Everybody Down

WICHITA, Kan. – Tornadoes can really mess up a work day.

This afternoon there was a tornado warning.

A supercell thunderstorm formed in the southern suburb of Haysville, and raced toward downtown Wichita. A police officer spotted a funnel cloud – the tight formation that immediately proceeds a touchdown – and the warning was issued.

Meanwhile at the crime desk, I was furiously typing a story about a state agent being assaulted at a smoke shop and then chasing the suspect through North Wichita. Suddenly the entire newsroom stopped working, huddled around the two small televisions and began talking tornado.

"Has it touched down yet?" "Which way is it headed?" "How long is the warning for?"

They talked, and gossiped. Meanwhile I was listening to live weather reports from the Internet, television and radio, trying to get a handle on the situation.

Then an editor came up to me and said, "If they ask you to go downstairs, don't go. Just go over there for a minute or something."

Fair enough. A crime reporter needs to stay on scene in case of an emergency, to report to the public. Even if that means going for a short ride in a tornado. I started typing away: then he was dragged for several blocks near the area of 21st and Grove....

A custodian appeared and shouted, "Everyone. Get to the basement – now!"

Most people did what they were told, shuffling down to the stairs to take shelter. I stayed back. Out of the corner my eye I caught my editor, heading down the door presumably to the basement.

So much for staying the course.




(Postscript:Obviously, the Eagle didn't get blown over by a tornado. The cell didn't even touch down. There's always next week.)