Tornado memories

As a meteorologist, now retired, I have been personally involved in viewing many tornadoes close-up or viewing the damage from them across the state of Arkansas. Every time there has been a tornado threat for our location in Little Rock, I have followed the storm’s progress via radar.

On March 31, 2023, I watched the EF3 tornado move our way from southwest Arkansas. I foolishly went outside when it appeared that the tornado was close, and barely escaped injury when I ducked back inside as the tornado arrived. About 10 seconds of “terror” left my wife and me thankful that we survived and our home was, for the most part, intact. We lived adjacent to the Calais Forest Apartments on Napa Valley in Little Rock and we literally were within the tornado’s strong winds and rotation.

When things settled down, I ventured outside to see if our neighbors were OK and they were. Once again, I viewed the catastrophic damage to the apartments next door. Although our cottage apparently suffered only missing shingles, structures often experience structural damage that goes unseen until examined more closely. We had to relocate to another facility the next day.

Damage was extensive across Little Rock along the tornado’s path. I lost a vehicle due to damage, but again, my wife and I were without injury. Furthermore, it was a miracle that no one died in Little Rock from this storm.

A lot is spoken about property damage during these kinds of storms, but what is somewhat pushed aside is the emotional and psychological damage that is done to those experiencing the storm close-up. My prayers continue for those who lost property and memories that were taken away from them and for the anguish brought on by this storm.

GEORGE WILKEN Little Rock