I lived all along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts before I move to Tennessee in the 90's, and we never had tornados, except for the when the hurricanes would spawn them like popcorn, and I missed most of them. I've been through four near-misses (two of them WAY too near) since I've lived here, and what makes it even more scary (and I'm man enough to admit it) is they get them here at night. I don't know why, but the idea of one of them coming at me in the dark is particularly unnerving.
The video I've seen from Moore is just heart-wrenching, but so glad you and yours were spared.
J o e y