My Indiana: Tornado Season Approaches, Be Aware and Prepare!
April 29, 2008
Today, tornadoes ripped through parts of Virginia, leaving a path of destruction and hurting hundreds in the process. This phenomenon, while rare, offers up the single most deadly force of nature in Indiana every spring. Sure, we have floods from time to time, but hurricanes, earthquakes (up until recently), typhoons, volcanoes and avalanches occur far enough away that we don’t have to worry much about dying at the hands of nature.
Tornadoes on the other hand…
In 1990 two records were set in Indiana. The most tornadoes in one month happened in June of that year (44) and the most tornadoes ever recorded in one day (37).
Strategically, Indiana lies right in the path of what is known as ‘Tornado Alley.’ This path is responsible for over 80% of all tornados in the United States and runs from the Southeast to the Great Plains.
On a personal level, I have been pretty close to three separate tornadoes over the course of my life. Two of them occured while I lived in Texas–one while I was a kid crouched down on the floorboards of my parent’s car. Luckily no lives were lost and not much damage occured from either twister. The third tornado happened more recently about a mile and a half from where I lived at that time. I was hunkered down in a friend’s mobile home. (I do find it quite odd that when these events take place, I am generally not in the safest of environments.)
This third tornado actually caused quite a bit of damage. The following morning, after all of the excitement, curiosity set in amongst myself and my friend. We decided to go check it out. About a quarter of a mile away from the touchdown we started to hear the buzz of chainsaws. The closer we got, it became very clear that we were pretty lucky in the mobile home.
A clear path had been cut a couple hundred yards wide through a forested area. Just like television, trees were snapped completely in half. Maples that had grown in the area for hundreds of years were completely annnihilated. A few of the lesser, smaller trees survived. No one died, but there was definitely damage to many houses–driving to a scene of destruction like that has a way of opening your eyes.
The deadliest day ever recorded in Indiana happened on Palm Sunday of 1965. On that day, April 11, 1965, more than 68 people were killed across three separate counties, with another 1,000 plus injured.
With advances in technology, new and improved radar systems have cut down on the loss of life. In 1965, tornado warning systems were non-existent. The system isn’t perfect, yet it does offer a little help when those winds begin to swirl. A couple of minutes notice can definitely be the difference between life and death.
The Indianapolis Star has put together a useful database of weather activity in Indiana. The Indiana Tornado Database shows storm stats from 1950 to the present, and has it broke down by county. I know it isn’t complete. The one I mentioned earlier is not represented, but it does offer up some good information on some of the bigger, more deadly tornadoes of recent past. The Indianapolis Star also offers up a nice video on preparing for a tornado–something all of us should be aware of.
Most tornadoes in Indiana occur from March to June. This is the end of April and clearly in the middle of the season. Be Aware and Prepare. You don’t get much warning.
Sources: WNDU Channel 16, The Indianapolis Star, The Indiana Tornado Database, National Geographic Videos and YouTube.
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Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under Indiana Weather, My Indiana, Tornado, Tornadoes, weather |
Indiana has some spectacularly wild weather. In spring, it seems like the sky grows dark and the hail starts flying nearly every other day.
Have to hand it to the meteorologists there. They truly utilize the most sophisticated forecast equipment and models. You know to the minute when a storm will be over your house! On the east coast, you get a simple warning that the lightning could be deadly. : )
Hang in there!
I do have to say that Indiana’s sophisticated weather radars are top notch. They have spent millions of dollars to ensure that Indiana gets the earliest possible warnings when bad weather does arrive. I am surprised that these types of systems have not been more widely accepted in other parts of the country. Money is probably the big issue, like anything else.
Our radars are definitely pretty cool though. You are right, they have it down to the exact time, and street when the weather will hit–which is a big help.
Out here, they’d rather spend $80 bajillion dollars on Katie Couric’s salary. ; )
Well, I guess that is important, too. You know, she does have to get her hair done once in awhile;)