t2rGood Morning, we did not get any storms yesterday in the Twin Cities area of MN.
According to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center -
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch outlines an area where an organized episode of hail 1 inch diameter or larger and/or damaging thunderstorm winds are expected during a three to eight hour period. A Tornado Watch includes the large hail and damaging wind threats, as well as the possibility of multiple tornadoes. Typical watches cover about 25,000 square miles, or about half the size of Iowa.
The SPC issues approximately 1000 watches each year. Of course, the precise number varies from year to year, depending on weather.
The SPC only issues watches. Your local National Weather Service office issues warnings for your area.
All the years I worked I was in charge of Emergency Preparedness and one day way back, our town was hit by thunderstorms with straight line winds which caused some damage to homes as well as personal injury. I was the only nurse on duty in the ER when all of a sudden people were walking ( walking wounded) in the door with bumps, tiny lacerations and a couple of older folks with chest pain.
In all I had 17 patients as they just kept pouring in - so I did what I do real well I called for available help to present to the ER. After the ER quieted down I finally sorted out what happened.
May I suggest you look into keeping an emergency kit in your downstairs and try to remain as calm as we GAD people can be - deal with the crisis and believe if you are doing all the right things you will survive.
Do you have a battery operated radio - that may be able to pull a radio channel eve if you are downstairs ?
I will keep you in my prayers today. Put some water in that emergency kit as just drinking water will help you and sometimes doing something so normal will help lower your anxiety.
Blessings,
Kitt