[Kmchamplin]

On a postive note...the kids more than likely won't have school for a while, lots of firewood to burn, and new friendships coming together in a time of need.

Please Kelly and anyone who may not have a basement....INVEST IN ONE!

[2vette2camaro]

Gassville, not too far from us here in Valley Springs (Harrison) got hit really hard, at least one confirmed death in a trailer park with 10 more people missing. The storm came through here but no severe weather. I was going to go to Mountain Home but husband said with all the damage and such that I better not go today.

I can't even imagine what all those people are going through.

[Faith]

They just had Atkins, AR on Good Morning America. The devastation brought tears to my eyes. Everyone give your loved ones an extra hug today.

[CM_ANGEL]

So glad everyone is ok. It's hard to think of how bad and scary it is if you have never experienced one. (which I never have) Deanna def needs to check in with us!!

[Faith]

Originally Posted by CM_ANGEL_2000

So glad everyone is ok. It's hard to think of how bad and scary it is if you have never experienced one. (which I never have) Deanna def needs to check in with us!!

I'm worried about her too. But they might not have any power right now.

[bette]

My children and I were in a tornado about 3 years ago and it was the most terrifying experience of our lives. My oldest is still so scared of storms, and I'm pretty sure he and I both have post traumatic stress. I worked at a drop in day care at the time and we grabbed the kids and ran to the bathroom as it hit. The roof was torn off but everyone was ok, thank God. I know how all of you effected by the storms feel, and I am praying for you all. I hope the storms lessen before they get here later today!

[Kmchamplin]

Don't worry...pray. She may be without power for up to a week or more. We went through straight line winds a couple of years ago and ours was off for over 4 days. Thank God to a neigbor who had a generator.

I'm sure AFC is the last thing on her mind if her house or someone else's house she knows got hit.

[LisaArbo]

Those pictures of the actual twister are terrifying!!!!!!! Blessings to all of you! Stay safe! Kelly and Linda....glad you are all okay!!!!!!

[luv2sav]

Last night we had alot of wind and rain(S. Louisiana)but no tornados, thankfully. I actutally slept right through it. I woke up and my husband told me about all of the tornados and the deaths across Arkansas, Tennessee,etc. How awful. I can't even begin to comprehend what the victims and their family are going through. Just awful...

When we moved to Louisiana a year and a half ago, people thought we were crazy because of the hurricanes. You can evacuate before they hit!(I actutally rode out Andrew as a teen in '92!) Hurricanes don't scare me. When we lived in Nebraska for a few years as a teen, the tornados definately scared me!

[CarolynC]

Originally Posted by CM_ANGEL_2000

So glad everyone is ok. It's hard to think of how bad and scary it is if you have never experienced one. (which I never have) Deanna def needs to check in with us!!

Originally Posted by Faith

I'm worried about her too. But they might not have any power right now.

I did call Deanna (djcullen) last night about 11:30 and talked to DH......he said they were all OK at that time. They didn't know about damages and stuff......then we lost cell phone contact. They are showing Atkins, Arkansas on CNN now......said there were 4 fatalities there and several severe injuries that had been flown out to Little Rock.

[NJMom]

Glad to know Deanna and everyone else is okay.

[Faith]

Originally Posted by KellyMarie

Mike Avery of Russellville took this picture from the Atkins High School looking south.

This pic was taken by our high school basketball coach

This picture is on AOL, in the article about the twisters.

[djcullen]

We are fine and safe!!!!!!! Thank you everyone for your prayers.

I think we had 3+ tornados touch down in the Midsouth area. Stateline road (MS) has lots of damage and building destroyed (about 15 minutes from our house) Most of our family lives in that area but all are save with no damage just lost power for awhile last night.

Hickory Hill area (memphis) has major damage most of it was to warehouses and building in that area.

We have an aunt & uncle in Jackson, TN his house has damage (windows blown out and large tree branch in his living room) and part of neighborhood is destroyed, church behind his house is gone and Union University has major damage. All dorms were destroyed and a few students were trapped in one dorm but rescue workers got them out. Jackson is about a hour North/East of Memphis.

Prayer for all the students of the university and everyone that was injured or has damage to their house.

[tootsie roll]

Djcullen - I am so glad to hear that you are safe! After hearing that it hit Memphis, I remembered your address and thought of you.

[philomena83]

Wow what a crazy picture! It's hard to believe that much damage can be caused by windstorms! Prayers to all who were injured or killed, and I'm really glad everyone on AFC is all right!

[mjloves2shop]

4 Trish

[KellyMarie]

Adnil and I have been in Atkins most of the day, although our mailing addresses say Russellville when you trade with us, we live and do all our business in Atkins. I have no words to describe what we have seen....you see this stuff on the news, not your home town. So many freinds and loved ones with that same look on their faces that I had on mine last year, all I could say is "But you are alive, that's all that matters"....doesn't help much when you are standing on a pile of rubble that used to be everything you owned.

My DIL and SIL's parents house was the only one left on the street, but they lost their vehicles and their employment because the warehouse they ran is gone...the owner has no desire to start over. There were only a handful of houses left on Lake Atkins and those that were left sustained great damage. All my friends and loved ones are accounted for except one good friend that nobody has heard from...we have heard that a boy and girl fitting her kids description were severely injured and I am afraid they may have been her's The man that was missing last night was found in a tree this morning, he died.
Heading east out of town the tornado took out many more homes and claimed 3 lives. It caused multiple car wrecks on I-40 as the houses blew into the interstate. I guess one of the happiest stories I have heard was this one: I ran into a girl name Mary, she used to date my son, her house is gone. She said that when the tornado sirens went off, she and her parents and some neighbors headed to a storm shelter in their area. She said there was no time to grab the pets, her mom has 6 dogs. For those of you that have never been in tornado activity, it's nothing like hurricanes and such...they come quickly and leave quickly, the whole ordeal lasts just a matter of minutes. So once the tornado is gone, you can come out. well, they climbed out of the shelter and her mom was frantic, calling the dogs and crying. 5 dogs miraculously appeared, an hour later they found the 6th dog, completely unharmed, in a hole in the ground under an uprooted tree....they said the little guy was just sitting there, shivering and disoriented, but completely unharmed! The saddest besides the loss of lives.....19 year old girl my daughter graduated with in high school, her mom died a few months ago from a sudden illness, she just lost her mom's entire house and everythig in it. Poor girl, 19, loses her mom, her mom's house and all her belongings. Too many stories, too much sorrow, and in just one town of many today.

[CokeBaby]

I am so glad to hear that you are all safe and okay.So sorry for all the distruction.It looks awful!!Prayers coming your way.Stay safe and will send candles

[mpayne]

I am so sorry for all the losses due to these storms. My prayers are with you all.

[Trish]

Kelly and Adnil I was thinking of you when I saw it on GMA this morning. I heard Atkins and I remember how close you were to it. I am so glad you and your family are okay.

[lochelle]

deanna..so glad to hear that yall are all ok..kelly i will keep all of yall in my prayers and hope that your friend is found safe..

[GrannyGodley]

I know the devastation of major hurricanes and those with "tornado-type" downwinds. Horrible. So I can understand a small fraction of what you folks are experiencing. I have seen entire lines of houses completely disappear into the ocean from the storms. The power of wind and/or water is awesome.

Thank you KellyMarie for sharing. Thank God that you and your family are safe. I am trusting that you will be able to minister to and support those who are hurting so terribly right now.

[KellyMarie]

I just heard on the news that this one tornado travelled northeast for 120 miles on the ground yesterday! I believe that must have broke some record, I cannot recall one ever staying on the gorund for that long!

[mjloves2shop]

Originally Posted by Kmchamplin

Please Kelly and anyone who may not have a basement....INVEST IN ONE!

Oh Kelly...

[FreebieMama]

Thoughts and prayers to everyone who was affected by the storms. I do the hurricane thing every year, but I could not imagine having to ride out a tornado.

I'm so glad you guys are all still with us.