MOUNT VERNON — Tornadoes are powerful and dangerous storms which can strike swiftly and leave death and destruction in their paths. As with other types of natural disasters, survival can depend on preparedness. Knowing what to look for, being familiar with terms used to describe tornadoes, and having a plan should a tornado strike, will increase chances of survival.
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Tornado season will soon be upon us. In Ohio, the season runs roughly from April through July. That’s when most tornadoes occur, although they can form at almost any time of year. The state is situated in the far eastern portion of one of three major tornado alleys in the United States. Tornado alleys are areas of concentrated tornado activity. Various sources will define the alleys differently based on different criteria, and will include or exclude certain states based on their criteria.
There are, however, three general areas of tornado concentration in the United States. The major alley is in the southwest United States and includes Texas and Oklahoma. A smaller alley, the alley on which Ohio borders, takes in the north central region of the country. There is also a small alley in Florida. The formation of tornadoes is not limited to these areas, and some of the country’s largest and most destructive tornadoes have occurred outside the areas as defined by some sources. According to the Ohio Insurance Institute, there are an average of 16 confirmed tornadoes in the state each year.
Tornados are associated with thunderstorms of a certain type. These are called supercell storms, and can last up to three hours. The air in a supercell swirls because the leading edge of the storm has a strong updraft of air. Although there are other instances in which a tornado can form, they are almost always associated with a supercell storm.
“If you see a circular thunderstorm cloud going in a counterclockwise direction, you might have a tornado result from that,” explained Dr. Joyce Miller, Mount Vernon Nazarene University professor of chemistry who teaches a meteorology course. “Other signs are hail and a calm before the tornado comes. Tornadoes often occur at the back of a thunderstorm as it moves west to east, so there may be clear skies right behind the thunderstorm.”
When conditions are favorable for a tornado, watches and warning are declared for specific counties. By listening to the radio, local stations or weather bands, or watching the television when weather conditions change, residents can stay informed on what’s going on around them.
If a tornado watch has been issued for an area, it means a tornado is possible. A warning means there has been a tornado sighted and may be headed in your direction. Residents should immediately seek shelter — no matter where they are.
Although there is no foolproof way to know if a tornado is coming, any thunderstorm should be regarded as a dangerous situation.
“Anytime you’re near a thunderstorm, you’re in danger,” said Gary Garnet of the National Weather Service. “Whether it’s from lightning, wind damage or tornadoes, there are a lot of different threats.”
Prepare an emergency plan at home and practice it with your children. Also, be aware of emergency shelter plans at buildings and schools where much time is spent. The safest place to be during a tornado is underground.
“What is safe,” said Garnet, “is a substantial building. A basement is a safe place to be. If you don’t have a basement, go to the lowest level of the building you’re in. Find a centrally located area. Put as many walls between you and the outside as possible.”
Residents should avoid areas with large glass windows, large rooms and wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or shopping malls.
“A gymnasium or a large superstore is not the place to be,” said Miller. “This is because there is not a lot of inner strength in the walls.”
Anyone who is in a car during a tornado warning should stop and seek a suitable shelter.
“If you can’t get to a building, the best thing to do is to get to a low-lying ditch,” Miller said. “Cover your head with your hands and get as flat as possible.”
A car or any other motor vehicle, no matter how big, is not a safe shelter from a tornado. Do not seek shelter under highway overpasses and bridges. Weaker structures could be destroyed from the high winds and debris. It is safer to lie flat in a low area where winds and debris can blow above you.
“When you’re trapped outside, that’s not a good situation to be in, obviously,” Garnet said. “The No. 1 thing that kills people is flying debris. It’s not the winds that’s going to get you, it’s the debris.”
Never, under any circumstances, try to outrun a tornado in a car. It cannot be done. According to the NWS, tornadoes typically move anywhere from 25 to 45 miles per hour, although they can move much faster. The high winds surrounding a tornado can often be enough to lift and overturn a vehicle. Mobile homes are also extremely vulnerable to tornadoes. They are easily tipped over, even if steps have been taken to tie them down. They are much less sturdy than most buildings and severe injuries can result from flying debris if the homes are hit by a tornado.
The Federal Emergency Management Association offers the following simple tips for tornado safety:
•Pick a place where family members can gather. It could be a basement or, if there is no basement, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest floor.
•Be alert for changing weather conditions. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm.
•Listen to a NOAA weather radio broadcast or local television news.