Around Pecos, TX and up to the New Mexico border, West Texas flattens to the prairie for as far as the eye can see. This lends itself to big thunderstorms and the occasional tornado. With our new “smart” phones we are able to track the radar and severe weather warnings from The Weather Channel. Once we were settled into our spot last night, we did note a few clouds in the North East moving South East. So it looked like we were on the outer Western edge of the system.
As the evening progressed, the storm clouds were closing in on our location (out near the airport in Pecos). The severe weather warning now began to talk about tornados and the camp host knocked on our door. He wanted to make sure we were aware of the warning about tornados and that the toilet rooms would be used as the emergency shelter for the RV park residents. We mentioned that we had Karma, he said he didn’t think that it would be possible to bring her. He was worried about his cat as well.
We brought the slides (living room and bedroom) in to better stabilize our rig; which was still connected to the truck (which also helped in stabilization), as this was only an overnight. So, we debated and decided that the 3 of us would hunker down in the bedroom and wait it out. So, we are on the bed talking and enjoying the rain, occasional thunder, rare lightening and very little wind. Then the Pecos’ siren went off to warn all citizens of the possibility of tornados. So, now we are a little more worried about the situation. Karma listened to the siren for a while and then stretches out and falls a sleep. (As an aside, in the past 4 years of our travels thunder, lightening, strong rain pelting the rig have not seemed to faze her.)
The siren went on for about 15 minutes. There was little wind during that time. So, we were past the tornado warning from NOAA and the Weather Channel. Then the rain began – torrential downpours on and off for the next 4 hours. But we all were able to sleep through it. Whew!!!!
After some more consideration today, we think that next time we will hunker down in the truck. With our seat belts and harness restraint for Karma, we at least could be contained and the air bags might deploy further cushioning us if we were air borne like those semi trailers in Dallas last week. And, we could watch the weather happening around us!!!
