Tornado Folklore

By: Rocky Lopes

There is this thing called "folklore," which by definition can include legends, oral history, and popular beliefs. Folklore creeps into some of our thinking about severe weather, and may be something you have heard or have passed on to children. Let me share some "Tornado Folklore" that many of us have heard:

Photo from NOAA's Severe Storms Lab in Norman, OK

Folklore: Tornadoes only happen in "tornado alley" -- roughly defined as states in the Midwest from Texas to Minnesota.

Truths: While many strong tornadoes happen in the Midwest, they can -- and have -- happened in every state.

In many years, more people have died as a result of tornadoes that happen east of the Mississippi River than west of the river. Why? People who live west of the Mississippi River are more accustomed to having tornadoes, and have learned what to do, when to get to shelter, and how to be safe since they were a child.

Folklore: Tornadoes never hit cities.

Truths: Since the majority of land area in the U.S. is unpopulated, it appears as if tornadoes only strike rural areas.  The relative amount of area of a city with tall buildings is small compared with the city as a whole.

Unfortunately, we learned from many past events and as recently as May, 2013, that this belief isn't true. Just ask residents of Nashville, TN; Houston and Dallas, TX; Tuscaloosa, AL; Joplin, MO; or Moore, OK.

Folklore: You need to open windows in your house to equalize air pressure before a tornado may strike, to prevent the house from exploding.

Truths: Even with windows closed, houses have enough openings to vent the pressure difference in the time it takes a tornado to pass.  Some of the strongest thunderstorms have longer duration of low air pressure -- houses do not explode during those storms, so they won't during a tornado.  Opening windows is a dangerous and useless waste of time, and could actually be harmful to the house.

Folklore: Get into the southwest corner of your basement in case of a tornado.

Truths: Being underground is definitely safer than being above ground, but no particular corner of a basement is safer than any other.  Tornadoes can come from any direction. While it may appear that tornadoes in the Midwest always move from southwest toward to northeast, that is not always true. In fact, the EF5 Tornado that hit Oklahoma in May, 2013, traveled almost due west to east.

Folklore: Tornadoes do not cross bodies of water.

Truth: Tornadoes cross rivers regularly. The stream of tornadoes that occurred on April 27, 2011, crossed many rivers in 17 states.

Folklore: Once the tornado has passed, you can go out to inspect for damage.

Truths: Some strong storms can produce more than one tornado, sometimes several tornadoes at a time. On April 27, 2011, 362 tornadoes happened from two long lines of storms, creating the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

Folklore: Our area doesn't have sirens, so we will not get notified in case of a tornado.

Truths: We are fortunate in Montgomery County to have many ways to get warnings in case of tornadoes or other emergencies.

Coming soon this year, FEMA's Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system sends notifications to WEA-enabled mobile devices at no charge. Using GPS technology, these notifications appear on mobile devices in areas under warning for a tornado or other life-threatening emergency.  Get more information about Wireless Emergency Alerts here.

You should also sign up for Alert Montgomery.  This system will send alert messages to any device you specify: cell and smart phones, email accounts, PDAs, and pagers. It's free, and you can adjust settings on it to receive alerts for life safety, fire, severe weather, accidents involving utilities or roadways, and crime.

NOAA Weather Radio will sound an alert for severe weather and other emergencies that are issued for Montgomery County. Once you set it, it will provide a tone alert with a radio announcement describing what is happening and what to do. You can buy one of these radios from electronics stores.

Providers of cable television service in Montgomery County, e.g., Comcast and FiOS, will broadcast notices from the Emergency Alert System (EAS) when issued by local authorities. EAS notices are broadcast on all channels simultaneously.

Be sure to "Like" the Facebook page for theMontgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Department, and MontgomeryCounty Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

And follow MCFRS on Twitter.

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Rocky Lopes is an emergency management professional and has published numerous articles and information on disaster safety for some 25 years. He works at the National Weather Service Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and has lived in Montgomery County his entire life.

It’s National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

Bet you did not know that National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is this week, April 22 to April 28. 

I am positive most of you have seen, read, or heard about several very significant severe weather situations that have devastated various parts of the US over the last couple of weeks.  While there was some very tragic, and mostly unavoidable, loss of life during a few of these storms, we also know many more were saved due to the fact they PREPARED for the emergency before it happened.  They knew what to do and how to do it!

We know that severe weather CAN happen here.  Please take a moment to go here, Severe Weather , to learn more.  Also, please watch the below video from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

Tornado Folklore

I am re-posting this article from last May as it is really relevant after yesterdays big storm out break in the Dallas, Texas area.  Please take a moment to read this one below, and the post of yesterday, and take a minute to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared for this type of emergency.

Stay Safe,
Bill D.

By: Rocky Lopes

There is this thing called "folklore," which by definition can include legends, oral history, and popular beliefs. Folklore creeps into some of our thinking about severe weather, and may be something you have heard or have passed on to children. Let me share some "Tornado Folklore" that many of us have heard:

Folklore: Tornadoes only happen in "tornado alley" -- roughly defined as states in the Midwest from Texas to Minnesota.

Truths: While many strong tornadoes happen in the Midwest, they can -- and have -- happened in every state. 

In many years, more people have died as a result of tornadoes that happen east of the Mississippi River than west of the river. Why? People who live west of the Mississippi River are more accustomed to having tornadoes, and have learned what to do, when to get to shelter, and how to be safe since they were a child. 

Folklore: Tornadoes never hit cities.

Truths: Since the majority of land area in the U.S. is unpopulated, it appears as if tornadoes only strike rural areas.  The relative amount of area of a city with tall buildings is small compared with the city as a whole.

Unfortunately, we learned in April and May, 2011, that this belief isn't true. Just ask residents of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Joplin, Missouri.

Folklore: You need to open windows in your house to equalize air pressure before a tornado may strike, to prevent the house from exploding.

Truths: Even with windows closed, houses have enough openings to vent the pressure difference in the time it takes a tornado to pass.  Some of the strongest thunderstorms have longer duration of low air pressure -- houses do not explode during those storms, so they won't during a tornado.  Opening windows is a dangerous and useless waste of time, and could actually be harmful to the house.

Folklore: Get into the southwest corner of your basement in case of a tornado.

Truths: Being underground is definitely safer than being above ground, but no particular corner of a basement is safer than any other.  Tornadoes can come from any direction. While it may appear that tornadoes in the Midwest always move from southwest toward to northeast, that is not always true. In fact, recent tornadoes in 2011 came from all directions

Folklore: Tornadoes do not cross bodies of water

Truth: Tornadoes cross rivers regularly. The stream of tornadoes that occurred on April 27, 2011, crossed many rivers in 17 states.

Folklore: Once the tornado has passed, you can go out to inspect for damage.

Truths: Some strong storms can produce more than one tornado, sometimes several tornadoes at a time. On April 27, 2011, 362 tornadoes happened from two long lines of storms, creating the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

Folklore: Our area doesn't have sirens, so we will not get notified in case of a tornado.

Truths: We are fortunate in Montgomery County to have many ways to get warnings in case of tornadoes or other emergencies.  

Sign up for Alert Montgomery. This system will send alert messages to any device you specify: cell and smart phones, email accounts, PDAs, and pagers. It's free, and you can adjust settings on it to receive alerts for life safety, fire, severe weather, accidents involving utilities or roadways, and crime.

NOAA Weather Radio will sound an alert for severe weather and other emergencies that are issued for Montgomery County. Once you set it, it will provide a tone alert with a radio announcement describing what is happening and what to do. You can buy one of these radios from electronics stores.

Providers of cable television service in Montgomery County, e.g., Comcast and FiOS, will broadcast notices from the Emergency Alert System (EAS) when issued by the county. EAS notices are broadcast on all channels simultaneously. 

Be sure to "Like" the Facebook page for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Department, and Montgomery County Department of Homeland Security. 

And follow MCFRS on Twitter.

-------------------------------------------

Rocky Lopes is an emergency management professional and has published numerous articles and information on disaster safety for some 25 years. He works at the National Weather Service Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and has lived in Montgomery County his entire life.

Tornado Preparation

With the severe storm events occurring in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area, I thought it might be a good time to remind everyone about what to do before and during a tornado.  As we have seen the past couple of years, they can occur here in the County.

Bill D.

Tornado's

Tornado's can strike with little or no warning. It’s important to plan ahead so you know what to do when a tornado is sighted.

Remember:

• A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area
• A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted. Take shelter immediately.

Before the tornado:

• Determine the best place in your home to take shelter during a tornado. Basements or spaces underground are the best spots.
• If you don’t have a basement, find an interior room on the lowest floor of your home.
• In a high-rise building, choose an interior space on the lowest floor possible.
• Ensure your family knows what to do in the event of a tornado watch or warning.

Tip: CERT training prepares you to help your family and your community before, during, and after an emergency. Learn more about CERT and other training opportunities here.

When a tornado is spotted:

• Seek shelter immediately
• Stay away from windows and doors
• If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, evacuate to a building that provides better protection
• If a building is not available, lie flat in a low-lying area (such as a ditch). Do not go under a bridge or underpass.

Remember to listen to the radio and sign up for Alert Montgomery to stay informed and receive further instructions in the event of an emergency.
From Montgomery County Emergency Management Page.

Tornado Folklore

By: Rocky Lopes

There is this thing called "folklore," which by definition can include legends, oral history, and popular beliefs. Folklore creeps into some of our thinking about severe weather, and may be something you have heard or have passed on to children. Let me share some "Tornado Folklore" that many of us have heard:

Folklore: Tornadoes only happen in "tornado alley" -- roughly defined as states in the Midwest from Texas to Minnesota.

Truths: While many strong tornadoes happen in the Midwest, they can -- and have -- happened in every state.

In many years, more people have died as a result of tornadoes that happen east of the Mississippi River than west of the river. Why? People who live west of the Mississippi River are more accustomed to having tornadoes, and have learned what to do, when to get to shelter, and how to be safe since they were a child.

Folklore: Tornadoes never hit cities.

Truths: Since the majority of land area in the U.S. is unpopulated, it appears as if tornadoes only strike rural areas.  The relative amount of area of a city with tall buildings is small compared with the city as a whole.

Unfortunately, we learned in April and May, 2011, that this belief isn't true. Just ask residents of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Joplin, Missouri.

Folklore: You need to open windows in your house to equalize air pressure before a tornado may strike, to prevent the house from exploding.

Truths: Even with windows closed, houses have enough openings to vent the pressure difference in the time it takes a tornado to pass.  Some of the strongest thunderstorms have longer duration of low air pressure -- houses do not explode during those storms, so they won't during a tornado.  Opening windows is a dangerous and useless waste of time, and could actually be harmful to the house.

Folklore: Get into the southwest corner of your basement in case of a tornado.

Truths: Being underground is definitely safer than being above ground, but no particular corner of a basement is safer than any other.  Tornadoes can come from any direction. While it may appear that tornadoes in the Midwest always move from southwest toward to northeast, that is not always true. In fact, recent tornadoes in 2011 came from all directions

Folklore: Tornadoes do not cross bodies of water

Truth: Tornadoes cross rivers regularly. The stream of tornadoes that occurred on April 27, 2011, crossed many rivers in 17 states.

Folklore: Once the tornado has passed, you can go out to inspect for damage.

Truths: Some strong storms can produce more than one tornado, sometimes several tornadoes at a time. On April 27, 2011, 362 tornadoes happened from two long lines of storms, creating the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

Folklore: Our area doesn't have sirens, so we will not get notified in case of a tornado.

Truths: We are fortunate in Montgomery County to have many ways to get warnings in case of tornadoes or other emergencies. 

Sign up for Alert Montgomery. This system will send alert messages to any device you specify: cell and smart phones, email accounts, PDAs, and pagers. It's free, and you can adjust settings on it to receive alerts for life safety, fire, severe weather, accidents involving utilities or roadways, and crime.

NOAA Weather Radio will sound an alert for severe weather and other emergencies that are issued for Montgomery County. Once you set it, it will provide a tone alert with a radio announcement describing what is happening and what to do. You can buy one of these radios from electronics stores.

Providers of cable television service in Montgomery County, e.g., Comcast and FiOS, will broadcast notices from the Emergency Alert System (EAS) when issued by the county. EAS notices are broadcast on all channels simultaneously.

Be sure to "Like" the Facebook page for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Department, and Montgomery County Department of Homeland Security.

And follow MCFRS on Twitter.

-------------------------------------------

Rocky Lopes is an emergency management professional and has published numerous articles and information on disaster safety for some 25 years. He works at the National Weather Service Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and has lived in Montgomery County his entire life.

Severe Storms

With the tragic events in Joplin, MO yesterday and our forecast for today, I thought it a good time to provide all of you some safety tips as well as a resource for now and in the future.

When a tornado warning is issued for your area:

• Seek shelter in a windowless interior room in the lowest level of the house. Go to the basement, if you have one. Stay away from windows.

• If you are caught in the open during a tornado, stay low and go to a drainage ditch or other low point on the ground. 

• If you are in your vehicle during a tornado, get out of the vehicle and go to a drainage ditch or other low point on the ground.  Do not try to outrun a tornado.

To prepare for a severe weather event, please go here: Severe Storms

A great resource from Weather.com: Severe Weather: Track the Storms

As always, be safe and be prepared!

Emergency Preparedness Information

I wanted to pass along to all of you some safety information as it relates to some of this severe weather we have been experiencing over the last 24 hours and into today.  Please take a moment to review the below.  Be prepared!

 

When a tornado warning is issued for your area:

• Seek shelter in a windowless interior room in the lowest level of the house. Go to the basement, if you have one. Stay away from windows.

• If you are caught in the open during a tornado, stay low and seek a drainage ditch or other low point on the ground. Culverts under streets and highways may offer effective shelter.

• If you are in your vehicle during a tornado, get out of the vehicle and seek shelter in drainage ditches or culverts. Do not try to outrun a tornado.

Power Out?  Use battery powered flashlights/lights and NOT Candles!

More Emergency Preparedness Information can be found HERE.

Be safe out there today!

Bill

Storm Photo

An impressive photo taken from Lewisdale and Prices Distillery by A/C Scott Goldstein, Special Operations Chief, MCFRS.  Everyone please monitor the weather and stay in tune with local news.  It is going to be a stormy day!