Topic: Storm Tornado rips through Bunbury WA : 19 June 2009

[australiasevereweather]

Tornado rips through Bunbury

A tornado has damaged homes in the WA city of Bunbury and dozens of residents have sought help from the State Emergency Service.

Winds of more than 125 kilometres-an-hour swept through the south Bunbury area just before 11 o'clock this morning.
Paul McKenzie from the State Emergency Service says there have been more than 50 calls for help .

"We've got four homes that have had complete roof removal, ten homes that have received some major structural damage," he said.

Western Power says more than 15 sets of power lines are down and almost 7,000 residents are without electricity.
The clean up is expected to continue tomorrow.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/19/2603581.htm

[Peter J]

Wouldn't mind seeing some pics of the storm - Bunbury is noted in getting severe storms this time of year.

Big Pete

[Jimmy Deguara]

Pete,

Cool season tornadoes  have also been noted to hit this region in the SW part of Weathern Australia. Yes it would be good if someone had some footage placed online.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Colin Maitland]

I googled the Bunbury tornado of the 19/06/2009 and these pictures were on the site of http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/gallery/0,21592,5058070-5013959-2,00.html.

[Mel.C.]

Hi, I lay over my Baby praying to God 2 protect us as the Tornado ripped through here,
We were lucky it went between our homes, Had tin fly through the bedroom window shattering glass everywhere
Thank God my baby wasn't in his cot + nothing came through the loungeroom windows where we were, i was in shock + didn't have time to go anywhere safer, the roof lifted but others had there roof's taken.
By the Grace of God my child + i are alive.

[Mel.C.]

I cant work out how 2 attach more than 1 pic.
This Tree is right out the front of the Old peoples home.

[Michael Bath]

Hi Mel, glad you and your family are ok. Hope there is not too much damage to your home.

Were you aware the tornado was coming? Are you able to describe more what happened?

regards, Michael




PS - there is a bug with the photo attach. You can save one, then modify your post and add another.. etc.

[Mel.C.]

Hi Michael, I didn't have a clue, the wind was wild + picked up all of a sudden, then the front door swung open, i pushed it closed with all my might, then i was scared i knew something was wrong.
I ran back 2 the baby + lay over him praying, then i heard the jet plane coming, sounded like many, then loud rocks hitting the roof,  i heard a loud smash of glass from my bedroom then my bedroom door slammed shut, i was terrified, it all happend so quickly but seemed slow motion if u know what i mean.
As the noise died down i got up + made calls in a frantic manner, my baby slept through the whole thing, he never sleeps through noise that loud.
What is really weird is all week i had been feeling weird like something wasn't right, the weather was so yuck + so much rain i, i thought we might have been going to get flooded.
Thinking about god alot + his second coming, god was on my case.
I was watching the history channel at the time of all this on the 7 signs of the apocolypse, bible prophecys, my faith is now renewed.

[Mel.C.]

Sill cant work out how to attach more than 1 pic, ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, 
They said this was a mini tornado, i would hate to be in the path as a bigger 1.

[Mel.C.]

I think i finally worked it out, the whole having to have 100 characters thing is a bit of a pain, hopefully this is enough.

[Jimmy Deguara]

Mel C,

Quite drammatic and incredible scenes you have captured. This most visually significant photograph seems to be the flattended fence! We are glad you and the baby and all people in the area are ok.

Did anyone by any chance get video of the event from around the suburbs?

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Mel.C.]

Haven't heard of any footage been taped, im sure if the guy next door had been ready he would have, when i went outside shaking like a leaf he was running around like a mad man with his camera, telling us there will be another 1 coming.
His adrenalin was pumping with exitment, went over the other day 2 see what his pic's where like + he said they wern't that good, what the!

[Kris Wetton]

Very good quality aerial shot of the path can be found here-

http://sabc.org.au/bfs/old%20site/News/Tornado%20path%20from%20beginning%20II%20(0518).jpg

Courtesy of Bunbury Flying school. (I didn't copy the pic in directly, as I have not received permission as of yet to use it, but It's on their site at the address above so I figure a link is fair enough!)

Best regards

Kris

[Michael Bath]

That's a great shot of a damage path Kris - where on the their website did you find it ?

Mel - is your place along that track ?

Michael

[Kris Wetton]

Hello Michael,

I was given a URL and lost it! so I googled "Bunbury Tornado" under images!

Probably one of the better path pics I have seen.

I normally go out and do damage assessments after these type of events, but was unable to travel up on this occasion.
I have sent a request to the Flying club to obtain any other pics they may have, and if I get permission, will post up any and all images that are made available to me.

Best regards

Kris