Tornados cross the Gulf State in US

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the recent tornado outbreaks across several Gulf States in the US, focusing on the devastating impact, including fatalities and property damage. Participants share personal experiences, report on local conditions, and reflect on the broader implications of tornado preparedness in the region.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report on the rising death toll, with figures varying from 200 to over 350, indicating the severity of the situation.
  • There are mentions of specific towns, such as Tuscaloosa, that experienced significant destruction, with reports of homes and businesses being destroyed.
  • Participants discuss the rarity of tornadoes in certain areas, such as South Carolina, contrasting with the high frequency in Alabama and other states.
  • Some express concern about the lack of tornado protection in homes, noting that basements are uncommon in the South compared to other regions like Ohio.
  • There are observations about the nature of the storms, including high winds and severe thunderstorm warnings, contributing to the overall danger.
  • Participants reflect on personal experiences with damage from storms, including fallen trees and power outages, while acknowledging that their situations are less severe compared to others affected by the tornadoes.
  • Some express sympathy for the victims and discuss the emotional impact of the events, highlighting the human toll of the disasters.
  • There is a discussion about the differences in preparedness for tornadoes versus hurricanes, with some noting that hurricanes provide more advance warning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the severity of the tornado outbreaks and the adequacy of tornado preparedness in affected areas. There is no consensus on the best approaches to improve safety or on the implications of the events discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various sources of information, including news reports and personal observations, which may reflect differing levels of accuracy and completeness. The discussion includes anecdotal evidence and personal experiences that may not represent broader trends.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying meteorology, disaster preparedness, or the social impacts of natural disasters, as well as individuals living in tornado-prone areas.

Astronuc
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Tornados and storms have caused 200 fatalities during the last two days. Several towns in 5 states were hit.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox stated that "hundreds of businesses and homes were destroyed."

In April, more than 800 tornados have been recorded. Apparently this shatters the old record of 543.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110428/ts_yblog_thelookout/watch-tuscaloosas-terrifying-tornado

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110428/NEWS/110428014/April-could-record-month-tornadoes
 
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Amazingly, we haven't had very many tornadoes in South Carolina, at least during the most recent waves. A band of thunderstorms moved through last night and woke me up about 3 AM. I turned on the TV, to a local weather radar channel, and saw a strong thunderstorm warning (hail etc.) for about 20 miles south of here. It stayed to the south and kept going east. Also a tornado warning up in North Carolina, well east of Asheville.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[added: according to newspaper reports, during last night's round only some fallen trees and power lines were reported in two SC counties, with no injuries]

(Tornados? Tornadoes? Paging Dan Quayle...)
 
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Death toll now up to 248.

Locally, we had a tornado watch/warning until 9 am in communities to the NE of us. There was a cyclonic system with 60 mph winds reported. It was also moving about 60 mph.

We've had a bout of heavy rain and thunderstorms. We just have a severe thunderstorm watch and hazardous weather advisory.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110428/ap_on_re_us/us_severe_weather
Alabama's state emergency management agency said it had confirmed 162 deaths, while there were 32 in Mississippi, 32 in Tennessee, 13 in Georgia, eight in Virginia and one in Kentucky.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/weather-15749664/25054033
 
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I'd been posting around this thread a bit without being aware. This is awful.
 
The evening news is showing victims still being pulled from the rubble. Tuscaloosa, Alabama (http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/28/6551306-aerial-photos-show-path-of-tornado-through-tuscaloosa-alabama" ) got hit especially hard. Very sad.
 
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An ABC news weather person described this as the largest tornado outbreak in US history, and the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa apparently went through Birmingham, through the NW corner of Georgia and on into North Carolina! It may be the longest run on the ground of a tornado in American history. There were about 165-173 tornados in 24 hrs.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110428/ts_yblog_thelookout/watch-tuscaloosas-terrifying-tornado - see the bottom video


Tornadoes and Storms Tear Through South; at Least 292 Dead
http://abcnews.go.com/US/tornadoes-160-killed-south-including-128-alabama/story?id=13474955

Tonight I heard that 200 people had been killed in Alabama alone, and authorities across the region are still looking for more victims.
 
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two large trees down on my street.
 
The deaths have risen well over 300 now, and are expected to rise even higher. My deepest sympathy to all who have been effected by this.
 
  • #10
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (AFP) – The death toll from killer tornadoes in the southern United States rose to at least 350 early Saturday, making the storm the second-deadliest tornado-related tragedy in US history.

The worst tornado outbreak in the United States in March 1925 left 747 people dead. The third-deadliest tornado storm struck in 1932, killing 332 people.
. . . .
In Alabama alone, Wednesday's deadly storms claimed 254 lives, the state Emergency Management Agency reported.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110430/ts_afp/usweathertornado

Some tornados his highly populated areas and had long ground time. Apparently few homes have protection against tornados, e.g., basement or tornado closet - something to think about when living in the south and midwest.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110429/sc_livescience/whywerethesoutherntornadoessodeadly

Interesting perspective on risk
http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/tornado-safety-building-codes-1626/
 
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  • #11
Astronuc said:
Apparently few homes have protection against tornados, e.g., basement or tornado closet - something to think about when living in the south and midwest.

In the South, basements are rare compared to Ohio where I grew up. My house doesn't have one, just a low crawl space underneath it. I think this has to do with the nature of the soil here.
 
  • #12
We fared well (in East TN). Even better than a lot of people around here. E's plastic bucket and shovel in her sandpit were cracked from hail, as well as two windows in the house (though not through to the second pane). Lots of mess from trees in the yard, but none down into our house or van (safe in the carport). Trees down on campus and throughout the neighborhood, and power outage at our house for 26+hrs (meaning the fridge got its long overdue clean-out. yuck.). Not an uncommon site around here to see car windows shattered, and arrays of dents in the panels. The biggest damage I've seen is trees fallen into houses and the two greenhouses of the bio-building completely destroyed.

Still, all this seems minor and easily surmountable given other's woes.
 
  • #13
jtbell said:
In the South, basements are rare compared to Ohio where I grew up. My house doesn't have one, just a low crawl space underneath it. I think this has to do with the nature of the soil here.

I don't have a basement, and don't know anyone here in Florida who does. If we had tornadoes, we would be screwed up bad. Luckily I don't live anywhere near a large enough source of water...
 
  • #14
Willis666 said:
If we had tornadoes, we would be screwed up bad.

You have hurricanes instead. At least you get more advance warning for those!
 

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