getting mean.
May 23, 2008 08:17 PM
Hey Joel...
Just saw the video and really glad that you and your family are OK!
Take care...
Jun Yuan Lim
May 23, 2008 10:43 PM
Hi Joel,
Glad to hear your daughter was safe and so was everyone in the area. My heart goes to the victims of tornadoes and other calamities.
Despite scientific and technological advances in many fields, humankind still lack precise tools and instruments to predict natural calamities of this sort.
Cheers!
Jesucita
May 24, 2008 01:02 AM
Joel,
I personally will take a Nor'Easter or Hurricane any day over a tornado. We have wanted to move West for some time, but that is my one stipulation-no Tornadoes. Now, it seems that everywhere you go, strange weather (Tornadoes and Earthquakes). We may just stay here in Jersey! :o)
Glad you are all safe. I cannot imagine the concern you must have felt when your daughter called, and you were so far from home.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to ALL affected by this horrible tornado.
Blessings,
Joy Marino
NJ, USA
May 24, 2008 06:58 PM
Thank God that you and the family are safe.
Of all places Colorado!
May 25, 2008 01:38 PM
Either way, looks like this great country called the US of A has funky weather, wherever you go...the South has hurricans., the East has blizzards, the west has earthquakes and the likes...yikes...and here I am, thinking how lucky I am to have left the 3rd World..only to darn the whole wardrobe to keep warm!
Ahh, what a country!
May 25, 2008 11:58 PM
While I do not want to downplay the tornado attack, I would like to bring attention to the effects of the xenophobia attacks in South Africa. Many Malawians have been displaced and we are feeling the effects here. Devastating
May 26, 2008 02:24 AM
G'day Joel,
Yes, I saw it on the news here in Australia. I am glad you guys are Okay.
I'm also glad we don't cop storms this bad down under, although we are noticing the odd tornado in Australia as well these days.
Take care.
Bernie
May 26, 2008 03:52 AM
Hi Joel,
I am glad you and your family are ok, I have never seen a tornado before besides on screen and cannot imagine what you have gone through. I think your work is amazing: Helping these victims with your donation.
Grz.
Mike B.
May 26, 2008 11:21 PM
Oh. I am really happy to read you and your family are safe.
Take Care.
May 27, 2008 01:26 AM
We see nothing like this here in the UK, it's not the hottest climate over here "anytime". I remember in 1996 I flew over to florida, at this time thinking that "our summer" was summer over there! Picked up the hire car, switched on the radio to hear the announcement "first day of the rainy season"! UMM! I thought!
Well, 2 days in and I saw what it was all about... shocking! I'd never seen anything like it!
Thats about the nearest I have seen for myself of the weather you guys can get and cannot begin to imagine what a real tornado would be like!
My heart goes out to everyone involved in these terrible times.
Best wishes
Lewis
May 28, 2008 10:50 AM
Hi Bro,
May your people safe from this disater.
We heard alots of thing happening in this world & we are out of hand to stop from happening. You may good on your businesses, but your life is very important as many upthere needed you.
See that you live in better place that have less record of disaster within your country.
Be healthy as wealth will come latter.
Mohd Singapore