My Two Cents

Herald readers are invited to submit their two cents worth on-line on stories which have appeared in the newspaper or on our website at www.yalnews.com.

There has been some talk in the aftermath of the storms Saturday night and early Sunday morning about the warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Some say that telling people to take cover as much as 55 minutes before the storm was due in the area may have been too much.

One person told the Herald that she took cover and then came out after half an hour thinking the storm had gone by.

Others commented that the sensationalized coverage on TV may cause people to take warnings less seriously.

Wondering said: Would you rather have 5 minutes or 55 minutes. I, myself kept a watch on the weather till I was sure it was gone. It overturned several trees not a mile from my home and also broke a couple of large limbs out of a large tree at another home I own dropping them on the roof and doing some damage but Thank God, no one was injured. The roof can be repaired. I will take the longer warning anyday.

Reader commented: A warning is given ahead of time to allow people to properly prepare for whats coming there way.They should be able to use common sense as to whether the storm is there or not.

Another Reader said: People need to educate themselves on the signs of a tornado. If you sit and watch the weather channel long enough, you will become panicked and you will feel you need to rush to the nearest shelter. There is a difference between a tornado warning and a tornado watch! I have lived in Water Valley for about 4 years, and I have not seen one storm that I felt threatened enough to seek shelter. Last night was a bad storm with alot of lightning.

Overkill added: I think the TV people in particular are sensationalizing storm coverage. They are seeing rotation in storms that couldn’t be seen in the past. But, not all are going to produce a tornado. The TV people at Tupelo were telling people to go to their “safe place” while the storms were an hour away.

City Dweller commented: Not being critical, but the city needs to adjust their sirens. The recommended time for them to sound is three to five minutes, not 15 to 20 minutes.

To City Dweller: While I was not in the 1984 tornado, every other member of my family was (mother, siblings, nieces, nephews) and after hearing their stories about about being in it, give me 15 – 20 minutes notice , not just 2-3 minutes.

KJ said: What exactly are the parameters for sounding the city sirens? Do they have to have a confirmed sighting; do they go by the national weather service warning; is it connected to a ‘service’ and sounds automatically, or does someone literally have to push a button? I’d much rather have 55 minutes warning. New technologies such as the radar that can detect rotation are great. The sensational part was not the reporting, but the weather itself. If a radar picks up rotation, all it takes is a good downdraft and that rotation is now a tornado on the ground. It’s great to know where to specifically be on the lookout.

And finally: I took a shower and went to bed. I figured if I was going to meet the man I wanted to be clean.