The Falmouth Whisper – May 17, 2025
Today, we pause, not to whisper, but to reflect.
Friday, May 17th, 2025, will be etched in memory as a day of devastation. A chain of brutal tornadoes ripped through several communities across the region, leaving behind twisted metal, shattered homes, and lives forever changed. As of this writing, the reported death toll stands near 21, mothers, fathers, children, people with plans for tomorrow that will never come.
We ask that you take a moment. Not just a passing thought, but a sincere pause. Hold these families in your heart. Say their names if you know them. And if you pray, pray. If you don’t, send whatever light you can spare into the darkness they’re facing.
These storms don’t ask permission. They don’t care if you’re ready. So let’s talk, plainly and without fluff, about what to do if one ever turns toward you.
Tornado Survival Basics
If you’re at home:
Go low. A basement is ideal. If not, head to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, put as many walls between you and the outside as possible.
Avoid windows. Glass turns to shrapnel.
Cover yourself. Use mattresses, blankets, or even a bike helmet to protect your head from flying debris.
If you’re in a mobile home:
Leave immediately. Get to a nearby shelter or a sturdy building. Mobile homes offer little to no protection from tornado-force winds.
If you’re in a car:
Don’t try to outrun it. Unless the storm is far off and moving away, find shelter in a solid building.
If there’s no option: Park the car, keep your seatbelt on, duck below the windows, and cover your head. If you can safely reach a low ditch away from the car, lie flat and cover up but beware of flash flooding.
If you’re outside with nowhere to go:
Find a low spot. A culvert, ditch, or depression is better than nothing. Lie flat, cover your head, and stay down until the threat passes.
These may seem like simple tips but in chaos, clarity saves lives. So review them. Share them. Tape them to the fridge if you have to. Once again, we at The Whisper extend our deepest sympathy to all affected. We’ll keep listening, keep watching, and keep remembering those lost. Stay safe out there. And don’t forget, when the winds howl, sometimes it’s not just weather. It’s a warning.
Hold your people close tonight.
—The Falmouth Whisper