May 8, 2009
I spent a wild weather night when some pleasant pitter patters on the roof with occassional lightning flashes turned very intense. Normally I enjoy a little rain at night but after midnight I became concerned when the wind begin rocking the camper and the rain was coming down in torrents. The campground bulletin board (which I had read after showering) had a two page directive on flash flooding. Apparently the stream which runs through the campground is susceptible to flooding. The hosts would try to warn the campers but this was not guaranteed. In addition, when it does flood, it usually does so at night and only to a 6 to 12 inch level. Enough to float away any items left outside but not enough to endanger any rvs (tenters are another matter). Campers are advised to stay put since flash floods end as fast as they come up and the entrance road will probably be impassable and more dangerous.

This information was going through my mind as I decided to put my pants on and crack the door a little to check outside but I could not see anything through the driving rain except that the water had not risen underneath me. I turned on my weather radio and was not reassured by a "take immediate cover" warning for washington and crawford counties because of a tornado. I had no idea what county I was in, so out came the maps. Sure enough - Crawford Co. The tornado was 7 miles west of Potosi and headed southeast. That put it within a few miles of me. The radio advice to take cover under a sturdy worktable in the basement and wrap yourself in a blanket seemed ridiculous when you are in the back of a truck which is rocking back and forth. I decided to wait until I heard the proverbial train coming down the track and then run for the stream about 40 yards from me where I would just have to jump in. Death by tornado or death by flash flood....hmmm.

I think, by the time I got everything figured out, the tornado had already passed a couple miles to the south. Anyway, within an hour, things gradually became quiet and back to normal. In the morning I didn't see any signs of flooding or damage. Just a lot of leaves and small twigs on the ground. I was hoping to do some photography and check out the visitor center but the weather
conditions were still very poor and there was more active weather ahead of me so I left the park with not much more than a long hike, a shower, and a half night of sleep. I found out later that I had made the best move since another tornado went through the same area later in the morning.


















I filled up at a truck stop in Cuba on I44. Diesel is under $2.00 and 15 cents cheaper than regular-go figure. The Interstate ahead looks omnimous with heavy rain, a little hail, and the local radio station talks about some rotational activity near Joplin which is where I am heading. I decide to stay put for a while and get some computer work done.


I headed west around noon when the weather cleared. By then the truck stop and restaurant had lost power and water was literally pouring out in places through the ceiling.

The rest of the trip was rather nice except for two semi trucks that got tangled up, flipping one over. I stopped just over the Oklahoma border at Twin Bridge State Park.