From R. Hill: How unusual is it for us to have so many tornadoes this early in the year?
While we more closely associate severe weather and tornadoes with spring, they can occur any month of the year when the conditions are right.
For us, most tornadoes occur in April, May, and early June, but there have been tornadoes in every month. When I do my weather safety talks, many are surprised to hear that it is not tornadoes or even hurricanes that cause the most fatalities during natural hazards. Floods and lightning kill more often.
On average, the United States is hit by about 1,000 tornadoes per year. Because of improved weather warnings and people taking action, annually we average about 60 fatalities per year. However, with the events in the past two weeks we will likely be well above that this year.
In the January issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, an article stated the May 3, 1999 outbreak would have been much more deadly had most of the tornadoes not been over rural areas. Researchers took radar data from that terrible day and placed the storms over more densely populated areas like Chicago.
They concluded that the damage and loss of life would have been
”on a scale that has not been observed historically.”
However, I contend that it does not really matter if you live in a large city or a rural community. Destruction and loss of life in any location is a tragedy. We need to do a better job of planning how to take action before the tornado warnings are issued.
If you live in the country, a small town, or a bedroom community outside of a city, make sure you and your family are ready. Please sit down with your family and make sure you have a plan of action. Gather up the items you will need such as a flashlight, blanket, weather radio, maps to follow the coverage, snacks, toys, bicycle helmets for the kids, and anything else you may need. Put this “safety kit” together and store it in your safe place.
Then hold practice drills to make sure everyone knows what to do and where to go.
Your children and grand children may be home alone, so calmly talk to them about why taking cover is so very important.
Do not wait until the calendar says it is spring.
Severe weather is now a year round concern. Spend an hour today with the family at the kitchen table discussing what to do when storms arrive. It will lower the stress level during the next tornado warning, and it may just save your life.
