The kidcats were especially sweet, overnight
I woke up, startled out of a dream, and figured it was about 5. The clock said 1:30! Then I noticed flashes of light outside. No thunder, just lightning. It seemed a good idea to check the weather which was nothing but a wicked forecast. I got up and looked out the window. No rain. Just lightning. Still, my weather related anxiety spiked.
When I got back into bed I settled in, within SECONDS all four kidcats were snuggled up against me. And all on the same side, which is VERY unusual. I had kitcats cuddling me from my shoulders to my ankles. I didn't fall back to sleep until about 3:30, but at least I had two more hours of sleep.
It is amazing how much in tune they have become with my emotional state.
Naturally I'm still a bit worried about the weather but the forecast seems to have slightly tempered and there are no severe storm advisories or warnings. Yet. I am going to get some stuff prepared AND move the car into the garage since one site I read mentioned the possibility of large, damaging hail. Ugh. I'm also going to spray some 'kitty calm' around the house, especially where Carys hangs out.
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I feel about the same. I lived on the other side of Lake Michigan for several years, and drove all over the midwest states for even longer, I have seen my share of bad thunderstorms and tornadoes. The best thing to do is pay attention.
I think you have it under control, though. You have a plan, a place and preparedness... those are the essentials and you have those covered. It should be coming on soon but things could weaken by the time they get to you.
I'm home all day so I'll be here with you. 
That is more precise and in keeping with what I recall them saying. I was trying to avoid a long report. It's complicated, these weather events are hard to describe this early. But thank you for clearer info!
I developed it when I was running back and forth across the continent every week, it was a survival thing. It is any day but most people don't pay attention like we do. Seriously, I bet you look at a minimum of three weather related info sites when you first get online in the morning. I do.
I'm not always articulate before 8am. 
check right after I make coffee and I have the Grand Rapids NWS Office tab open all the time on my browser. True confession: I watch livestreams like Ryan Hall Y'all for hours even when the weather is happening nowhere near me. I'm watching Andy Hill, Ryan Hall's sidekick on YouTube right now. I'm glad he's covering the storms in Michigan.
Weather has always fascinated me and I thought about pursuing meteorology but I suck at math so that torpedoed that career path. It's good to know I'm not the only one!
Exactly who I was watching! They are good. Ryan has personality but he and Andy make a good team, and they're young! I'm sure Andy is older than he appears but he looks really young. They both know their stuff so I'm thankful they do what they do.
I go hardcore with the raw satellite and then NWS analysis after that, I check the alerts page/map and then my local. If it looks like there's stuff they cover, I go to the "chasers" as I call them and see what's up. They have great technology/maps and are in touch with so many on scene chasers that you really have real time coverage with knowledgeable people. What more could you ask for?
ginger cat named Midas (because he's a "golden cat" ) that he showed us last night, so he's A-OK in my book. He just ended his livestream which made me relax about the weather that's supposed to be coming our way. I look at the weather maps too, and the Forecast Discussion is the first thing I read on the NWS tab. I love rain and storms as long as they're not severe, and I get edgy if the weather is "nice" for too long. I could never live in a place like the desert Southwest -- I would either go nuts or be in a bad mood all the time. I'm definitely a pluviophile. Brandon Copic is a good chaser -- I wonder what happened between him and Ryan Hall that made them part ways. Weather drama? 
I can't watch Reed Timmer, though, unless it's in small doses. Too manic for me, even though he's a Michigander that grew up in Ada, just outside of Grand Rapids.
