Tornadoes
A tornado can race through an area and destroy everything in its path within a couple of minutes. The amount of force that these swirling funnels carry with them is unbelievable. The average tornado carries a wind speed of 110 miles per hour with it, so you can imagine the movement within it. They can be up to 250 feet wide as well. There are tornadoes that have taken place in every continent of the world except for Antarctica.
Some locations though are just more prone to the development of tornadoes due to the weather conditions. People that live along these areas are generally well prepared for them. Their homes and businesses are built from materials that are durable and can stand up to them. They also have shelters in their homes or underground to protect themselves and their families as tornadoes are approaching.
Storm watchers and trackers look for signs of tornadoes developing and then pass this information along to others. Most areas have sirens in the area that will go off when there is a tornado in sight. Since they can move very rapidly you do need to take shelter quickly. It is a good idea to have a battery powered radio you can take with you to safety. This way you can find out when it is safe to emerge from your location.
Tornadoes are assigned a rating from F1 to F5, with the F5 being those that result in mass destruction. Scientists and researchers continue to look for ways to prevent tornadoes from forming, or at least ways to counter attack them. Until they are able to successfully do so, the best think they can do is offer plenty of information for people to protect themselves against them.
Some people don’t realize just how dangerous tornadoes can be. As a result they stay at home when they are informed to evacuate. You should always move to a location in your home where there are no windows or exterior walls. The basement is the safest place. Have an emergency supply kit ready to take with you to the location in case you need to remain there for a while.
