Tyler Tubbs said his parents are done answering the phone attheir Fort Allen home, for now.
In the past two days, almost every call has been for him.
Tubbs, 15, went from Hempfield Area High School freshman toovernight Internet sensation when his YouTube video "Tornado inHempfield" went viral, reaching more than 233,500 views, 48 hoursafter he posted it on the film-sharing website.
Ever since, the phone at his Daniel Street home has been ringingnonstop with interview requests, Tubbs said.
"Today has been way crazier than yesterday with calls," saidTubbs, who has been dubbed "Tornado Kid," or "Tornado Boy," byvarious websites.
The 90-second video has been shown on CNN, "Good Morning America"and The Weather Channel, among others. He has been interviewed byPittsburgh television newscasters and morning radio DJs.
Tubbs, who was home alone when the F2 tornado tore throughWestmoreland County on Wednesday, documented his experience usinghis iPod camera.
His excitement, Tubbs said, particularly during the last eightseconds, is what draws viewers.
"Oh, my God! It landed! Tornado! Tornado!" Tubbs yells, as thecamera changes focus from the funnel cloud to his feet as he runsthrough the house.
The teenager will try to use his newfound fame to help thoseaffected by the tornado. Tubbs said he plans to create T-shirts witha picture and a quote from the video and donate the proceeds topeople whose homes were destroyed.
"Someone brought the idea to my attention, to help peoplesomehow, and I liked the idea so much that I'm putting it intoaction," he said.
One online comment on his video reported that a Connecticut radiostation had picked its favorite video quote.
"I live in Connecticut and my favorite radio station (106.9 WCCC)is using the last eight seconds as a sound bite before every song!"the commenter said.
Zach Bowman, a Hempfield Area High senior, also posted a video ofthe storm to YouTube and said he has been contacted by a few newsoutlets and storm chasers. But he hasn't gotten as much attention asTubbs.
"I'm really good friends with (Tubbs') brother, and I watched thevideo with him last night," Bowman said. "It was very funny. Tyleris a funny kid."
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