Yesterday, at least six were killed in a Tornado that ripped through North Texas in Granbury. According to officials seven others are currently listed as missing. The tornado struck Wednesday evening, with the National Weather Service claiming that 10 others developed around the Fort Worth area. This devastating act of nature reminds us just how powerful Tornado’s can be. “Homes were flattened, had roofs torn off or walls knocked down, or were simply torn from foundations”, officials said.
This video shows the Tornado in action:
The area that normally experiences frequent twisters is expanding, and there are parts of the country that are getting hammered that never experienced them before. More people need to be aware of the danger, the destruction and the threat to life and property that twisters cause. Most places in tornado alley are equipped and ready to handle these powerful forces of nature. People are trained, prepared and ready to react in a moment’s notice when these threats are on the radar and heading their way. However, people in other parts of the country are not so familiar and respectful of the sheer power and force of tornadoes, and this attitude or lack of understanding is causing an unnecessary amount of deaths each year.
Couple that with the fact that many towns and cities that are not adept at dealing with these storms do not have adequate shelters, resources or emergency personnel who can handle the devastation that is coming their way. Early warning systems, preparedness and an overall awareness and level of confidence is not that ingrained, all of which can lead to serious problems when a response to a tornado is necessary. As weather gets more unpredictable and powerful, more and more people need to heed the dangers of tornadoes and know what to do when they are in the line of fire of these ferocious storms.
Taking shelter is the single, most important thing that anyone can do ahead of these storms. People under the direct line of fire of a tornado usually have less than a few minutes to get to a fortified room, underground or away from windows, doors and into a central room in the lowest level of their building or home. Those who have basements or storm cellars are best protected, as some powerful tornadoes can level even the strongest homes. A ditch, under a bridge or even in a drainage tunnel all act as good hiding places when a tornado is on its way.
Unfortunately, no amount of preparation will help your property above ground, unless it has been designed and built to withstand a tornado. Even so, stronger twisters which are growing in frequency every year are leveling entire towns and destroying even the strongest structures. Getting out of the way is the best course of action to take.
Dealing with the aftermath of a tornado, especially one that caused a lot of destruction is also something to prepare for. Power, water, shelter, infrastructure, communication and food can all be gone. Familiar landmarks like stores, schools, fire stations and even hospitals can be reduced to nothing but foundations. People who survive and who emerge after a powerful tornado often have a hard time recognizing their neighborhood, and pieces of their homes and possessions can be miles away from where they are standing.
Everyone who is in a risk area for tornadoes should have a bug-out-bag handy that contains basic supplies and essentials that can be used in the hours and days immediately following a devastating tornado. With few options for shelter, transportation or basic resources, many may have to wander around until some sort of help arrives to carry them to a secure location such as a school, public building, church or mall in another part of town or in a distant city. Thousands of people can instantly become refugees, and the only things they have are what they packed in their disaster preparedness bag.
If you are unfamiliar with the power and ferocity of tornadoes, never take them lightly. Consider having an emergency kit that includes energy bars or high-protein items that are compact, a couple of bottles of water, your medicine, toiletries and a couple of changes of clothes if possible. You could literally lose everything in the blink of an eye, and you want to try to have some of the more important things with you if you need to head to a shelter and wait for relief to begin to come. Early warning systems are designed to get people to safety and out of harm’s way, but it’s the aftermath that is the hardest to cope with.
Fire, police and rescue services will be stretched to the limit. People will be trying to dig people out of rubble, and medical services will be limited for miles around as the injured pour in to hospitals. It will take days for order and a aid system to be fully implemented, and droves of people will be facing instant relocation as they contend with the fact that they have lost everything. What you bring in your go-bag may be all that you have for days or weeks. Make sure that you are including essential items, and make sure that you prepare it now so you can have it when you need to live in a shelter.
