Tragedy Strikes the South

Are you prepared for a severe weather emergency?

The powerful tornados that tore through Mississippi and Alabama this week brought nature's destructive power once again into tragic focus. The massive funnel clouds can rip pavement from roadways, smash homes and businesses, and shatter lives all in the matter of moments.

Sadly, more than 250 people died in the storms that hit the South, but the death toll might easily have been much higher were it not for the area's sophisticated early warning system and the preparedness of local government agencies, community organizations and individuals.

The National Weather Service began warning of potential severe storms several days in advance of Wednesday's tornados and issued a rare "high risk" warning hours in advance of their arrival. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration similarly warned of "super tornados" a half hour before they appeared. Widely disseminated on television, radio and other media, these warnings gave many people time to seek safe shelter.

Given the devastating power of these storms, it may seem surprising to note that the National Weather Service once imposed a virtual ban on the use of the word "tornado" in weather forecasts. In the days before the invention of Doppler weather radar, tornados were nearly impossible to predict and the Weather Service feared talk of funnel clouds would cause a general panic. As a result, when the giant Tri-State Tornado swept through parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in 1925, nearly 700 were killed in part because it arrived without warning.

People who live in tornado-prone areas of the country need to remain alert for severe weather warnings, but they also need to maintain a high level of personal preparedness. It is essential for people to know what to do before, during and after a tornado arrives, and to be familiar with their community's emergency preparedness resources and procedures. It is also important for people to be prepared to deal with the immediate and extended aftermath of a storm by maintaining adequate emergency supplies. That includes a survival kit with food, water, medical supplies and other essentials sufficient for at least 72 hours.

More information on how to prepare for tornados and other emergency situations is available on the More Prepared website.