Sounds awful. Be careful It's good that you have a basement....and an internet connection there.
I finally had to turn off the news...everybody and their brother are being interviewed with their home video of tornados. Normally we only get a few per year. This will be enough for the next ten.
I think the same sort of thing happened with Frances, around the Raleigh area.
Aren't you glad you aren't near the paths of these things?