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Tornado Myths, Study notes of Climatology

When the National Weather Service issues a TORNADO WATCH: This means tornadoes are pos- sible in your area. Watch the sky and listen to your ra- dio or T.V.

Typology: Study notes

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Severe
Weather
Safety
Guide
Tornadoes
TornadoesTornadoes
Tornadoes
A reference guide from your
National Weather Service
Paducah, Kentucky
ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE:
Tornadoes are classified according to the
intensity of DAMAGE they cause to objects.
EF0 65-85 MPH LIGHT
EF1 86-109 MPH MODERATE
EF2 110-137 MPH CONSIDERABLE
EF3 138-167 MPH SEVERE
EF4 168-199 MPH DEVASTATING
EF5 200-234 MPH INCREDIBLE
Check out the National Weather Service
Paducah website for the latest information at
weather.gov/paducah
Call for the latest forecast from the National
Weather Service’s Weather Information Now
number:
Paducah, KY: 270-744-6331
Evansville, IN: 812-425-5549
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
8250 Kentucky Highway 3520
West Paducah, KY 42086
270-744-6440
Tornado Myths:
MYTH: Areas near rivers, lakes, mountains, and even
cities are safe from tornadoes. No place is safe from
tornadoes. They can cross rivers, travel up mountains, roar
through valleys and hit major metropolitan areas. The great
Tri-State tornado of 1925, the deadliest tornado ever
recorded, crossed both the Mississippi and Wabash Rivers.
MYTH: Open windows in your house to equalize pressure.
Do not do this! Your house will not "explode" due to a
tornado passing over it, and taking time to open windows
reduces your ability to seek safe shelter in time. Plus,
opening windows allows damaging winds to enter the
structure.
MYTH: Get to (or away from) the southwest corner of the
building for safety. The safest place in a building is in a
small, reinforced room (bathroom or closet) near the center
of the building, on the lowest floor (preferably below
ground). Safer yet, of course, is a shelter specifically
designed for tornado safety.
MYTH: Mobile homes attract tornadoes. This myth
probably came from the tendency of tornadoes to demolish
mobile homes while leaving nearby structures only slightly
damaged. Mobile homes can be severely damaged even by
weak tornadoes. If the mobile home is not tied down, it is
even vulnerable to 50 mph winds.
MYTH: Low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to
"explode" as the tornado passes overhead. Violent winds
and debris slamming into buildings cause most structural
damage.
MYTH: If you are caught out in the open, you should seek
shelter under highway overpasses. Seeking shelter under an
overpass puts you at greater risk of being killed or seriously
injured by flying debris from the powerful tornadic winds.
Airborne debris is blown into and channeled under the
overpass. Debris of varying sizes and types moving at
incredible speeds can easily penetrate clothing and skin
causing serious injuries and possibly death. A person could
be blown out or carried away from the overpass by the fierce
tornado winds. People positioned at the top of the overpass
encounter even higher wind speeds and more missile-like
debris.
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SevereWeatherSafetyGuide

TornadoesTornadoesTornadoesTornadoes^ A reference guide from your^ National Weather Service

Paducah, Kentucky

ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE:

Tornadoes are classified according to theintensity of DAMAGE they cause to objects.

EF

65-85 MPH

LIGHT

EF

86-109 MPH

MODERATE

EF

110-137 MPH

CONSIDERABLE

EF

138-167 MPH

SEVERE

EF

168-199 MPH

DEVASTATING

EF

200-234 MPH

INCREDIBLE

Check out the National Weather ServicePaducah website for the latest information at

weather.gov/paducah

Call for the latest forecast from the NationalWeather Service’s Weather Information Now

number:

Paducah, KY: 270-744-6331Evansville, IN: 812-425-

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

National Weather Service8250 Kentucky Highway 3520West Paducah, KY 42086

Tornado Myths:

MYTH:

Areas near rivers, lakes, mountains, and even cities are safe from tornadoes

.^ No place is safe from

tornadoes. They can cross rivers, travel up mountains, roarthrough valleys and hit major metropolitan areas. The greatTri-State tornado of 1925, the deadliest tornado everrecorded, crossed both the Mississippi and Wabash Rivers. MYTH:

Open windows in your house to equalize pressure. Do not do this! Your house will not "explode" due to atornado passing over it, and taking time to open windowsreduces your ability to seek safe shelter in time. Plus,opening windows allows damaging winds to enter thestructure. MYTH:

Get to (or away from) the southwest corner of the building for safety.

The safest place in a building is in a

small, reinforced room (bathroom or closet) near the centerof the building, on the lowest floor (preferably belowground). Safer yet, of course, is a shelter specificallydesigned for tornado safety. MYTH:

Mobile homes attract tornadoes.

This myth

probably came from the tendency of tornadoes to demolishmobile homes while leaving nearby structures only slightlydamaged. Mobile homes can be severely damaged even byweak tornadoes. If the mobile home is not tied down, it iseven vulnerable to 50 mph winds. MYTH:

Low pressure with a tornado causes buildings to "explode" as the tornado passes overhead.

Violent winds

and debris slamming into buildings cause most structuraldamage. MYTH:

If you are caught out in the open, you should seek shelter under highway overpasses.

Seeking shelter under an

overpass puts you at greater risk of being killed or seriouslyinjured by flying debris from the powerful tornadic winds.Airborne debris is blown into and channeled under theoverpass. Debris of varying sizes and types moving atincredible speeds can easily penetrate clothing and skincausing serious injuries and possibly death. A person couldbe blown out or carried away from the overpass by the fiercetornado winds. People positioned at the top of the overpassencounter even higher wind speeds and more missile-likedebris.

Tornado Warning forGraves County in KYuntil 900 PM CDT.

What is a tornado? A violently rotating column of airpendant from a thunderstorm and incontact with the ground.

When the National Weather Service issues aTORNADO WATCH

: This means tornadoes are

pos-

sible in your area. Watch the sky and listen to your ra-dio or T.V. for updates.

TORNADOWATCHUNTIL7PM

When the National Weather Service issues a

TOR-

NADO WARNING

: This means a tornado has been detected on

the Doppler Radar or someone has

reported a tornado. Take

immediate action—Take cover. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reportednationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and 1500 injuries.Tornadoes can happen any time of the year and any timeof the day. However, in the southern states, peak tornadooccurrence is March through May, while peak months inthe northern states are during late spring and summer.Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 300pm and900pm, but can occur at any time of the day.

Tornado Safety Tips

Remember it is flying debris from tornadoes that

causes the most injuries and fatalities.

-^

Go to a basement and get under the stairway or under aheavy piece of furniture. If there is no basement, go to asmall interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet,bathroom or hallway. Put as many walls as possiblebetween you and the outside.

-^

Stay away from windows and glass and cover your head!Cover your body with thick blankets, pillows, mattresses,sleeping bags, couch cushions, etc.

-^

Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above(pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, chimneys etc.) and donot go under them. They may fall down through aweakened floor and crush you.

-^

At school, go to your designated location...or to aninterior hallway on the lowest floor and cover your head!

-^

Avoid locations with high ceilings or wide-span roofs,such as gymnasiums, shopping malls, cafeterias,churches and auditoriums.

-^

Abandon mobile homes and go to the lowest floor of asturdy nearby building or a storm shelter.

-^

If caught outside or in a vehicle, go to the lowest floor ofa sturdy nearby building or as a last resort, lie flat in aditch or depression and cover your head.

-^

Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. Leave itimmediately for safe shelter.

-^

Do not take shelter under highway overpasses or bridges.

-^

In a pinch, put a metal trash can over your body. It willkeep some flying debris from injuring you.

Take cover underground

What you can do BEFORE the storm:

-^

One of the most important things you can do toprevent being injured or killed in a tornado is tobe alert to the possibility of severe weather.Most deaths and injuries happen to people whoare unaware and uninformed.

-^

Develop a plan for you and your family forhome, work, school and when outdoors. Knowwhere your designated shelter is locatedBEFORE the storm season begins.

-^

Have frequent drills.

-^

Know the county in which you live, and keep ahighway map nearby to follow storm movementfrom weather bulletins.

-^

Have a NOAA Weather Radio with a warningalarm tone and battery back-up to receivewarnings. Listen to radio and television forinformation.

-^

If planning a trip outdoors, listen to the latestforecasts and take necessary action ifthreatening weather is possible.

-^

If you shop frequently at certain stores, learnlocations of bathrooms, storage rooms or otherinterior shelter areas away from windows, andthe shortest ways to get there.

-^

Put together an emergency storm kit including abattery powered radio, extra money, flashlight,batteries, bottled water, essential medicines,extra clothes, canned food, blankets and simplefirst aid items in a waterproof container.

-^

Have a pre-determined place to meet after adisaster.