From: "Himanshu R. Pota"
To: "John Arnold"
Subject: Tornado
Date: Friday, 7 May 1999 5:22 AM

Since we don't as of yet have a radio or a TV we were mostly oblivious of the tornadoes. Day before yesterday evening we heard these screeching sirens and saw a lot of cars rushing around and parents holding---even dragging---children while running. Our children got curious as to what's happening. Like I ignore most of their questions I continued to ignore this one too till it seemed to me that the siren has may be gone on for a bit too long. When I stepped out of our tiny flat and enquired what this is all about, I was told, "Look in your map where the nearest tornado shelter is and head for it."

While I looked in the map, the children were spinning like tops, screaming, "Oh! The tornado will hit us, what are we going to do?" Our son Divyanshu thought it is all because he skipped prayers before his dinner. He was spinning with a school library book in his hand and not getting ready at all. Somehow they were convinced to get ready and as we were leaving our flat Divyanshu made another dash for the book. At this stage I lost my patience and asked him why is it that he is obsessed with the book and he said, "I have to return the book to the school library tomorrow and if the tornado wipes away our home what I am going to tell them?" To this our daughter Shuchita replied, "If the tornado hits our flat then probably it will hit the school too and they will understand if you lose a book in a tornado hit." This consoled our man a little bit and finally he was on his way to the shelter.

The shelter was in the basement of the university's veternery science department. When we arrived at the shelter it was quite full and very soon Divyanshu found his school friends. They immediately informed him that free cans of coke, cookies etc. are available. As we pulled some chairs and sat down I saw several medical doctors going around and asking if anyone needs treatment for hysteria etc. I almost pointed to Divyanshu but then saw him playing with his friends, oblivious of the dangers outside, and I kept quiet.

In half an hour or so the tornado was observed to be going in another direction and would miss Manhattan. So out we came and sure enough Divyanshu immediately rushed in and secured his book!

It's very cold today but they all keep assuring me that the weather will improve. We are safe, Divyanshu has returned his book to the library, and Shuchita is teasing him nonstop.

Himanshu

John Arnold wrote:
> How did you survive the tornados over your way? Heard they were bad in Kansas?
> > Regards
> > John
> > __ /\ School of Electrical Engineering,
> / \/ \ University College, UNSW,
> / \ Australian Defence Force Academy,
> +61 2 62688212 (w) / / Canberra ACT 2600.
> +61 2 62688443 (fax) \ __ */ AUSTRALIA.
> j-arnold@adfa.oz.au `-' \_/
> o

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