Tornado Are NOTHING to Take Lightly

Now what in the world would make me want to blog about a tornado.... especially in January? That's easy. I noticed on Twitter yesterday that many in Southern California had Tornado Warnings and most fell into two camps. Either they were unsure what to do or did not take it seriously. Both are equally dangerous and could prove to be deadly. One perfect example is this from Twitter: "PS instead of worrying about a simple "tornado" warning, we should worry about a damn earthquake.. Hot and sudden cold weather =earthquake!" Obviously (and I speak as kindly as I can), this person has NO idea what a tornado is capable of doing.

Below are two examles of how powerful a tornado can be and how quick it can hit.
A. Plainfield, Illinois (August, 1990), located about 30 miles west of Chicago, Illinois (1).


B. August, 2008. 5 CONFIRMED tornadoes in the Chicagoland area (1 in Northwest Indiana). Deep Red shows where the tornado warnings were issued and the tornado watches are in orange/gold. Count how many fronts came through and you will see that this is not something to play with.(2)



c. Cubs-Astros game on this day. You'll see how fast the final wave of this story hit, with winds confirmed over 90 mph (in the city of Chicago). Watch how fast this things hit. Notice the two "fans" who decide it would be a good idea to


Shorter, but just as powerful tape of the same night. Wrigley evacuation, 8/4/08.


What do you need to be concerned about if your hear a tornado watch (the conditions are right for a tornado to form). A tornado warning means a tornado or funnel cloud has been seen. Warning signs include a rapid shift in temperature (a drop of 10 degrees or more within 30 to 60 minutes), large dark grey or green clouds, hail and rain are the main symptoms. If you hear a noise that sound like a train (and you know a train station isn't close by) take cover. That is the sound of a tornado that has touched down.

A rehash of yesterday's weather alerts from Orange County. Do not be like the man who appears at the 2:45 minute point of this video.


So what do you do in the event of a tornado? Here are some simple steps to consider.
a. TAKE IMMEDIATE COVER. If you have a basement at your home, that's the place to go. Otherwise remain on the first floor and away from all windows. Stay out of all open areas. Make sure that you have a radio or flashlight at the minimum (both would be preferred). You man not want to worry about food but may not hurt to take a snack with you. At least it might calm you down. So don't take the "tornado warning..... nah it won't happen approach" because it can and happen very quickly. The National Weather Service takes doesn't issue tornado warnings because they have nothing better to do.

b. No basement, no problem. Go to a smaller room (such as a bathroom or a closet). If you live in an area where tornadoes are more a norm than exception, consider building a safe room somewhere on your property. If you can get under something heavy such as a heavy desk, that will also help you. Debris can possible fly through the walls so you may not want to get too close to them.

c. If you are outside and can't find shelter, find a low lying piece of land such as a ditch. Avoid bodies of water such as a river or lake due to a possibility of flooding. Mobile home owners need to get away immediately and follow the prior examples given. Avoid being in a heavily wooded area because the trees are not strong enough to hold you (as you will see below).


d. If you are in your car, get out and find some shelter. A tornado of any real strength can throw your car like a rag doll. Trying to outrun a tornado is equally dangerour because it can change directions with no warning. DO NOT park under an underpass because it can act more like a wind tunnel and the winds may become stronger there.

Works Cited:
1. "The History Channel" via YouTube.
2. Legend813a Channel, YouTube.