Too close to home

At least 17 dead in Tennessee as storm toll rises

Tennessean staff reports and Associated Press

Emergency crews searched for survivors early today in a rural Tennessee community just 40 miles west of Knoxville, where officials said Sunday's pulverizing storms left at least seven people dead and more than 45 missing. 

 FULL STORY HERE

*We were very fortunate here.  Tornados all around us - Coffee County, just 10 minutes from my home, was hit hard.  Some of the areas Scott and I drove around just earlier in the day reported heavy damage and two deaths.  Naturally, the talk at the hospital where I work was focused on the storms.  These tornados kept dropping down out of the sky for hours.  Things got pretty scary here for a while.  Thankfully all the kids were with us, so I didn't have to worry about their whereabouts.  My side of town didn't have any damage as far as I could see while driving today other than tree limbs scattered here and there.  We we prepared though -  blankets and pillows piled in the main bathroom (the central room in the house), and candles in case we lost power.  Becca, my youngest, is terrified of storms and was the first to run hide in the bathtub.  Things got back to normal around 9 PM, the storm leaving a trail of sporatic lightening, wind and rain.  Good sleeping weather.... :)  Cheers.

5:53:10 PM