With all of the recent tornadoes in the United States, it's important to remember that every state is at risk of experiencing a tornado. According to FEMA, tornadoes are nature's most violent storms and as we have all seen in the news, they can be devastating. We would like to share a few important facts from FEMA that may be especially helpful for people who aren't familiar with the threat of tornadoes.
• Tornadoes are spawned from powerful thunderstorms
• Winds associated with tornadoes can reach up to 300MPH
• Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still
• Tornadoes may strike very quickly and give very little or no warning that they are coming
• Sometimes tornadoes will appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel
• The average tornado moves from the Southwest to the Northeast
• Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months
• Peak tornado season in the Southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between the hours of 3pm and 9pm
23 comments
Karyn R. Sellers
Just had a slew of them around and about us. Got most of our damage from straight line winds which blew down huge oak trees, hundreds of years old. Those winds are nearly as dangerous as the tornados themselves. Tennessee doesn't have basements because of the water table. I think I am going to have to seriously consider having a shelter built.
tiredmedic
On the subject of shelters. I have seen an ad for an above ground shelter that can be moved. May be just the thing for renters.
Jennie
Lynda,
I lived in OK for many years, and I noticed that a lot of older homes don't have any underground storage. In tornado alley, that's a recipe for disaster.
There are a couple of things you can do though to better your survival situation.
1) a community shelter. If you can find a suitable underground or re-enforced shelter in your neighborhood, ask about leaving your BoB's locked in that shelter.
2) Dig a hole. Dig a big enough hole that you can drop something like a rubbermaid or a couple of ammo cans full of supplies in it. Make sure everything is sealed up tight against moisture and bugs.
Either of these options can leave you with enough food and water to survive even if your house is gone.
Hope that helps.
Lynda Salings
If anyone has any good ideas for how to keep one's preparedness kit from blowing away with the house, I would love to hear it. We are unfortunate in that we are in a house on a slab, with no basement or storm shelter. We rent, so there is no way to add those safety improvements. How can we keep our emergency kits from landing 70 miles away from where we need them, if we survive a direct hit? After Joplin, I don't think there is much of anything that can be done if an EF5 slams into your life. :-(
Tami
Tornadoes come without much warning – being prepared is the only thing we can do. I live in Alabama and have witnessed the destruction and aftermath of the 200+ tornadoes that came through our state in April. Thank you for the information.
udollsbabygirl
I am sending this information to family we have that live in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri! Thanks for all the information you post to keep us all prepared and safe no matter what comes our way :D
udollsbabygirl
Forwarding this information to my family who live in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas! Thanks for the information and helping to keep us all prepared and safe :D
Anonymous
Didn't know that there was a certain time tornado's are likely to occur. That's good to know.
Mariesa M.
Thanks for the info. Good to have the facts!
Anonymous
I grew up with tornadoes. Still remember "tornado drills" at school, and my parents making sure I knew procedures at home. First real memory I have of dealing with one was when I was 12 and babysitting my three young cousins and my brother who was two. When the sky went green and the cloud started to drop and rotate, I overturned the couch and had the younger ones "play house" underneath, draping bedspreads over the couch. The house only lost some shingles, but we lost trees and fences when the funnel came within 100 feet of the house. I shudder to think what could have happened. My thoughts are with all those who've lost homes and family this year.
Darlene
Thanks for the post. I'm only about 45 miles from where the tornado touched down in GA a couple of weeks ago. And the week before THAT, I was only 16 miles from a cluster of them. Scary thing, tornadoes.
One of the things I have that I've found helpful is a weather radio. It runs on either an adapter or batteries and lets me program in which counties I want to receive alerts for. Some days it's driven me NUTS going off all day and night. But then when I get a notice that there's a tornado on the ground, I know to take cover. AND I can let my daughter know so that she can get the baby and herself into the closet. Otherwise, she'd have no way of knowing what's going on. The day of the largest tornado that touched down in Ringgold, I sent her to the closet 4 times, as she had 4 of them headed straight at her. Thankfully, they all turned before getting to her.
The radio only cost $30.
Barb King of Prairie Harvest Arts
Thanks for the information—We have had tornadoes in the are but it is rare—always good to be prepared.
Anonymous
Didn't know about the time frame for tornadoes. With tornado season going strong… this is good information to know!
talktome
There have been many more tornadoes already this year than in an average year. Please get prepared, and be ready for any emergency. Prepare your pets as well. In Joplin there was a gymnasium set up just for pets as they were found or brought to the shelter. And have a safe meeting place outside of your neighborhood to find your family or loved ones. Stay safe!
Beth
Thanks for this important information. I hope everyone takes time to read it. We always think it will happen to someone else—last month "someone else" was my cousin, whose home was destroyed in Iowa. We've even had tornadoes here in Oregon, and our family has a plan.
Jill
I didn't know that there was a most likely time zone for tornados! Growing up in OK, we had a lot of them since it's called TORNADO ALLEY!
hillbillygal
Our area has been hit with tornadoes this year for the first time in a long time. Most folks don't have basements anymore so it's really scary to have no where to really go and get safe. Several mobile homes were thrown off their foundations and we had 2 people lose their life in mobile homes during the tornadoes.
Sissa
Thanks for the info. I definitely needed a refresher as we had one touch down just a couple miles away this week!
DUSTIN AND LAUREN
Very interesting…thanks for the info!
Cecily
I'm in Southern California, and while tornados aren't nearly as likely here, they possibility of having one scare the bejezzers out of me. Thanks for the info!
Anonymous
My relatives in Missouri just experienced the recent tornado.Being well prepared for emergencies like that,they're able to manage day to day life, without too much difficulty.
The McEwans
Showing my mom this post, they live in Arkansas. I think they are thinking of building a shelter after this tornado season.
Brandi
Thank you for this information! I live in southeast Texas, and we occasionally have tornado warnings. Having the facts and an emergency plan in place helps to alleviate the fear somewhat.