If anyone didn't already know spring was approaching fast, the dozen or more deaths to tornadoes in Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri on Wednesday made it tragically clear.
Powerful storms swept across large areas of the Midwest and Southeast, and it is amazing that the death toll was not higher.
We are reminded, at this time of year especially, to heed warnings about severe weather and to seek shelter without delay when authorities and weather forecasters recommend that we do so.
We cannot avoid natural disasters, but with some common sense, we can reduce their toll.