Pelting Rain, Deafening Howl, Then Deadly Chaos for Scouts.

Just before the tornado hit, the Boy Scouts were gathering on the porch of a shelter, playing cards and waiting out what many of them thought was just a pelting rain. In a matter of moments, a scout leader, hearing a faint tornado siren, hurried them inside, and then, as he stared out the open door and saw the twister in the distance, ordered them to dive under tables, survivors said. The door, still open, tore off and vanished. The ceiling flapped open on one side, then the other, and then caved in. The walls began disappearing. The pickup truck parked out front flew into the air. The huge stone chimney collapsed, crushing some boys, according to others who had crouched near them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]