News

Take precautions when it comes to tornadoes while in ND

By Scott Wagar

05/28/2013

With the tornado incident in Moore, Okla., this past week, it is an eye opener in what individuals should do to protect themselves from tornadoes when they strike a community.

Although North Dakota isn’t a Tornado Alley like it is in Moore, North Dakota is known for some devastating tornadoes like the one in Antler in 1911 and the 1957 tornado in Fargo, both of which are examples of F5 tornadoes and caused tremendous damage and lost of lives in these areas.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) brochure, tornadoes on an average cause 60 to 65 fatalities each year along with 1,500 injuries; cause winds up to 200 miles per hour and be one mile wide and travel on the ground for over 50 miles.

“Weak tornadoes are 88 percent of all tornadoes, less than five percent of tornado deaths, can last up to 10 plus minutes and produce winds less than 110 mph,” stated the NOAA. “Strong tornadoes are 11 percent of all tornadoes, nearly 30 percent of all tornado deaths, may last 20 minutes or longer and produce winds from 11 to 165 mph.

“Violent tornadoes are less than one percent of all tornadoes, 70 percent of all tornado deaths, can exceed one hour and have winds greater than 166 mph,” added the NOAA.

The NOAA also said there are five myths about tornadoes:

Fiction: Lakes, rivers and mountains protect areas from tornadoes.

Fact: No geographic location is safe from tornadoes.

Fiction: A tornado causes buildings to explode as the tornado passes overhead.

Fact: Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause the most structural damages.

Fiction: Open windows before a tornado approaches to equalize pressure and minimize damage.

Fact: Virtually all buildings leak. Leave the windows closed. Take shelter immediately. An underground shelter, basement or safe room are the safest places. If none of those options are available, go to a windowless interior room or hallway.

Fiction: Highway overpasses provide safe shelter from tornadoes.

Fact: The area under a highway overpass is very dangerous in a tornado. If you are in a vehicle, you should immediately seek shelter in a sturdy building. As a last resort, you can either: stay in the car with a seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible, or, if you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

Fiction: It is safe to take shelter in the bathroom, hallway or closet of a mobile home.

Fact: Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon your mobile home to seek shelter in a sturdy building immediately. If you live in a mobile home, ensure you have a plan in place that identifies the closest sturdy buildings.

When it comes to safety, NOAA encourages individuals to get a NOAA Weather Radio.

“The National Weather Service continuously broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts and non-weather related hazard information on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards,” the NOAA stated.

The NOAA also stated that individuals should have a detailed emergency plan and emergency supply kit during bad weather like tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightening, hail, straight-line winds and floods or flash floods. Safety and preparedness materials can be viewed and downloaded from the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/safety.php; Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.ready.gov and the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.
Individuals, who want more information, can go the National Weather Service’s website at www.weather.gov or they can download the NOAA brochure at www.nws.noaa.gov/om/severeweather/resources/ttl6-10.pdf .