Kansas F5 tornado images (not mine)

ziggy53

Just a reminder of what can happen:

http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/image_gallery/1388501/

David_S85

Youch, just looked at those pictures.
90% of the town. I think that is unprecidented. A horrible tragedy to be sure, but at least Greensburg had 20 minutes of warning before it swept through their town, saving possibly a hundred lives or more. Many communities have no advanced warning when doppler detects a vortex signature, or lack warning sirens completely. That needs to change. Weather radios are cheap - get one. They can be set to turn on automatically when a warning is released in one's area.

Be prepared and be aware. In 1990, at about 3:45pm, I watched a horrible storm passing over western Naperville, IL. It was purple, and it was making a "groaning." 10 minutes later, the next town over (Plainfield) was just about wiped off the map by one or more F5's, and killed 26 people.

The Utica, IL. tornado a few years back killed 8, and it was a small one by Fujita scale standards.

In 1967, 33 were killed in Oak Lawn, IL by an (only) F3. Mrs. S85 witnessed that one (and to this day has nightmares about it), and just a few weeks ago had the honor of being a featured speaker at Tom Skilling's Annual Severe Weather Seminar (WGN-TV and Chicago Tribune's Chief Meteorologist) held at FermiLab in Batavia, IL.

http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/150710965-L.jpg
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/150710973-L.jpg

Just about all the weather nerds in the country that weren't already out in the field chasing tornados were in attendance.

One thing we learned was that seeking shelter in the southwest corner of one's basement is not the safest place to be. Nor is being under the kitchen, as heavy appliances might fall through the floor if the house collapses.

ian408

I'll stick with the occassional earthquake thankyouverymuch.

Art Scott

The death toll is upto 10 and they have found 1 living survivor....last I had heard it was not determined to be an f5 (some NEW scale they are trying to use, said it could take a few days to be absolutlly sure on the size and type).....but that was early Monday.....but our wonderful (spit..yuk yuk spit) Pres is supposed to visit the site also.....no one was allowed in after Saturday (martial Law) until today sometime......

It was not as bad as the one that circled Wichita, Haysville, Rose Hill and Ended in Andover a few years ago .....that one was over a mile wide at the bottom and it did not run a strait or semi strait line.....I had a hellofa time geting to my house after it passed with in 1/4 mile of my house....the Nat'l Guard tries to stop me but....well I got home but couldn't leave again until the next morning.

It did collapse the hospital and completely wipe the school from the city......but the coaches said the sports would continue some how.....

claudermilk

ian408 wrote:

I'll stick with the occassional earthquake thankyouverymuch.

My thoughts exactly!

Stormdancing

A Fact of Life Here In The Midwest
Nov. 6, 2005
Evansville, Indiana
25 killed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evansville_Tornado_of_November_2005

This storm has prompted the passing of CJ's Bill

"(AP) - Gov. Mitch Daniels signed legislation Monday that will require those who install mobile homes in Indiana after June 30 to equip them with special radios that can alert people of pending bad weather.

The bill was initiated by Kathryn Martin, whose 2-year-old son, C.J., and two other family members died in a Nov. 6, 2005 tornado that struck the Eastbrook Mobile Home Park in Evansville."

The community has also collected donations to build a memorial playground and sponsors CJ's Bus. This is a specially equipped bus that travel to tornado victims and helps the children cope.

Everyone should have a weather radio and keep fresh batteries in them!