When you first hear a Tornado Warning in Dallas, there is no Korean person who isn't startled.

During the day, it may be clear, but by afternoon, the sky suddenly turns yellow and you feel the air pressing down. At that moment, the Tornado Warning alert starts ringing on your phone.

The tornado season in Dallas usually runs from March to June, with April being the most dangerous month.

When the sky turns gray and the wind suddenly picks up, the air inside the house subtly changes. When the wind whistles above your head and you hear thunder faintly from the distant sky, it's time to start preparing.

On TV or radio, the weather service alerts repeat, and emergency text alerts pop up on your phone. "A tornado warning has been issued for Dallas County."

When I first came to Dallas, I panicked every time the alert rang. I would close all the windows and go into the bathroom just to listen to the news. When I heard the sound of the wind buzzing above me, I realized how powerful a tornado could be.

Interestingly, in most cases, tornadoes tend to miss the city center. Dallas is in a wide plain area, making it difficult to predict the wind's direction, but actual damage often occurs in the outskirts.

In May 2022, my phone suddenly went off with an alarm. The news reported, "A tornado touchdown has been detected in the Richardson area north of Dallas." That day, the wind was particularly strong, shaking the windows. I immediately took refuge in the bathroom with a blanket, flashlight, and radio. Fortunately, the tornado just barely missed our neighborhood, but the next day, the news reported that several buildings in nearby areas had their roofs blown off.

Now, when the alert rings, I am not as flustered as before. Anyone living in Dallas learns to instinctively follow a 'tornado preparedness manual.' They prepare emergency flashlights, radios, bottled water, simple food, and blankets in advance, and when the alert sounds, they move away from the windows. Most people use the bathroom, basement, or space under the stairs as a shelter. And importantly, never look outside near the windows. There are actually quite a few cases of injuries from trying to take pictures.

After the tornado warning ends, the sky becomes astonishingly clear. The sky in Dallas after the storm looks as if the world has been freshly washed. Sometimes a rainbow appears, and watching the clouds slowly drift by brings a sense of peace. This seems to be the dramatic charm of Dallas weather.

As I repeat these experiences, tornado warnings no longer feel like 'fear' but rather like 'everyday alerts.' Of course, it is still cautious and tense, but it has also fostered a respect for nature and a habit of being prepared.