The Tension Is As Palpable As The Humidity..

This is some serious/intense bullshit.  Branson remains, so far, "unscathed," but these tornadic systems are CHARGED with electricity, the likes of which I've never experienced.  And they are relentless.  Denning, Arkansas was hit by mile-wide tornado earlier this evening.  It's probably gone. 

I can't imagine having to deal with damage caused by these storms.  It's like a gigantic circular saw blade boring into the earth.  The destruction is so..  Thorough..  So complete.  I can't imagine what these people are feeling right now.

If you live in the four state region, the implications of this particular recurring, savage system have now become very, very real..  There is no real safe place, and suddenly, life holds no guarantees.  Also, the horror of another Joplin-style catastrophe becomes more mockingly random, as total destruction can now come clothed as a rain wrapped tornado within a storm system that's really not all that impressive.  Not that that couldn't have happened before, but it never did.  Now it has.

This is not normal weather, and these are not normal times.  Everything is changing, or is about to change.. 

This is but one manifestation of that change..

Missouri Bleeds Tonight. Joplin Will Never Be The Same..

The scope of this disaster will become more clear in the coming days.  All the local real time coverage alluded to the fact no one saw the tornado coming, as it was wrapped in rain.  It hit Sunday at 6 p.m..  No one was expecting it.  I've worked in radio, through the years, over seven years, and have seen, on radar, some monster storms.  This one was, by far, not the biggest or worst looking I've ever seen.  This tornado was all just a gigantic, unexpected disaster.  And the destruction is horrible.

Mike Bettes of the Weather Channel was visibly affected by the tornado's wake.  Bettes' team was following this storm and came upon the damage left (No audio for this video..)after it had passed.  His behavior upon arrival, looking for survivors before reporting from the scene, was exemplary.  Thank you Mike Bettes for behaving like a decent human being when confronted with crisis.  Your good hearted response was touching. 

So much more soon, I'm sure..