| This is the time of year for tornadoes. In fact, | | | | there is no visual warning. |
| some damage has already occurred as a result, | | | | - Be prepared in advance during tornado season: |
| though 2010 seems to be out of the norm for | | | | either prepare your indoor or outdoor shelter, |
| tornado activity...so far. As of April 18th of this | | | | safe room or designated safe place within the |
| year less than 100 tornadoes have occurred in | | | | house |
| the U.S. In 2009 that number was a little over | | | | - You should always get as far away from |
| 300 and in 2008 it was a bit over 400. The | | | | windows as possible. The old fallacy about opening |
| reason seems to be the cooler than normal spring | | | | the windows will do no good. If the storm is that |
| that much of the area east of the Rockies has | | | | strong, the windows will break regardless and you |
| seen this year. | | | | certainly don't want to waste time opening |
| For a severe thunderstorm to form, which in turn | | | | windows. |
| can result in tornadoes, the dew point must be | | | | - Go to the lowest level of the house and to an |
| above 60°F and 70°F is optimal. The dew point | | | | interior room. Many people choose a closet, |
| must also survive for a period of time in order to | | | | hallway or bathroom. Inside the tub is one of the |
| spawn storms of the type that create tornadoes. | | | | safest places to be as long as it is in an interior |
| So far this year, we have only had a few days | | | | room and away from windows. |
| with over 60 degree dew points and have not | | | | - Use blankets, mattresses and pillows to |
| had a single day with pervasive 70 degree dew | | | | surround you and your loved ones. Running drills, |
| points. But, the season isn't over yet and as you | | | | just like a fire drill, where everyone has a job to |
| know-Mother Nature can be totally unpredictable. | | | | do makes things run much more smoothly. |
| So, in order for a tornado to develop, the | | | | - Use children's bicycle or football helmets to |
| conditions have to meet certain specific criteria. | | | | protect heads. More people are killed or injured by |
| Today's weathermen and ladies are using amazing | | | | flying debris than for any other reason during a |
| technology that allows them to notify their | | | | tornado. Some people even include safety glasses |
| listeners when the conditions are right for | | | | in their 'tornado kit'. |
| tornadoes. In Oklahoma City, for example, one of | | | | - Regardless of where your safe place is, stock it |
| the largest cities that is affected by tornadoes | | | | as you can with flashlights, fresh batteries, water, |
| annually, the meteorologists are able to track the | | | | bagged or canned food that can be eaten without |
| path of a tornado at ground level. This has | | | | heating, a supply of medicinal supplies for pain and |
| resulted in an amazing number of lives that have | | | | for stopping bleeding and grab your cell phone if |
| been saved. In times long past now, tornadoes | | | | you can. This is a really good reason to keep your |
| came out of the blue with little to no warning. | | | | cell phone charged. Our ancestors did not have |
| Today's warning systems are the result of many | | | | that luxury and phone service will no doubt be |
| people losing their lives to these devastating | | | | interrupted if your house is hit. |
| storms and to the people that have made it a | | | | - If you have a tornado shelter outside the home, |
| mission to learn what spawns these storms and | | | | register it with your county. The reason for this is |
| how to predict them. | | | | that if the shelter top is covered with debris, |
| A tornado is actually not as destructive as a | | | | unless searchers know where to look, it could |
| hurricane can be. Hurricanes come on shore with | | | | take an extended time for rescue. |
| winds at the same strength as a tornado, but | | | | - Instruct your children what to do or where to |
| they cover hundreds of miles over a very broad | | | | go if they are at a friend's house, downtown or |
| path and they often blow for hours or days at a | | | | at the movies. Most downtown areas will have |
| time. Even when the winds die to Tropical Storm | | | | designated tornado shelters, as will some movie |
| strength, property damage and loss of life can | | | | houses in tornado prone zones. |
| result, as well as flooding that leads to even more | | | | - If you live in a mobile home...get out and go |
| loss. Tornadoes, on the other hand, though they | | | | someplace else if at all possible. More deaths occur |
| can be in excess of 1 mile wide and have been | | | | in mobile home communities than anyplace else. |
| known to be on the ground for up to 50 miles, | | | | - As far as where to go when you are in your |
| are usually much less than one mile wide and are | | | | vehicle is hotly debated. Most will head under a |
| often only on the ground for a few minutes. | | | | bridge if one is nearby and that has been known |
| Where they touch down is determined solely by | | | | to save lives. Some have been counseled to get |
| the weather and fate. Many tornadoes don't | | | | out of their vehicle and go to the lowest point, |
| touch the ground at all and many more touch | | | | like a ditch, for example. But, now it is thought |
| down in rural, lightly populated or unpopulated | | | | that staying in your vehicle may be safer. It takes |
| areas. So, tornadoes are pretty much a 'hit or | | | | much more strength for a tornado to pick up a |
| miss' storm, actually affecting many less people | | | | car than it does a person. If the car is picked up, |
| than hurricanes, but drawing much more attention | | | | you are much more likely to survive than if you |
| because they are still so unpredictable and when | | | | were picked up without the car and the car can |
| 'the big one' hits, the devastation is massive in | | | | shield you from flying debris. |
| terms of property damage, though the loss of life | | | | That final safety tip will probably be determined |
| is being minimized greatly by safety measures. | | | | on a case by case basis. If the experts can't |
| Here are the safety measures recommended in | | | | agree on that, there is no one to say what the |
| order to survive a tornado: | | | | best decision might be in any given situation. |
| - Pay heed to radio, television and computer | | | | Though the season has been a light one so far, |
| weather alerts. Some TV stations even allow you | | | | and we've been enjoying the temperatures and |
| to get mobile alerts on your cell phone. | | | | fair weather of an extended spring in some areas |
| - If you live in Tornado Alley, keep a weather | | | | of the country, the unpredictable nature of the |
| radio handy and programmed for 'middle of the | | | | weather should always be a reminder to keep |
| night' storms. Without fail, the tornadoes that | | | | your eye on the sky and to always be |
| happen in the middle of the night or that are | | | | weather-aware. |
| rain-wrapped are the ones that kill, only because | | | | |