May 26, 2000

Yesterday's storm showed once again at just how unpredictable our weather is. It also is making many people kind of "edgy." Keith McCord has more about that.

Think about it--two tornadoes hitting the Salt Lake Valley in less than a year. When the big one hit last August, didn't the experts say the chances of that happening again are almost nil?

So, what happens the next time the skies turn gray?

"OH MY CRAZINESS! HOLY CRAP! LOOK AT IT.."

Colby Mitchell:"THERE WAS A BUNCH OF RAIN, AND IT WAS KIND OF NOISY.. AND IT WAS SCARY."

Christopher Smart:"IT WAS SORT OF SCARY." "WHAT DID YOU SEE?" "BLACK SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD."

People who saw yesterday's storm up close describe it very vividly. And they're not embarrassed to admit that yes, it scared the daylights out of them!

"WERE YOU FRIEHGTENED? Colin Buchanan: "YES I WAS." Q: "WAS EVERYBODY FREIGHTENED?" "YEAH."

Getting an adrenaline rush after witnessing a spectacular event is a natural human reaction. But, after the excitment dies down, people often experience feelings of anxiety, stress or depression.

Margaret Thompson/Clinical Social Worker:"IT'S A DELAYED REACTION, BUT IT'S PREDICTABLE. IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE HAPPEN. BUT IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU DON'T SEE OR TALK ABOUT AS READILY."

Margaret Thompson says there's another factor that's causing additional stress here-- two tornadoes within a few months of each other!

Margaret Thompson: "AFTER THE LAST ONE, WE SAID, OK THIS WAS SCARY , BUT WE CAN GET OVER THIS, BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN UTAH, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT IT DID."

And, she says some people were already stressed over this week's lightning-bolt death of a little girl. The tornado only added to it.

So, what then, should people do? After all, something like this could happen again. Having an emergency plan, at home, and at work, can help reduce some of the stress.

Margaret Thompson: "A LOT OF TIMES OUR FAMILIES ARE SEPARATED DURING THESE TRAGEDIES, SO YOU'RE SCARED. YOU THINK YOU'RE OKAY, BUT WHAT ABOUT MY CHILD? WHAT ABOUT MY SPOUSE? AND HENCE THE PHONE CALLS AND HYSTERIA."