我想...芝加哥人應該會討厭我吧.....竟然才剛來就這麼多第一次
2008.4.18 我到芝加哥的第五天, 遇到芝加哥35年來第一次大地震
2008.8.4 我到芝加哥三個月又21天,遇到南芝加哥26年來第一次龍捲風威脅

以下是幾個昨天網友拍的影片, 大家看看有多可怕吧! 尤其是當你騎著腳踏車遇到的時候.......
不過美國人都很好心,在室內看到你在外面,都會叫你快進屋裡.

 (我昨天就是在這種風雨中騎車的><):

 

(Thanks tomtsatas for the video few hours ago)

 

昨天晚上閃了一整天的閃電(Flash Flood),眼睛都快被閃瞎了

 

(Thanks TimWChicago for the video few hours ago)

(

聽說昨天downtown就是這樣):

 

(Thanks bluesdude21 for the video one year ago)

Illinois Earthquake

Last Updated: 18-04-2008 17:10:12 IST

An Earthquake of 5.4 magnitude that rocked Illinois and surrounding areas appears to rival the strongest ever recorded in the region. The impact of the earthquake was felt up to a 450 miles, surprising residents who are not accustomed to such a powerful tremors.

 

The earthquake occurred just before 4:37 a.m. and was centered six miles from West Salem, Ill., and 66 miles from Evansville, Ind. The tremors of the Earthquake were felt as far as Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Des Moines and Iowa. According to early reports, there was no significant damage.

 

The earthquake shook skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop, 240 miles north of the epicenter, and in downtown Indianapolis.

 

According to Sgt. Todd Ringle, an Indiana State Police spokesman, there were no immediate reports of damage.

 

 

Chicago - Tornado Warning Sounds, Wrigley Field Evacuated

August 4, 2008

Officials say powerful winds and thunderstorms have downed trees and power lines and spawned tornado warnings throughout northern Illinois, including downtown Chicago.

Tornado sirens were activated and echoed throughout the city’s downtown Monday night.

Thousands of fans attending a Chicago Cubs/Houston Astros baseball game at Wrigley Field were evacuated to the stadium’s concourse. Officials warned fans through a public address system and on the scoreboard to get into the lower levels of the stadium.

As of 8:30 p.m., no flights were coming in or out of O’Hare and Midway airports.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Churchill says winds could reach between 60 to 80 miles an hour.

A Chicago Fire Department spokesman says there haven’t been reports of widespread injuries.

 

Chicago tornado warning sounded; Wrigley cleared 2008/8/4

CHICAGO - A powerful storm led to tornado warnings in downtown Chicago and the evacuation of fans from the stands at Chicago's Wrigley Field on Monday night. The National Weather Service had not confirmed any tornado touchdowns. But it says trained spotters have reported high-rotation winds in DeKalb and Kane counties in northeastern Illinois, where widespread tree and power line damage was reported.
Fans at the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros game were evacuated from Wrigley Field's stands into the stadium concourse as tornado sirens blared throughout the city.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Bob Sejnoha of Algonquin, who was at the Cubs game.
Passengers at O'Hare International Airport were evacuated into the lower levels of the complex's buildings. All flights were temporarily halted, and travelers who had already boarded airplanes were taken off as the storm struck, then led to the lower levels as a precaution.
"It was pretty cramped down there, the whole terminal was down there," said George Wickens, 50, of London, who was trying to travel to Florida with his family. "I don't think anything will be getting out of Chicago tonight."
The storms did not cause any damage or injuries at O'Hare or Midway Airport, said Department of Aviation spokesman Gregg Cunningham. More than 350 flights were canceled at O'Hare.
Chicago Fire Department officials said there were no immediate reports of injuries.
More than 200,000 people in northern Illinois were without power, ComEd spokesman Joe Trost said.
Meteorologist Brad Churchill said 60 to 80 mph winds were expected.
The fast-moving storms caught many residents by surprise.
Warning sirens sent pedestrians scrambling into high-rises and train stations for shelter.
Security guards at the Ogilvie Train Station, just off the Chicago River, ushered people streaming inside away from large glass windows and into the middle of the building.
"The lightning between the buildings was looking ominous," said Michaela Nelson, 58, as she brushed her dripping-wet hair at the station. "And then it just poured."
Kristin Febor, 21, watched the rain approach from the roof of the Marina Towers high-rise in downtown Chicago.
"The wind picked up and in probably five seconds it blew (my friend) into her husband," she said. "He grabbed her and pulled her inside and we all ran down the stairs. It was like dead still and then within five seconds, 10 seconds we were all blown away."

 

美國時間8/4星期一晚上七點半

我正在廚房跟食物奮戰,

聽到客廳電視傳來的新聞快報

"龍捲風警報" 將有龍捲風會襲擊北部芝加哥

我心想.....可憐的北芝,一天到晚有警報.............

 

七點五十分Jerry 打電話來約吃飯

因為他隔天要回台灣了

我只好放下武器,與廚房裡的食物暫時休兵

八點十分左右,騎著腳踏車從51街出發前往57接的餐廳

一出門,就聽到奇怪的警報聲,第一次在美國,搞不清楚他們的警報系統,很像平常吵死人的消防車,但是頻率有點不同,而且超級無敵大聲

像極了台灣的防空警報

我心想,該不會是龍捲風警報吧? 可是看路上的人都還很優閒,天空也依舊晴朗,

我還是繼續騎著腳踏車前往目的地.....

八點半第二次警報又響起,

此時忽然颳起怪風,所有的樹東搖西晃,天空開始閃電.....五分鐘後傾盆大雨而下

當時的情況有如強烈颱風一般

騎著腳踏車,被雨淋得根本不能呼吸

我加快腳程,一分鐘後到了餐廳門口,可是我還得鎖腳踏車阿

全身溼透,只好拉著bike躲在隔壁商店的屋簷下

此時聽到身後傳來的敲門聲

商店內一位老美太太要我趕緊連人帶車一起進商店躲著

我問: 剛剛的警報到底是什麼?

她說: 是龍捲風警報!! 快! 我們必須遠離門窗,快進到裡面躲著!

 

天啊 .....警報不是只有北芝嗎? 怎麼..........?

太太說,我們南芝加哥已經有26年沒有龍捲風靠近了(難怪他們如此害怕)

原本不怕的我,都被講的越來越害怕, 如果我再外面繼續多呆一分鐘,大概就不用回台灣了 .......

跟著太太和一位老先生還有店家一起躲在廚房,聽著廣播.....

知道嗎? 這個可怕的龍捲風真的往南前進,而且襲擊了downtown,好險沒傷亡

不過畢竟越往南房子越多,龍捲風中就是沒有進到Hyde park,雖然最近的一個只離我們 5 mile的距離....老天保佑!

 

這一天晚上,第一次讓我感受到龍捲風的樣子,雖然只是受到龍捲風環流的影響,而且程度就像颱風一般

但是這短短20分鐘的威力,已足夠嚇人的了.........

跟大家分享一個我再YOUTUBE上找到一年前Chicago downtown的龍捲風影片, 

http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=F0m1BN4ZmAQ

影片裡的情形完全跟我昨天遇到的情形一模一樣,一樣的天空,一樣詭異的警報聲

重點是要看下方留言的部份,那都是昨天芝加哥人留的,就可以感受到可怕之處了......