CHASE2002 – HAPPY, TX (F2/F3) TORNADO – Sunday, 05 May 2002

logo HAPPY, TX (F2/F3)
Sunday
05 May 2002
TRAVEL Abilene,TX – Amarillo, TX
Wow! What a day!  We started with a difficult forecast, with a moderate risk area stretching from TX to NE, covering 5 states:(map)

Bill and Dean put us on THE storm, nationally speaking.

I had seen several tornadoes before, but this was my first killer tornado (at least in the sense that someone who was alive when I entered the town was not when I left).  This was a very emotional day for me: (more TBD)

WEATHER
TODAY:We witnessed and filmed a strong (F2/3, probably) tornado from about a mile away. After we retreated to the south, the storm devastated Happy, TX, a town of about 600 people.  Two people died, four were hospitalized, dozens received minor injuries, and many building were destroyed.

Here is the sequence of video stills I extracted from tape:

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FORECAST:
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YESTERDAY’S SEVERE WEATHER NATIONWIDE:
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ACCOMODATIONS Motel 8
Exit 72

Amarillo, TX
One person, one night, standard room
COMMENTS:
BIG improvement over the Motel 8 further east along I-40.
RESTAURANTS
Name/Location/Phone Meal COMMENTS:
No breakfast No time, given our long drive
K-Bob’s
Childress, TX
Their famed Salad Wagon (buffet) Most of us did the salad bar, just like the locals.
Good eatin’ for under $10
Denny’s
I-40 Access Road
Amarillo, TX
Turkey Club Serving size was small, the kitchen service — not our friendly waiter– was extrordinarily slow. Not too good, even by Denny’s standards!

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