I live in one of the 20 states that held primary elections yesterday toward establishing the ticket for the presidential elections in November.  I was anticipating an evening riveted to the television as election results came pouring in*, but instead watched as tornadoes ripped through both my state (thankfully my own town was in a sort of untouched bubble) and where my parents and other family members live.

It was pretty scary as we heard reports about death and destruction, about the 11-month old baby found alive, and the gas line being hit by lightning and subsequent fire in Hartsville.  Ironically, this is tornado safety month and Channel 46 in Atlanta has been blogging about it.  Although their advice should already be familiar to all of us, the reminder is important,

If you are in a structurally strong building when a tornado threatens, move to the most interior room of the lowest floor (such as a closet in the basement). Try and put as many walls between you and the outside as you can. Avoid windows; trees and other debris can break the glass and injure you.

Half a Pica Distance blogged about the tornadoes in Memphis with the brilliant post title "We Have Not Gone to Oz."

Last night, the Memphis area, and much of the mid-South was besieged by strong thunderstorms and tornadoes. We are well, but there were several areas 10-to-30 miles away that got hit pretty hard. Hickory Springs Mall in downtown Memphis was hit especially hard.

Music City Bloggers had a round-up of Nashville-area bloggers writing about the storm and brilliant local photographer Chris Wage captured an amazing photo.  Look in the windows of this building.

My heart says I’d rather see this photo than one of the destruction that surrounds my area.

*Par for the course… the person for whom I voted didn’t win the primary in my state.