I honestly don't know how people live in tornado alley without major anxiety. We get maybe one tornado warning a summer and a few tornado watches but the ones that usually touch down are in the lower F categories. The monsters that form in the mid-west are terrifying. They fascinate me but I would never want to be anywhere near one.
Its not for me to say what people should our shouldn't have anxiety over. But my family has been living in the plains states since 1870 and I've spent most of my life in the Midwest. From my perspective, tornados are just a part of life. My family is 5 generations of farmers, and we've always kept our eyes on weather patterns, as our livelihood depends on it. Tornados are just part of the game. We definitely take it seriously and take the necessary precautions, but I can't say its ever been a source of stress. I'd probably equate it to the same attitude people in the SE have towards Hurricanes. Agree or disagree, that's just how it is.
Probably been in, or seen a half dozen tornados in my lifetime. Some closer than I'd like. First one I remember well was this one..
www.tornadotalk.com
I was 10, and it was the 4th of July evening. My brother and I were having a blast shooting off fireworks in the street when my grandmother made us come inside and we had to get down in the cellar. We weren't happy about that because we were having fun. Lucky for us, that tornado dissipated before it got to our town, but I remember going to Elgin the next day with my cousin (he was a volunteer fireman). The destruction was incredible, and I'll always remember that water tower laying on its side, but the thing I'll never forget was the smell. Everything smelled like freshly turned soil.
Had another experience driving back to my grandmother's house. I was with my wife and my 2 oldest kids who were probably 4-6 at the time. We were driving south on US83 through farm country around 10pm. Lots of lightning. Suddenly I see a big funnel come down in a pasture a couple hundred yards to my left. Every time the lightning flashed, you could see it clear as day. I didn't want to make my wife or kids upset so I didn't say anything and kept going. I figured I was heading south and the tornado was east of me, so we'd be fine......and we were.
I thought my wife had no idea, which was fine by me. Then when we were getting ready for bed, she says to me "so, did you see that big funnel when we were driving home tonight?" She saw it too but didn't want to upset the kids so she didn't say anything either.....They never had any idea.