TORNADOS, TWISTERS AND CYCLONES

By Terry Orr

Can someone please explain why folks continue to underestimate Mother Nature and her Awesome Destructive Power year in and out?  Especially folks who live in Tornado Alley – many still do not have proper shelter for those monster tornados.

Moore, OK holds the record of having two of the most powerful tornados in recorded history – and most home do not have underground shelters – no basement – no community shelter to ride out the storm.  To further complicate matters, the schools and hospitals are not built to withstand the more damaging twisters?

In 2013 we have already had two EF5 Tornados: May 30^th in Moore, OK; and May 31^st in El Reno, OK.  As of June 6^th there have been 448 Tornados.

While watch the news media show numerous and often the same video clips – and looking at some those neighborhoods built on concrete slabs.  During one-interview sessions, the media person asked why more folks did not have storm shelters? One response was they cost between $5-8K.  Why are builders allowed to build any home in ‘Tornado Alley” without basements or storm shelters? Another alternative could be building sub-subterranean, partially underground and underground homes. These alternative homes also offer many other benefits – heating and cooling for example. 

From a safety and insurance perspective – one would think some of these changes would have already been implemented.  What are some of the other alternatives are or could be made available to reduce the damage and lost of life?

(Photos form Google) 

Tornado Safety Precautions

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By Terry Orr

"Waiting until Tornado warning/watch alert is TOO LATE to prepare for the event!"  

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Tornado's

Description

The tornado is the most violent storm on Earth. A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air extending to the ground from a thunderstorm cloud. The path width of a tornado is usually very narrow, but can range up to a half-mile or more in the most extreme cases. Tornadoes usually only last a few minutes, but a few can last for much longer, traveling along the ground for several miles. Tornadoes can remain almost stationary, or can race across the countryside at speeds over 50 mph. Violent winds in and near the tornado can cause incredible destruction, and can generate flying debris, which is the main thing that hurts people in tornadoes.

Tornado Safety

Keeping informed about the weather is the best way to avoid being caught in a tornado or severe thunderstorm. Your local National Weather Service Forecast Office provides information about dangerous weather in your area, and you should keep a close eye on this information whenever storms threaten your area. A battery operated NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm feature should be a part of your information system!

It’s also critical that you think about tornado safety long before there’s a storm on the horizon, and plan what you will do to stay safe no matter where you may be when storms threaten.

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When a severe storm or tornado threatens, remember these basic guidelines:

GET IN - get as far inside a strong building as you can, away from doors and windows

GET DOWN - get to the lowest floor

COVER UP - use whatever you can to protect yourself from flying or falling debris

• A reinforced underground storm shelter, storm cellar, enclosed basement or safe room are usually the safest places in a tornado. Underground shelters get you out of the way of flying and falling debris, which is a tornado’s most lethal weapon.
• If you cannot get underground, remember the basic guidelines. Get as far inside the strongest building you can find. Stay away from doors, windows and other openings to the outside. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can.
• Get as low as you can. Go to the lowest floor of the building you’re in.
• Cover up to protect yourself from flying and falling debris. Use whatever you can find - pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses. Wearing a helmet or hardhat will help protect your head from debris.
• Being outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle are all unsafe in a tornado or severe thunderstorm. Find stronger shelter before the storm arrives and remember to get in, get down and cover up.

Know the Difference

Tornado Watch: Means conditions are favorable to the formation of a tornado, for example, during a severe thunderstorm. During a “tornado watch” be prepared to take shelter immediately if conditions worsen.

Tornado Warning: A “Tornado warning” is given when a tornado funnel is sighted or indicated by radar. You should take shelter immediately!!!

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Protect Your Family and Home

• Make a plan to prepare and protect the people and things you value before severe weather strikes:
• Make sure your family members know and understand the siren warning signals, if there is such a system in place in your area.
• Take photographs of your valuables and store them in a fire- and waterproof safe. Also use the safe to store important documents such as birth certificates, ownership documentation for cars and boats, Social Security cards, insurance policies and wills.
• Check your homeowner's insurance to confirm your coverage in case your home is damaged or destroyed. Tornadoes can be accompanied by heavy rains and flooding, which most homeowner's insurance policies do not cover. Check with your insurance agent or the National Flood Insurance Program for more information.
• Assemble a family disaster kit.
• Locate and mark where utility switches and valves are in your home so they can be turned off in an emergency if time allows.
• Depending on your location, you may be told to evacuate before a warning or even a watch is issued. Notify friends and/or family members who are unaffected by the storm of where you're going and why.
• Familiarize yourself with the emergency action plans at your school or workplace and identify the appropriate officials and emergency management agencies in your area, with contact information and phone numbers in case you need assistance after a storm.
• Make sure to charge your mobile phone, laptop and other mobile device batteries.

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More information

• Tornado Project Online (http://www.tornadoproject.com/)  has a wealth of tornado information as well as with tornado myths, tornado oddities, personal experiences, tornado chasing and tornado safety.
• FEMA Are You Ready? (http://www.ready.gov/are-you-ready-guide)  has terms and tips for what to do before and during a tornado and preparing a safe room.
• American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=62a7da30df3ea110VgnVCM10000030f3870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default) : Tornado suggests how to prepare a home tornado plan, assemble a disaster supplies kit and what to do before, during and after a tornado.
• Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes (http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/) .
• FEMA tornado site for kids (http://www.ready.gov/kids) .
• Preparing a Safe Room (http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_saferoom.shtm) has guidelines and instructions for building a safe room.

Like a good Scout - Be Prepared!!

Tongue Twister Day

By Diane Forrest,

One of the first things I started with I brought my baby home from the hospital was to read to him.  We would read every day, and as he got older we would go to the library and fill up a bag full of books.  He loved the books by Dr. Seuss.  He loved them because they were always silly, rhyming and fun to say.

one fish two fish red fish blue fish

black fish blue fish old fish new fish

When he turned "sweet" sixteen I gave him a huge party at our church with the youth group he had grown up with.  The theme of the party was Dr. Seuss.  I ordered stovetop hats for all the guests, and had Dr. Seuss books on all the tables.  The kids all grabbed books and took turns reading them aloud and they all had a blast with the tongue twisters.  What my parents thought was a bad idea turned into not only a great time for everyone, but that year, the homecoming these at his school was also Dr. Seuss, and they took all the decorations to use for their dance.

Today is International Tongue Twister Day.  Not only is it a fun thing to do, trying to say complicated sayings, but they are also useful if you are trying to correct a speech impediment such as stuttering.  Some favorite tongue twisters include:

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked,

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

She sells sea-shells on the sea-shore.

The shells she sells are sea-shells, I'm sure.

For if she sells sea-shells on the sea-shore

Then I'm sure she sells sea-shore shells.

Betty Botter bought a bit of butter.

The butter Betty Botter bought was a bit bitter

And made her batter bitter.

But a bit of better butter makes better batter.

So Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter

Making Betty Botter's bitter batter better

Some tongue twisters are short phrases that can be used in contests such as...say this three times fast:

A Proper Copper Coffee Pot.

Betty bopper's battering batton made bertie bopper bite her.

Cecily thought Sicily less thistly than Thessaly.

Irish wristwatch.

Peggy Babcock.

Pleasant mother pheasant plucker.

Red Leather, Yellow Leather.

Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry.

Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper.

Smiley shlug with Shloer.

Toy boat.

Unique New York.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most difficult tongue twister in the English language is: "The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick."

So, today, why not get together with your friends and family. And have a contest to see who can win at the tongue twister game.

Tornado Safety Precautions

Wonder if her mother knows where she was?

What is a tornado?

A tornado is the most violent atmospheric storm. A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more.  Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. 

Two times the fun ...NOT

Forget The Wizard of Oz notion that "twisters" only happen in Kansas. Tornados have been reported in every state. And while they generally occur during spring and summer, they can happen anytime during the year. With winds swirling at 200 miles an hour or more, a tornado can destroy just about anything in its path. Generally, there are weather signs and warnings that will alert you to take precautions. Be prepared by having various family members do each of the items on the checklist below. Then get together to discuss and finalize your Home Tornado Plan.

Plan and get ready: Pick a safety spot in your home where family members could gather during a tornado. (If you have a basement, make it your safety spot.) Make sure there are no windows or glass doors in the area. Keep this place uncluttered. If you live in a mobile home, choose another safety spot in a sturdy, nearby building.

http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/Tornado.pdf

We can not stress strong enough the need to practice your plans for nasty weather.  Be prepared!  Thanks

Tornado's (often referred to as a twister or, erroneously, a cyclone)

By Diane Forrest, RN

On Friday, my old hometown was hit by a tornado.  It came hard and fast and left major destruction in its path.  Buildings were demolished, cars were tossed around like toys, trees were uprooted and injuries were sustained.

One of my earliest memories of tornado's was being in school and filing out to sit in the hall and doing the "duck and cover".  Although I have never actually been in a tornado, it was fun getting out of class and hanging out with the rest of the school.  My husband lived in McComb, Mississippi, and he would always talk about a tornado that hit his town and caused so much damage that Elvis came and did a concert to raise money for them.  Elvis presented the check to his uncle and there was a picture in the newspaper. 

Click Pictures to see video

A few years back my father was the district manager of the power company.  We had a scanner so that we could listen to local activity from the fire, police and rescue stations.   On the day of a local doctor's funeral a tornado hit the town.  It knocked down trees and power lines all over town.  My father was a pall bearer at the funeral, so was not aware of the activity going on in the other part of the town, but as my husband and I were listening to the scanner we heard the mayor of the town yelling at the police chief telling him to locate my dad and having him fix the problems or either arrest him!  Luckily, the problems were fixed, the mayor calmed down, and my father was not arrested.

Tornado's are a terrifying event.  They come fast and leave a trail of destruction behind.  Movies and television shows try to desensitize people to the actual seriousness of this weather condition.  Movies like the Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy's house is blown to Oz and lands on the wicked witch seems like an exciting journey.  Twister has a group of people chasing the tornados for scientific research and has flying cows.  Television show like Storm Chasers show real people searching for tornados for adrenaline rushes. 

Although I have never actually been in a tornado (unless you count the time I was invited to participate during the twister ride at Universal Studios in Florida) I have been in the same city while they occur.

Most tornado's have a wind speed of 110 miles an hour, but can reach 300 mph.  They can travel a few miles before dissipating, or dozens of miles. They occur during any time of the year, and in any place in the world.  They can be detected before they occur by Doppler radar, and warnings can be issued to allow people to seek shelter.  Most places have siren warnings and broadcast over television and radio.  If you hear the warnings, take shelter immediately.  If you are in a building or home, go to a basement.  If there isn't a basement, go to an interior hallway or closet on the lowest level.  Stay away from outside walls, corners or windows.  Do not open windows.  Get under a sturdy table.  Protect your head with your arms.   While my husband was bedridden, I would cover him with bed pillows.  Our bedroom had no windows, and was located in the center of the home.

If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, leave immediately and seek shelter in a building.  If there isn't one near, lie flat in a ditch and cover your head with your arms.  Be careful of flying debris, which causes the most injuries and fatalities.  Do not go to an overpass or bridge for shelter as they believed to increase the danger from the tornado by increasing the wind speed and funneling debris underneath the overpass.

Following these few simple guidelines will help to protect you and keep you safe.  If  you live in an area that is prone to tornado activity, devise a plan of action and practice with your family.  Make sure you have plenty of flashlights and check your batteries often.  I put those items on my Christmas list every year, and it's also a good present idea if you have elderly people on your list.

The main thing is be alert and keep safe.  Let me know if you have other safety ideas or tornado stories you would like to share.

What to Do During a Tornado

If you are under a tornado WARNING, seek shelter immediately!

If you are in:	Then:
A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building)	Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.
A vehicle, trailer, or mobile home	Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.
The outside with no shelter	Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_during.shtm