E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Courtesy of Hannah Dorsey
Instagram filters were used to process this image, taken by an iPhone.
Texans were active on a variety of social networks today, tracking and commenting on the tornadoes ripping through the Dallas area. On Instagram, the photography social network for iPhone, iPad and just released for Android, the hashtag #tornado was busy with pictures of tornado damage, funnel clouds, TV screens and self portraits ranging from goofy "oh no!" faces to genuine concern as they braced for the worst.
Several users posted pictures from schools where students and faculty gathered in hallways, locker rooms and maybe even a bathroom to try and stay safe from the storms. Hannah Dorsey's image, above, and her "Tornado lockdown..." caption caught my attention, so we asked her about the experience of having tornadoes near her school, Bishop Lynch High School, located in Dallas, Texas.
Hannah writes to msnbc.com:
"I was in third period doing assignments online for my class when the Dean of Students came over the intercom, issuing a tornado warning. He instructed us to quietly evacuate the classrooms to the nearest hallway or safe place and assume the safety procedures that we had practiced just yesterday.
My teacher followed us into the hallway and shut the door behind us. All the students sat along the walls with their faces turned towards the lockers, with hands over their heads. We were told to remain quiet and to listen for instructions. I was nervous but I knew we were safe. Our other Dean of Students entered my hallway and announced that the weather conditions were becoming increasingly worse and that the power will most likely go out. As he walked away murmurs arose and the teachers began to hush everyone, saying it would be fine. We sat there for about an hour after that. The lights flickered a few times but never went out and we did a few fun things to pass the time and keep everyone calm.
At one point we could see the rain through the window at the end of the hall and the rain was being blown hard enough to make it seem the rain was falling horizontally. We were given an update on the weather about every twenty minutes and were told that the tornado was very close, only a block or two over. We remained there until we were given the all-clear. Our principal told us to return to our third period class until we would be dismissed for fourth period.
Throughout the day we had a total of two evacuations, the second being very similar to the first. At the end of the day we were not allowed to leave the building unless our parents signed us out in the main office. Those who were driving themselves had to wait until the weather conditions were better. I was on lockdown until about 4:15."
Follow msnbc.com's continuing coverage
Photojournalists use Instagram and other photography apps on the campaign trail
Leave a Comment:
Hey, great photo and writing. Maybe MSNbcnews will hire an intern?
Seriously, this is very cool. A photo taken from a position no one else in The Media can get to, and writing a most worthy news spot on the event cannot be taken for granted.
Keep up the good work. Ribbit!
What school is she from?
Bishop Lynch High School
Saddleshoes? Texas?!
Saddleshoes rock! I miss mine. Much to the horror of my mom (who hates them) I wore them many years after high school.
I've been looking online for someone who sells the in the UK (I've been over here since 1998).
most private schools in TX require saddle oxfords for girls.
Lol, so much for the "No Texting" rule in schools. Not to mention you shouldn't use your cell phone during a natural disaster unless it's emergency, otherwise the cell network can jam-up.
You have no idea that any of them were texting. Taking photo's does not tie up the networks. You are just being an ass.
You can clearly see 3 people texting, unless they're all taking pictures of the floor at the same time...
Just because they are touching the screen doesn't mean theyre texting.
Oh I love these types of things when we get to stand our backs against walls. You get the opportunity to chat up with a total stranger and who knows, you might meet the love of your life! Probably not, but any time away from school work is awesome! The kids must be so happy.
Thank God there was no loss of life.
yes thk god nothing else happen
She sounds like a very level headed kid to me. Glad all stayed safe.
Texting takes an avg. of 512bytes to send. If attaching a picture it can skyrocket in size to an avg of around 550,000 bytes but considering the avg. 1 minute of voice takes around 127million bytes, i'd say texting causes NO strain on cell networks. Oh, and texting is one way so it only uses one frequency, Voice requires 2 freguencies. Pay per text cell services are the highest profit margin in the cell industry. Let the fingers fly. I have 36 years experience in networking computers, being a college prof, and co-programmer/designer of beginning VOIP technology.
Bishop Lynch High School is in east Dallas on Ferguson Road at Peavy. It is about a mile or so from US Hwy 80
why are they all wearing the same style shoes?? But this report is excellent. someone should hire this girl. She's smarter than Sean Insanity and all the bimbos on Fox news, Megan, whatshername? (not worth remembering) and that asian woman, Michelle? .Wong?
They go to a private school. Seriously you had to ask that? Oh and I believe Megan has a law degree, for the record.
OHH it's a Catholic School!! so they are uniforms.. the shoes reminded me of Catholic School HMM who knew there were STILL Catholic Schools using uniforms and in TEXAS no less!!! Well excellent reporting.. That's using Text-nology (HEHE) for good!! good dramatic writing skills too...had me totally engrossed in her writing.
My daughter took the photo and wrote the write-up. I find it fascinating that some got hung up on the kids texting during "school." There were 3 tornados on the ground simultaneously in near proximity heading who-knows-where. Hannah attends school 40 minutes away from our home and I was so grateful to be able to text her occasionally to check on her. For those of you that complimented her, thank you. She is 16 and I am so proud of her. She's an awesome photographer and has an eye for the interesting. She hopes to be a photojournalist one day and having her photo recognized was one of those rare opportunities that happens to "other people." She is a level-headed, great kid. Couldn't be more proud...
kudos :)