Um, did anyone notice how abruptly I disappeared several hours ago?
Quite unexpectedly, the weather sirens went off and the TV started beeping and tornadoes were spotted west of here in College Corner and Oxford. After the sirens went off the third time, I went to the basement and stayed there for about an hour, equipped with a transistor radio, a bottle of water, a flashlight, and my cell phone. Once the radio convinced me that the storm was tracking to our south, I emerged and watched the storm coverage until it seemed to be past my mother. After talking with her (she'd gone into her bathroom - no basement - with provisions similar to mine) and determining that she's OK, I finally got my packing done.
It's still a little rumbly out there, so I won't stay long...