Tallahasee, FL (#WTXLdigital) -- Answer this riddle: What do Ebola and Jameis Winston have in common? A societal craze following their every highly dramatized move. Has America fallen into the clutches of over-sensationalized trending? Is it starting to take over, not only our conversations, but everyday actions as well?
On October 14th, there was a tornado warning in the Tallahassee area. Businesses and schools operated per usual taking standard cautionary procedures. The alert stated, "A developing tornado has been detected by the National Weather Service 8 miles southwest of Tallahassee... moving Northeast at 25 mph. Other locations in the warning include but are not limited to Leon County Civic Center and State Capital Complex".
Including at a local doctor's office, I was corralled into an x-ray room that had a sign warning of radioactive activity and given a face mask during the duration of the National's Weather Service's warning period.
I was at the doctor's office waiting to see a physician when a nurse announced that everyone in the waiting room had to move away from the windows. Following standard procedure everyone got up and walked to the other side of the room.
Then the safety measures took a turn towards peculiar when a nurse handed everyone face masks. The masks were to prevent bacteria from spreading because all patients were about to be confined in a small space.
I was then lead into the x-ray room because it was supposedly the "safest" room in the building.
The room was small and filled with medical equipment. All of the patients were huddled in a corner while a doctor told us there was a tornado sighting near the Civic Center.
The warning continued and the tornado was reported closer to our location. Someone claimed it had moved further downtown.
No one questioned why we were standing in a room marked "Radioactive Materials Authorized Personnel Only".
Everyone was too busy sharing over-zealous conversations about tornadoes and destruction.
There was never a tornado in Tallahassee on that day. Has society become so concerned with excitement that common-sense has been forgotten?
What should you do in the case of a tornado? According to the National Weather Service, find shelter in a basement or in an interior room on the lowest floor and crouch on the floor or under sturdy furniture. It is also recommended to cover yourself with a blanket, in case of flying debris.
