Category: Tornado

The Tornado incident that occurred in Southern Ontario in 2009 is described as a sequence of various rigorous thunderstorms that led to a chain of many tornadoes leading to the South West regions of Ontario, the Greater part of Toronto and also Central Ontario. August 20^Th of 2009 led to the devastation of Ontario as it was the biggest tornado to ever last a single day. The tornado is also considered as the biggest to have ever hit Ontario in the history of Canadian tornados. There was a total touchdown of 19 tornadoes which accounts for much more than what the region would typically experience in a period of a year. Four of such tornadoes would typically result in at least an F2 damage range (Vaughan Weather).

The total number of rainstorms linked to this particular period is far more than the tornado that occurred in August of 2006. In addition to this, the hurricane caused the greatest harm that cost the province more than it had in the past. The effects of this tornado comprised one death. This situation is claimed to be a rare occurrence out of the many mild tornadoes that have occurred in the recent past (Vaughan Weather).

At one particular point, a total of more than 10 million inhabitants of Ontario were forcefully put either under warnings or tornado alerts. This included inhabitants of the city of Toronto who had to be warned of the storms that were rolling through the city. Consequently, the storm resulted in a need to review the warning systems and also the responses of tornadoes within Toronto and Ontario.

Weather conditions that may have led to the tornado

According to environment based societies in Canada, it was established that a tornado of magnitude F2 occurred, accompanied with winds of speeds ranging between 181 to 253 kilometres an hour strong. Moreover, it was observed that there was an average pathway that had the width of between 50 and one hundred metres bearing a track length almost 3.8 kilometres long (Vaughan Weather).

Storm Timeline

The afternoon of the occurrence of the tornado was marked by big spell of thunderstorms that developed above the Southeast region of Michigan towards the Southwest region of Ontario. At about 3pm, the rainstorm swiftly became stronger and an intense film formed around the southern region of Lake Huron initiating a storm that found its way into Ontario. Later on, the storm found its way into parts of Huron and the Grey County before proceeding to the Durham region.

Damages

At the first touchdown of the tornado at 14 kilometres down southwest of the urban settlement the rainstorm proceeded to grow to an intensity of F2 in grade. The tornado weakened and moved towards rural regions before striking the town of Markdale. In this town, fifty homes were damaged in addition to a number of trees. In total, the tornado covered a path that was 36 km long. The next tornado hit Thornbury, a town situated along the Georgian Bay shore. It then proceeded to the south, where it went through Blue Mountain and later to Clarksburg. The tornado finally moved out above the water. More cells intensely formed ahead as the storm moved eastward.

Role of Home Insurers

Just like the case of many segments in the financial system of Canada, the property and casualty insurance business is regulated both provincially and federally. Insurers who are federally integrated under property and victim insurance make up about 75% of the entire premium volume share (Coopers & Lybrand 9). The casualty and home industry is highly competitive in Canada and consists of about 230 companies that are largely foreign based. In addition, these firms employ a total of 100,000 people and more in Canada. These insurance companies ensure that homeowners have a starting point in the event a natural calamity takes place. In addition, these companies insure homes against other events that may put home owners at risk (Insurance Bureau of Canada 6).

Tyres Made of Rubber

Wheels have a metallic part that acts as a faraday cage allowing lightning to go through particular surfaces of the car. This occurs before getting to contact with the ground after jumping and surpassing the tires. This condition takes place after the lightning has passed the metallic wheels of the automobile. This makes automobiles a safer place to find safety in the event of a lightning. However, rubber tires do not have the capacity to protect one from lightning (Atlantic Lightning Protection).

References

Atlantic Lightning Protection. The flash of light that accompanies a high-tension natural electric discharge in the atmosphere. AtlanticLightning Protection (2010). Web.

Coopers and Lybrand. The Property/Casualty Insurance Industry, Paper Prepared for the Task Force on the Future of the Canadian Financial Services Sector, 1998, p. 9.

Insurance Bureau of Canada. Facts of the General Insurance Industry in Canada, 2002, p. 6

Vaughan Weather. AUGUST 20th 2009-WOODBRIDGE TORNADO. Vaughan Weather (2009). Web.

Caitria and Morgan O’Neill are two sisters who come from the city of Monson. Their hometown was hit by a tornado, and they felt the urge to offer their help to the townsfolk. They realized that when a disaster occurs more so naturally, there is only a limited period of time for help to be offered from global organizations, before other people need the same help too thus, it is very important for people to get themselves ready for recovery proceedings before disasters occur. According to the sisters’ experience they realized, that the availability of the right set of tools during a disaster, carrying out activities within the required timeframe and possessing the relevant data of the disaster would produce tremendous results in the recovery process. The availability of proper software tools in the time of a disaster helps keep in check the necessities, and the roles played by individuals during the service of the service. The tools also help in informing the public on the current happenings of the occurrences in the disaster area. The sisters had to rely on post ads, airing information to news vans, and even creating pages in social media platforms like Facebook. These however seemed inefficient as they could not actually value the disaster relevels from just photos and therefore they design a website tool with just two computers to assist in doing so. One of the sisters even indicated that ‘leveraging technology for faster recovery should be a no-brainer’.

The ability to carry out relevant activities within the proper time factor is essential in disaster recovery. The sisters indicated timing was important as in disaster moments; people have about seven days to accumulate about fifty percent of the aid required in order to rebuild the disaster-stricken community during the recovery period. Due to poor organization, communities do not utilize their time well in aid collection and end up with very few resources to sustain their recovery process. The sisters based their argument of web searches on ‘Donate Katrina,’ ‘Joplin’ and ‘Dallas tornado,’ and they all indicated spiked web activities in the first few days and then drastic drops. The ability to put together the right and required information and being able to relay it to the relevant people is very crucial during the activity of disaster recovery. It enables the recovery to be more goal-oriented. The sisters realized they needed to keep track of inventory and the scheme of work for the recovery pattern and would serve as proof to helping organizations on the intensity of work done. One of the sisters stated that ‘imagine the sinking feeling you get when you have sent two thousand volunteers, and you cannot prove it.’ With the recovery website, they could track inventory brought e.g., blankets and fresh water, ice and track the working of dispatched volunteers like the church group of fifty who required meals and housing as they did repairs.

Based on the presentation of the O’Neill sisters, it is more than likely that my community is not well prepared for disaster recovery at their discussed level. The best way to help my community would be to embrace technology in disaster recovery e.g., Monson Tornado in 60 seconds website and train the local community how they could use these platforms in situations of recovery after a disaster and with thus my community will have the chance to recover from any national disaster.

Tornadoes are a world-renowned and violent weather phenomenon. Affecting countries worldwide, devastating economies and leaving paths of destruction thereafter. This meteorological wonder is said to occur more than 2000 times annually across the planet, with the highest volume of tornadoes being recorded in the United States They`re a monumental force of nature due to their sheer size and power. Most tornadoes evolve whilst enclosed in a supercell thunderstorm, whilst others begin by progressing onwards from a polar front. Generally, these atmospheric phenomena can be described as a violently circulating, slim column that evolves out from a supercell thunderstorm. Furthermore, as they pick up materials, such as droplets, dust, and debris, tornadoes become much more visible as condensation begins to form inside the column. Furthermore, the structure in particularly unstable weather settings, as is a fundamental foundation to create violent tempests. Which, In order for a tornado to materialize, a number of conditions need to be for-filled, such as the correct unsettled weather conditions, vertical wind shear, and an abundance of humid air. Then this results in a vicious spinning air mass also referred to as a vortex, which structures beneath a tempest cloud. This slim cloud that has formed usually stretches out from the vortex due to the available pressure, which has decreased during the formation. From here, as the air column continues to expand and mature when it touches the ground, becomes a defined tornado. The size and power of this particular weather event fluctuate incredibly. This is because, ordinarily, they span anywhere between 20 meters to 100 meters across and acquire a path of around 1.6km. Wind velocity associated with this event also reaches up to 100mph Moreover, the revolving updraft, which creates the tilting motion in the tornado, is situated inside the mesocyclone of the supercell tempests.

Tornadoes occur all around the globe, and even small intensity types have been observed within. However, North America seems to be a hot spot for intense tornado activity. This is because it’s said that this particular continent sees over 1000 tornadoes annually out of the 2000 total that is observed worldwide. The most vicious and violent tornadoes are unlikely to be observed anywhere else apart from the US, Bangladesh, and Canada Moreover, the most famous area known for its high frequency and large intensity tornadoes, is Tornado Alley, located in the central United States. Therefore, this region is especially prone to brutal reoccurrences, as well as the epicenter of tornado activity is irrefutably observed within the Western segments of the Great Plains. This region, referred to as Tornado Alley, has the greatest occurrences of tornadoes seen anywhere across the globe. This area spans out from Texas upwards and moves East to the Western and focal points of Oklahoma and Kansas, as well as Nebraska. Although, the state with the highest recorded volume of Tornadoes is Texas, annually observing an average of around 125 tornadoes, from the years 1953 – 1991. During the spring and summer seasons, humid air originating from the Gulf Of Mexico meets cooler air from Canada within the parameters of Tornado Alley and this promotes the development of strong tempests (supercells). However, this is only the case if the current circumstances also allow for the formation of tornadoes Additionally, there is a paramount characteristic that separates supercell thunderstorms from more regular types of thunderstorms. For example, a supercell thunderstorm possesses a mesocyclone which is defined as a constantly rotating updraft that extends far below

Furthermore, measuring between 2 miles and 10 miles, known as an air vortex, is also contained inside of a convective tempest, whilst air circulates and ascents upwards about a vertical axis, moving along low-pressure lines. These special types of tornadoes (mesocyclones) are said to form as a result of dramatic variations in direction and wind speed. This is also known as wind shear, which in turn causes lower segments of the atmosphere to rotate in columns ). Additionally, whilst all after-effects of a tornado are devastating, they can be separated into two categories: primary and secondary effects. For example, primary effects refer to damage that has occurred to the physical environment (such as property), loss of life as well as damage to resources which also leads to damage to assets. Alternatively, secondary effects can mean the loss of jobs as a result of company buildings being destroyed for example, or loss of production and sales, as well as a decline in tourists which will lead to less disposable income being deposited into the local economy. All of these can result in to increased taxes and therefore a larger strain on the economy Due to the relentless and spontaneous nature of tornadoes, a watch for tornadoes only occurs when the weather settings are agreeable for the formation of tornadoes. However, tornadoes are able to form in an instant and dissipate just as quickly in a few minutes, unlike hurricanes which can evolve for several days

Although there are certain limitations on tornado prediction, as mentioned prior, this element of the unknown surrounding this meteorological phenomenon has sparked curiosity to investigate more into differing prediction models. Papers were written by Hamill Et. al (2005) and Gensini Et. al (2019) propose the idea that specific conditions are required to be present so that there is a higher probability for a tornado flare-up. These papers utilize information gathered from various events globally and are dependent upon separate variables, such as weather events like El Niño, wind shear, and the movement of air which has traveled upwards from the Gulf of Mexico. This information can assist us in anticipating the presence of a tornado. Furthermore, specifically referring to Hamill`s paper, centers around a prolonged episode of tornado reoccurrences, which took place in May 2003 and affected focal and Eastern regions of the United States. This defined flare-up of tornado activity impacted the community largely: through loss of life and damage to estates and livelihoods. This particular period observed 334 tornadoes within a week-long span.

When considering this meteorological phenomenon, an array of physics can be associated with the different mechanisms within a tornado. However, one of the most fundamental physical forces at work here is the Coriolis force. Essentially, this describes the bending effect observed in the Earth`s rotation, acting on objects which are in motion, which encompasses both atmospheric circulation patterns and the oceanographic system. This only exemplifies the large size of this force as it is able to influence two of the largest systems on our planet. Although, the Coriolis Force only possesses the ability to affect large-scale weather (such as supercell thunderstorms). The location where the system originated, either in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, plays a large role in the development of this event. Primarily, the velocity of spinning at the Earth`s equator, is much faster than when at the poles and this is a result of the extended size of the Earth at the equator compared to that of the poles, and this also promotes the evolution of cyclones, as well as tornadoes as an effect of the Coriolis Force. The force of Coriolis can be found by using the following equation: f= 2 X the rate of rotation of the Earth X Sine of the latitude at a natural coordinate. F is described as the Coriolis parameter whereby when in the Northern hemisphere, this value is positive. However, when in the Southern hemisphere this value will be negative. Predominately, most tornadoes act cyclonically. Thus tornadoes situated on the North side of the equator should pivot in an anti-clockwise motion as air flows to low pressure down from high pressure within this region. In turn, tornadoes will be absorbed from differing directions to then be deflected. This causes a resultant anticlockwise motion. Alternatively, when in the Southern half of the globe, the opposite is true as currents here are deflected to the left, meaning a clockwise motion should be observed. Therefore, using this information, we are able to draw the conclusion that the United States should experience anti-clockwise spiraling tornadoes. Although, if they are small in size, then the Coriolis force may have little effect on the system. The only way the system will be influenced would be due to supercell thunderstorms developing within a disrupted climate, which tends the updraft to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction.

In a constantly evolving and dynamic world, climate change is arguably the largest global player when considering weather patterns, as climate change also enhances the current conditions. This is therefore causing resultant prolonged and more intense weather, such as droughts and heavier precipitation. However, weather events such as tornadoes, are more challenging to anticipate what effect climate change will have on them. This is down to the small life span and size of tornadoes also. Nonetheless, other variables which allow for the evolution of supercell thunderstorms (unsettled conditions, moist air, and wind shear) can provide scientists with enough information to predict the forthcoming effects on tornadoes. Taking this into account, the intensity of tornadoes appears to be unchanged, however, the multitude on certain days has surged compared with recent years. These differing factors affecting tornadoes, as mentioned before, may all be influenced separately by the change in climate and can be observed in the Great Plains. That tornadoes appear to be forming in greater groups than before and traveling more Eastwards, whilst the average number of tornadoes of around 1200, overall remains consistent. Furthermore, a predicted upsurge of moisture in the air will allow for more likelihood of greater updrafts, thus meaning that the probability of extreme tempests will also increase by the end of this century

The predicted effects of climate change, are outlined in the IPCC report. It is said that there is a high probability when considering convective severe storms, that the mean rate of rain associated will surge in a warming climate. As well as, a medium level of certainty that there will be an escalation in the number of severe convective storms in the United States, thus resulting in a prolonged severe storm period. Moreover, there has been an observed fall in the number of days in the United States which have experienced tornadoes, however, there is a higher multitude of tornadoes on the days on which they do occur. Unfortunately, due to the nature of tornadoes, there is a level of low confidence associated with predicting changes in tornado trends, due to inadequacies in examining this particular weather event, as they are very short-lived. There are contrasting models which are used to predict the effects and changes of convective severe storms. One of which requires a model which is allowing of convection, encompassing less than 5km spacing. This model type estimates more extensive areas, like whole land masses to predict more powerful convective tempests. In addition to that model, another vital method is the utilization of looking at the circumstances of the environment which govern the qualities required for the development of severe storms. However, in saying this, it is still challenging to predict serious convective storms in this manner. Finally, numerical weather prediction is primarily used in day-to-day forecasting up to 10 days into the future so thus there is a much larger grasp on the current conditions and how they are likely to change as it`s not far into the future. Whereas, climate models are fundamentally an expansion of usual weather prediction, but predict the conditions years into the future.

Ultimately, the Great Plains region in the United States is an epicenter for a high volume of tornado activity. It is in the perfect location for supercells to form and thus is able to provide favorable conditions for them to evolve. This area sees the highest number and intensity of tornadoes in the world and this is not likely to change, as exemplified by the climate model predictions. As although the overall number of tornadoes has remained constant, the frequency of tornadoes a day has increased as well as the power they possess. This is a result of a warmer climate which has affected each ingredient that creates a tornado, to be more susceptible in allowing them to take shape.

A tornado is a destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath the base of a thunderstorm connecting to the ground. It is made up of water, dust, and debris. A tornado is the most violent of all atmospheric storms. Tornado storms occur when dry cold moving air meets with warm moist moving air. When these drafts meet they create columns of air. When these drafts meet and create columns of air they can get caught in what is called a supercell updraft. This causes the columns of air to tighten there spin and speed up the drafts and rotation of the funnel. This creates a funnel cloud. Because the funnel cloud is formed at the base of a strong storm there is rain and hail pushing the funnel cloud downwards eventually causing the funnel cloud to touchdown creating a tornado. Once a tornado touches down it can cause catastrophic damage. Not only to people but to the environment as well. The winds of a tornado can reach up to 300 mph. When winds become that strong they are strong enough to rip homes apart and pick up automobiles off the ground. Also winds this fast can take debris that you normally wouldn’t worry about and turn them into destructive and deadly missiles. Tornados can also dig up dirt making trenches up to three feet deep. This destroys animals homes, trees, crops (if caught in the way of the tornado), and can even kill the animals. Not to mention if a human was caught in a tornado it could rip the skin from your body or pick you up within the tornado.

Over the years tornadoes have had a devastating impact on human lives and families. The worst tornado in United States history was the Tri-state tornado of March 18, 1925. It traveled 219 miles across parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people. The deadliest tornado in world history was the Daulatpur–Saturia tornado in Bangladesh on April 26, 1989, which killed approximately 1,300 people. Tornados are not something to joke about. Many people have dedicated their lives to finding information on tornados for how to prepare for them better or search for warning signs or even the path that the tornado may take. These people are called meteorologists. Meteorologists are people that study tornadoes by observing current sky conditions, only if the right atmospheric conditions are currently available. Also by using Doppler Radar or NexRad, to identify Supercells within clusters of storms. Not only are their people who use their lives to make sure people in the future are safer and the people now are as safe as we know how to be, there are people who have died, families who have lost everything, and communities that have been totally uprooted and blown apart. Although it is very hard to tell where a tornado will hit and exactly where it will hit, there are ways to prepare for this disaster.

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information. Be alert to changing weather conditions. Look for danger signs such as a dark greenish looking sky, wall clouds or an approaching cloud of debris, large hail often in the absence of rain, and right before a tornado strikes the wind may die down and the air may become very still. Once you notice these things this is what you should do. Find a room, hallway, or stairwell away from the outside of the building and stay there. Stay underneath a sturdy piece of furniture and protect the back of your head and neck and stay crouched as in a bug position of turtle position. On your knees, face down, and crouched down. Stay away from all windows and be sure to keep the windows you do have closed so that high winds don’t through debris through them.

In order to start to recover from a tornado it starts with preparing before it happens. It would be smart to have a safe room somewhere in your house or very close to your house. It would be good to have canned food and bottled water in your safe area and a safe with things you can’t live without. Recovering from a tornado is a community and sometimes country wide effort. Depending on the destruction and scale of the destruction you will need help. Reach out to family for help, groups that can help replant trees and plants, and people who can volunteer to help rebuild houses. People will be there to help because however prepared you are for a tornado there will still be damage if you are hit.

Introduction

The weather is a strange thing. One day it can be cold and rainy; the next day, it’s perfectly warm and sunny for sandals and bikinis on the beach. Humans have managed to develop products that enable them to handle many kinds of weather. For example, when it rains, an umbrella comes along way. When it’s overly hot, a sunscreen takes care of their skin. When snow piles up, a snow shovel comes in handy. However, certain locations experience extreme weather such as huge thunderstorms, snow storms or hurricanes that humans have been unable to deal with for a long time. However, there is one kind of destructive storm out there that scientists have developed special interest in. It’s called a tornado.

Tornadoes are violent, fast spinning columns of air that are in contact with both the earth’s surface and the thunderstorm clouds high up in the sky. Tornadoes are the most disastrous catastrophes within human lifetimes. They are extremely violent that in a short duration, the number of properties destroyed and casualties can be extraordinary. In fact, according to statistics, 1,300 tornadoes occur each year in the United States alone.

These tornadoes kill 60 people on average and most from falling and flying debris. The costliest tornado, the Topeka, Kan., that occurred on June 8, 1966, is estimated to have cost approximately $1,680,136,978 in today’s money. These statistics highlight the importance of awareness about tornadoes and how to detect early warning signs to minimize this carnage.

Causes of Tornadoes

Tornadoes form inside really huge thunderstorms and not just any kind of thunderstorm, but powerful towering thunderstorms known as Supercells. Rising air is the first ingredient required for a tornado to develop. When cold, dry air moving from one direction collides with warm wet air coming from a separate direction, a tornado develops. Since the cold air is denser than the warm air, the cold air glides down under pushing the warm air pretty fast.

The combination of air speeding up and down can develop a spiraling thunderstorm, and this can go on to form a tornado. When a tornado forms, it becomes one of the most potent forces in nature devastating everything in its path. In fact, tornadoes are considered the most powerful forces in the world. Even powerful than hurricanes.

Since tornadoes form pretty quick without warning, they can be hard to predict. Also, if thunderstorms happen in areas where temperatures at the ground are relatively warmer than those in the air, the storms can be powerful enough to result in more than one tornado.

Although it’s relatively hard to predict tornadoes, humans have developed technologies that can detect their possibility to occur. A typical example is the Doppler radar system that is able to determine when and where a tornado is about to happen. Doppler radar systems are designed to detect wind shear or divergences in wind speed and direction. The radar system will hook a location where winds are blowing at supersonic speeds in different directions. This fast movement of winds can unfold fast to form the rotation required to suck up cold air and warm air into the tops layers of the thunderstorm, developing the needed energy to convert the spinning into a mesocyclone, leading to a tornado.

Tornadoes, like any natural disaster such as landslides, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes or hurricanes culminate to severe devastation to property, infrastructure and lead to numerous deaths. We, humans, tend to only look at the negative impacts, which is understandable since the negative impacts far outweigh the positives. So, we just conclude that no natural force does positively impact humanity. However, many tornadoes occur without causing any destruction to humans. Here is an outline of the positive and negative impacts of tornadoes.

Effects of Tornadoes

Negative Impacts of Tornadoes

Injuries and Loss of life

The violent nature of tornadoes can cause severe injuries and lead to loss of life. Statistically, tornadoes cause 1,500 injuries each year. Averagely, 80 deaths as a result of devastating tornadoes are recorded each year. These figures point to the fact that tornadoes are life-threatening phenomenon that must be treated as a national disaster. Although tornadoes are still costing lives, scientists are working hard to develop powerful technologies that include detection and warning systems to residents to enable them to vacate before they strike.

Economic loss

Tornadoes can cause serious damage to a country’s economy. In 2011, deadly tornadoes in the U.S. cost the economy about $23 billion in damages. A tornado is so strong that it can destroy the whole house in seconds rendering the family homeless and in financial limbo. Other economic impacts of tornadoes include skyrocketing of insurance premiums after payouts, which can send the already devastated family into an economic meltdown.

Environmental contamination

A strong tornado can destroy pipelines; break chemical containers, which can lead to contamination of groundwater with oil, raw sewage, dioxides, asbestos and other toxic pollutants. Other wastes like medical wastes, industrial wastes, and household chemicals can be disbursed widely leading to environmental contamination. Strong thunderstorms on numerous occasions generate flooding rains and when added to tornadoes, can lead to long-term hazards to Mother Nature, for instance, enhanced risk of transmission of diseases via contaminated water and soils.

Destruction of vegetation

Tornadoes are strong enough to uproot trees and other vegetation on their path. In fact, one strong tornado that occurred on May 25, 2011, in CBS Sacramento, uprooted about 25, 000 almond trees. Farmers in the area reported that it would take more than 5 years to regrow the trees and become profitable again. In 1953, one strong tornado caused damages to crops worth about $4.3 billion.

Impacts on ecosystem

When a tornado uproots trees, sunlight penetrates the forest sections that were once covered, hence, affecting animal habitats. Tornadoes can also destroy the whole habitat, killing and displacing huge numbers of animals. A powerful tornado is also capable of damaging healthy soil by carrying away the top soil, which is essential for nourishing crops and other plants.

Psychological impacts

According to research finding by American Psychological Association, tornadoes can lead to long-term mental problems. Some people that have experienced tornadoes firsthand, exhibit strong emotional responses, which can be abnormal or normal. Natural disasters are capable of triggering traumatic recollections where the victim relives the phenomenon, experiences grave anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and enhanced fear of loss and death.

Positive Impacts of Tornadoes

Benefit to local animal and species

A tornado is capable of knocking down berries from trees, and these are great sources of food for most animals and poultry. Animals and poultry get the chance to get additional sources of nutrients for their well being.

Skill level improvement for contractors and workers

When a tornado sweeps down a neighborhood, contractors and workers develop better roofing techniques that are resistant to tornadoes. This greatly improves their skill levels.

Benefit of pollination

Tornadoes contribute to massive pollination of flowers, which would never be achieved by bees and animals alone. Pollination encourages rapid reproduction of local plant species.

Could help restore worrying communities

A tornado is a unifying factor. Local community feuds can be ironed out when a tornado sweeps the area. People will unite to rebuild property and infrastructure.

Clears out old vegetation

Tornadoes rupture virtually everything it their path including vegetation. This means that old vegetation would be blown away enabling new vegetation to spring up.

Conclusion

The United States experiences more tornadoes than any country in the world. More than 800 tornadoes occur each year. The central government has moved in to minimize the grave impacts by issuing watches and warnings for tornadoes. Watches are meant to increase public awareness of potential severe weather threat. Radio stations have also been created to give people real-time updates on the possibility of tornadoes. With strong technologies being developed, humans might just get around tornadoes in future.

When I was a child my mother and father always told me to grateful for the people in my life and the things I have because you never know when it can be taken away from you. I will never forget that humbling experience that taught me the importance of family and how precious life itself truly is. Every day is a new day no matter the situation I learned to never give up on myself.

It was such a normal day yet a pivotal time in my life. I was 17 years old at the time and I took so much in my life for granted. I had everything I could possibly ask for, more than enough yet I still was not content with my life. Little did I know I was about to have a ground shaking experience that would teach me a valuable lesson in humility. I remember being so tired after clocking out at work I had come home and passed out on top of a pile of clothes on my bed while listening to the tapping of raindrops falling against my window. There had been high-speed winds on and off and light rain on this warm day in March but I didn’t pay much attention to this stormy weather on this particular day. My family and I were oblivious to the catastrophes that were soon to take place.

Subsequently my father burst into my room waking me and telling me to come downstairs. I figured it was about 11:30 at the time and maybe we would be watching a movie together since my mom and little brother were waiting in the living room. At this point the storm had picked up exponentially and the winds blew constant slinging hail against the walls of my house. As I sit down and we turn the TV on the power and the whole house goes out. Suddenly I hear a thunderous roar shaking the ground and swaying the whole house. Me and my entire family were fighting because this had been the Most chaotic Storm we had all experienced. Suddenly I can hear the glass windows on the second story of my house begin to break as the hail from the storm Shatter the windows of our home.

At this point we can all tell that its tornado has not only touchdown but was directly next to our house as we heard winds that sounded similar to a massive plane engine right outside of our house. At this point we are all in the fetal position hiding behind the couch And I remember hearing my mother tell my father to pray because we are feared that we would lose our life and this powerful storm. After about 30 seconds the tornado has seemed to vanish but it still wasn’t safe to go outside so I and my family ran into the closest bathroom and I’ll try to stay safe.

The aftermath of this tornado left people homeless and left my neighborhood any disastrous state for an entire year. Our home had to be completely rebuilt and remodeled because the storm completely removes the roof of our home and we lost almost everything. Dungaree building stages of our home we had to stay in multiple hotels, but none of us were heartbroken or sad because there were no casualties. This taught us those material things even such as a car or a home come and go.

In the end I learned how blessed I truly was and that home is where your heart and your family lies. Every day is a new day and new opportunity to make yourself better and in this situation I learned to never take my life for granted or if I lose everything, I still have myself and my love ones around me.

Natural hazard refers to catastrophic events or phenomenon of atmospheric, geological, and hydrological origins that can cause fatalities, property damage, social environmental disruption and can indirectly cause social grievances and resource scarcities. These includes earthquake, tornadoes, Volcanic eruption, tsunamis, floods, typhoons and thunderstorms, hurricanes epidemics etc. It usually occurs randomly i. e. is probabilistic and its output is usually given considering both direct and indirect effects it causes.

A tornadoes are violent columns of rotating air with a speed of more than 200miles per hour that extend from thunderstorms to ground bound to happen anywhere and anytime with huge energies that can destroy structures, flip vehicles and create deadly flying debris resulting to a devastating effects on the physical and human geography as witnessed in Oklahoma in 1999. This hazard formation occurs in the sequence: Super cells or large thunderstorm occurs in a cumulonimbus cloud. A change in wind direction and wind speed at high altitudes causes the air to swirl horizontally. The rising air from the ground pushes up on the swirling air and tips it over forming a funnel of swirling air which begins to suck up more warm air from the ground which later grows longer and stretches toward the ground to inform of very strong wind which is referred as tornado. It’s bound to occur anywhere and anytime but more prevalent in temperate zone and in afternoons when thunderstorms are more prevalent.

The Oklahoma was worse hit by Tornado disaster in 6:23pm (Central daylight time), 3, May 1999. This tornado registered F-5 strength on Fujista Tornado scale occurring for close to 1 hour and38 minutes stretching 38 miles path from Chickasha through south Oklahoma City and the suburbs of Bridge Creek, Newcastle, Moore, Midwest City and Del City. Having started as low range tornado this disaster later intensified spreading to other areas mainly affecting counties of Texas with Oklahoma. At first meteorologist had observed that atmosphere was unstable and wind changes relied by special weather balloon indicated high possibility of tornado development which lead declaration of the possibility as high risk by Storm prediction center (SPC) by 4pm (Central daylight Time) on May 3. This lead to widespread awareness creation through television, Direct telephone calls, sirens, AM/FM radio and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio which showed that the civil society was aware though many feared that evacuation could lead to more devastating effects due to short timing while other escaped via various modes such as vehicles to safer areas. However timely warming for preparedness and special programs should recognize that long tornado warning lead times and street-level television coverage to allow residents to make informed decisions to reduce risk by possibly sheltering or moving away from the tornado path.

The first storms hit North West Texas and South West of Oklahoma before spreading North East of to Oklahoma City and Tusla. 15 minute later from time of warning a quarter sized hail hit Lawton having some warning of severe thunderstorms from Comanche county. At 4:47 pm, the first Tornado Warning of the day was issued for Comanche and Grady with first warning being issued from meteorological station e office in Norman suggesting possibility of Oklahoma metro area being hit by F5 tornado that would produced 14 tornadoes over a 3. 5 hours’ time frame with 5 of them being either strong of violent; rated F2 or higher and would first strike Amber. Striking the Amber area, it moved to the far northern portion of Newcastle, through southern sections of Oklahoma city, into the northern portions of Moore and then through Oklahoma again before moving on to Del City and Midwest City. The National Weather Service Office in Norman issued a Tornado Emergency – the first warning of its kind. Meteorologists wanted to make sure that it was something different than what people were used to with a large and violent tornado on the ground headed to a largely populated area.

This resulted to 36 fatalities a direct after match counts, 800 injuries with 8000 home destroyed or damaged and property worth $1 billion was estimated to have been destroyed. Owing to other losses and indirect effects of tornado other 4 fatalities were reported with estimated damage tolling to $1. 5 billion. The estimated damages ranged from destruction of private homes, schools and churches while no noticeable effects on physical geography except for authenticity loss due to degradation as a result of destruction and debris from building and bridges.

Following this disaster, Federal Emergency and Management Agency (FEMA) and local Oklahoma government launched a program to encourage construction of safe rooms. These included combination of private homes and public facilities that were design, tested and approved as safe point for helter against tornados. An estimated cost of $57 million have so far been used by the state government and FEMA to construct 11, 386 private safe rooms and 382 public facilities in bid to fight tame more causalities during these disasters. A more crack down on inspection of substandard homestead followed as it was believed that technical and engineering flaws might have contributed to widespread destruction which would cost over $ 1. 5 billion to reconstruct

1999 Oklahoma tornado disaster can be seen as one of the most deadliest natural hazard in history of tornados in USA resulting widespread mortality and morbidity rate. However, the meteorological data and weatherman had issued several warning with most people making it to secure ground while other opting to seek refuge in there homestead. Most direct fatalities resulted injuries by debris while indirect fatalities resulted to heart attacks and severe injuries during the incident. However, lot of emergency and tornado impact reduction measures have been put in place such like safe house construction and building inspections by both state and federal government in bid to curb causalities resulting from tornadoes.

In the 21st century the world has been taken aback by the yearly natural and manmade disasters that have occurred everywhere. No matter how prepared we believe are there is always area of improvement or an area of learning after each and every disaster. Specifically some areas even in the United States aren’t as up to date on technology that could prevent or curtail some of the damage or losses from these disasters. Perhaps they don’t see enough issues to warrant the upgrade, or perhaps isn’t a budget issue for the city or county. I personally am from an area in Dayton called Clayton that don’t have tornado sirens, until I moved to the City of Kettering, in 2001, I had no idea of tornado sirens, and was taken aback the first Monday of the month that Kettering tests theirs. Most cities North of Dayton are without this type of warning technology, because until the last 10-15 years we didn’t see this type of activity in the area. All the Wizard of Oz tornado stories belonged to a town just about 20 mins outside of Dayton called Xenia.

The City of Xenia Ohio has had its share of trauma and devastation when it comes to tornadoes. When severe weather hits in the area Xenia Ohio is not the area to be in or around. Xenia has a long history of severe weather. The Shawnee Indians referred to the area as the “Place of the devil wind” or “the land of the crazy winds”. The worst tornado to the area was April 3, 1974 an F5 category tornado. The Tornado touched down around 4:40pm just outside of downtown Xenia. It continued on a path of 32 miles through Xenia and Wilberforce. The Xenia Tornado killed 32 people from Xenia to Wilberforce. About 1400 of the buildings in the city of 27,000 were damaged and 300 homes destroyed, nine Xenia churches were destroyed, as were nine of the twelve schools in the city. Fortunately, this occurred an hour after classes had been dismissed. The roof and windows were blown from the Greene County Courthouse. A train passing through Xenia was struck by the tornado and 7 of the 47 cars were blown over, resulting in the blockage of Main Street. Over 1200 people were treated for injuries at Green Memorial Hospital. In 1974 Xenia had no tornado warning sirens, so there only alerts were the television and the radio at the time. The 1974 Xenia Tornado was part of an outbreak that contained 148 tornadoes in 13 states, the 1974 Xenia tornado was one of the largest ever recorded at about 1,000 yards wide, with wind speeds of 318 mph.

Xenia was again struck by another tornado in April 25th, 1989; this tornado was listed as an F2. While this event caused over 2 million in damages for the City of Xenia, thankfully no one was killed. Maybe the instillation of tornado sirens that were purchased after the 1974 tornado outbreak assisted in the fact there were no fatalities in the 1989.

September 20, 2000 Xenia strikes again this time with and F4 category tornado. While this storm hit at dusk around 7:15pm rather than in the day it weirdly took almost the exact same path as the storm in 1974. For the residence of Xenia and surrounding areas this was a scary reminder of 26 years past when the city was turned upside down. For others like myself that had never experienced this type of event it was eye opening and scary. I wish I could say that we learned a lot from the 1974 tornado in order to prevent devastation in the 2000 tornado, but same path and just as much devastation. Tornados aren’t like floods and earthquakes though. With Flooding dams and walls can be built, to prevent earthquake damage California has implemented building structures and materials that that sway and move with the flow of the movements. With tornados it doesn’t matter how strong you build a building it can be flattened by the destruction of the tornados. In the 2000 tornado the damaged area was mainly business area now, when the area was restructured after 1974 they didn’t return the homes to the area. Unlike the previous disaster there was only one fatality from the storm, and a little over 100 injuries. One is still too many, while the City of Xenia did install tornado sirens after the 1974 tornado that worked for the 1989 storm there was an issue during the September 2000 storm. During the Tornado not having a backup power supply silenced the warning system, after which the city purchased a new system that has a battery backup in case of power failure issues. In 2000 the outpouring of assistance and help from the local community was outstanding. Any one that could respond to assist people, clear debris, and help restore the city to what feels like normal did. Myself at the time I was 18 years old and lived 40 mins away from the area. I had friends from the area and assisted them with housing due to damage that was done to their house that made it inhabitable at the time. The city of Xenia and surrounding areas once again came together in order to restore itself. Neighbors helping neighbors in order to restore one another, and for the greater good for the time being.

You would think that after knowing and seeing the destruction and devastation that the City of Xenia has and attracts that most would steer clear especially when any time of severe weather is in the area. I’m not a fast learning or a scared person, I’ve been through two hurricanes and not thought twice about it, and I put my life on the line for a living every day. On May 23, 2017 I decided to go shopping in Xenia none the less our two stops were the Rural King and the Tractor Supply. The Rural king now sits in the area where both the 1974, and the 2000 tornadoes destroyed the building that was there before. While my daughter and I were shopping in the Rural King a severe thunderstorm popped up so we finished shopping and left the build to stop at the tractor supply on the way home 3 miles away. However on the way there were reports of funnel clouds in the area so we hurried to tractor supply and tucked into a back room to take shelter. The news reported touchdown between the three mile area between the two stores that we were at that day. While this incident didn’t amount to the tornadoes in 1979, and 2000 its one of the closest incidents I’ve ever had in regards to a tornado. Maybe it mattered more that my daughter was there and it was more than just me, or perhaps the history with Xenia bothered me.

There are disasters in every part of the county this is just a little piece of what is going on in my little corner of the world. Compared to the fires every year out west, and in California, the hurricanes every year in the south that hit the Florida area and southern states, and the flooding that I’ve heard about in the New Jersey area we seem small time. At no point does that discount what the citizen of Xenia have gone through, but in hindsight I would say we are lucky in many aspects that we aren’t dealing and rebuilding our lives year after year for the same devastations.

Frequent tornadoes are typical climate features in North America that happen in different regions including Canada, the East Coast and the Florida Peninsula. Special sirens are installed to warn citizens about the emergence of a tornado, and houses are supplied with lower-level safe spaces; however, these means are not sufficient to keep people entirely from harm. The consequences of tornadoes are inevitable, and many different organizations help people overcome difficulties caused by such disasters. AmeriCares is one such organization that provides all kinds of help and assistance before, during and after a tornado strikes, and AmeriCares can supplement governmental aid to tornado victims.

AmeriCares is a nonprofit international humanitarian organization located in Connecticut that supports long-term health programs and provides assistance in emergencies. Robert Macauley founded the organization in 1982 under the basic premise of collecting tax-exempt donations of medical instruments, materials, and drugs from individuals, U.S. corporations, and foundations (AmeriCares, n.d.). Having established close relations with more than one thousand large pharmaceutical and medical companies, AmeriCares now cooperates with various global companies and takes in donations in the form of medicines, diagnostic and medical equipment and tools, as well as food and food supplements (Simmons & Adachi, 2012). AmeriCares stores information about the goods transactions to ensure efficient and transparent distribution of all donations. The company stores materials intended for victims of natural disasters, such as tornadoes, in a separate warehouse in Connecticut, where they are easily accessible. After a tornado descends, materials are sent immediately to the disaster locations. The company privately organizes transportation and then distributes materials and medication, free of charge.

After a tornado event, the company utilizes its emergency response program, which enables efficient responses to all calls for help. After receiving notification about a disaster, AmeriCares activates an information network, collecting information about the extent of the event and begins to prepare the necessary transportation of materials to the disaster area, at the same time preparing their disaster nursing forces (Loke & Fung, 2014). Apart from medical provisions, AmeriCares sends the team to the area for the medication distribution. The team collects information about needs for nursing support, clarifies the number of injured, and figures out the quantity of nursing staff needed to complete any necessary rescue operation (Spain, Clements & DeRanieri, 2012; Adams & Berry, 2012). In catastrophic events, the health care system should work to its full efficiency, but often the number of nurse practitioners is not enough to aid all the injured, in which case AmeriCares provides on-the-spot nursing support. Nurses help manage the current situation, administer first aid, and help rescue and relocate survivors.

AmeriCares meets all governmental requirements in terms of nursing; the organization enables the staff to receive necessary certification and licensing to provide health care services. The nursing and surgical teams, as well as people responsible for medication distribution, are among the first on site in the disaster zone, where they deliver everything needed for assistance or resuscitation of victims. Apart from that, the organizations supply families with emergency kits, which enable people to prepare for upcoming tornadoes (W. A. Afifi, T.D. Afifi & Merrill, 2014). The overall goal of the company is to provide essential aid through medication, personnel, and disaster planning. AmeriCares is the multifunctional company that bears full responsibility for its staff and provisions, thus providing high-quality aid during and after tornadoes.

Tornados cause many deaths and injuries every year. “On average, tornados cause 70 deaths and 1,500 injuries in the United States every year.” (Rudolph 19). The deadliest tornado in United States history is the Tri-state tornado of 1925. The tornado struck before modern technology was available to record the actual strength of the tornado, but it is accepted that the tornado would have been recorded as an F5 if it were to happen now (Hyde). The Tri-State tornado started in southern Missouri and headed toward Illinois. The tornado had a diameter larger than a mile and was on the ground for over 3 hours and killed 695 people (History.com). The average speed of the tornado was around 63 mph(Hyde). All these factors combined made this tornado the deadliest one in history.

The weather surrounding the tornado is also interesting. Gorham, Illinois was completely destroyed by the tornado, but their weather was very unusual for a tornado to come through. They recalled the morning as being dark from cloud cover, rainy, and little wind. Normally tornados come after a partly sunny and windy morning and then turns into storms later in the afternoon(Hyde). Robert Maddox and colleagues made a plan and looked at the weather that happened on that day to see how the tornado could form when its deadliest place had unfavorable conditions. How the tornado was made is because it ran along a triple point. When a warm front, occluded, and cold front meet in a low pressure system a tornado can be made easily (Hyde). The tornado was unexpected, but costly and deadly.

The amount of damages caused by the Tri-State tornado were around $17 million (History.com). The amount of time and the area covered by the Tri-State tornado is truly devastating. It was so powerful and delivered such damage. Time has finally hidden the traces of the tornado, but it can be hard to realize there is the potential for so much damage. The amount of damage is more than what we have had in recent history. The tornado in Joplin, MO was hard for so many to comprehend. People believed it was the worst tornado yet, but it pailed in comparison. the Joplin Tornado stayed pretty well confined to one area and it did not last anywhere near 3 hours. To realize the devastation there was mild in comparison to another makes one hope we never see one like that again.