The day started out at a balmy 75 degrees and ended as one of the worst natural disasters Arkansas had seen in two decades. People were thrown from their homes like ragdolls, family pets tossed about like the tennis ball they had retrieved earlier in the day. Not only were lives lost, but many homes and businesses were destroyed.

Entire homes were picked up and sprinkled throughout the county with only crumbled foundations left to prove their existence. Trees were split from root to tip like firewood used for a cold February fire. The earth that held the roots of the tiny, green tops of daffodils, early wildflowers and the weeds of spring and summer were shredded like straw in a scarecrow. Splinters of rooftops laid to rest in neighbor’s yards blocks away.

Tear-stained faces held all their earthly belongings clutched to their chests. Photos of births, marriages, school plays, birthday parties, graduations and watermelon summers crumbled in rubbles with only memories in the heart and mind left. Sounds of power and a roar will forever be embedded in the mind. Nothing will silence this sound for the rest of their lives.

Children with questions that mommy and daddy cannot answer, families without insurance cling to life’s most precious gift, each other. The people of Atkins question whether their community will ever be the same.

The lives will never be replaced or forgotten but homes will be rebuilt, cars and trucks replaced but the sights, the smell, the sounds and the devastation of the February date will go down in history as the strength of the Atkins community was tested. The fiber of the community was tested and the community still stands, wounded and battered, but not beaten.

Many lives could have been saved, had families known the warning signs and the proper precautions to take in case of a tornado. Students at Arkansas Tech must learn the best strategy in dealing with a tornado. Ed Leachman, head of the Department of Emergency Administration and Management said <www.ready.gov> includes the best practice instructions on how individuals should react when facing a severe natural disaster and he also suggests the FEMA hazards site for additional information. Familiarizing yourself with the terms that are used to identify a tornado can help keep you safe, says <www.ready.gov>.

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in the area. A tornado warning is when a tornado is actually occurring, and residents should take shelter immediately.

Aaron Hogan, assistant director of housing operations, says all on-campus students are responsible for knowing and understanding the contents in the Arkansas Tech University Guide to Residential Living.

“Students are expected to know the  procedures and be alert if the weather becomes a cause for concern,” he said. “However, in cases the staff members in the building become aware, they are asked to inform their residents as they see them. There is also an on-call staff member 24-hours a day for the buildings.”

Dr. Gary Biller, vice president for student services, said that the emergency text messaging system could be used for tornado alerts, but it would not be as timely as what is already in place. To register for the emergency text messaging service, send “tech” to 50618. “The national weather service alert systems are all over campus plus the sirens, TV and radio,” he said. “These four systems are in addition to the notifications that take place in the residence halls.”

The Web site also says to determine in advance where to take shelter in case of a tornado warning. Several examples given are basements, cellars, interior rooms or hallways. Never seek shelter under an overpass. Hogan says that as stated in the residential living handbook, students must seek shelter immediately.

This includes going to the lowest possible floor, staying away from windows and use mattresses to cover yourself (time permitting). University personnel will notify residents when it is safe to return..

When preparing for a tornado do so beforehand when thoughts are rational. When the sirens sound chaos often ensues. How we respond to the urgency of the sirens will determine who will live and who will die. At that point, priceless belongings and bank accounts no longer matter. Instead, our own lives and the lives of our loved ones suddenly become the most important things in our life.