When Storm Weather Strikes

the cougar’s roar
6 feature
7 feature
friday april 23, 2010
When Storm Weather Strikes
Degrees of aatornado
Classifying
tornado
Category
A severe weather survival guide
photos courtesy google images
F-0
40-72 mph
Uprooted trees, minor structural damages, small and large
sign damages.
F-1
73-112 mph
Hurricane windspeed. Cars overturned, shingles
ripped from houses.
113-157 mph
Extensive damage.
Large trees uprooted, detachment of
roofs, flying objects
made deadly
F-2
Brittany Hoverman
November 22, 2002, marked a day that will
live in infamy for Van Wert residents who
experienced the powerful lashing of an F-4
tornado that ripped through the city of at 2:28
in the afternoon. The Van Wert Cinemas (left)
was directly hit by the tornado, throwing a
car into the first row of a theater room. Luckily, the management moved all customers into
safe locations within the building and no one
was injured. The storm left behind immea-
surable amounts of destruction to the county
(middle). Numerous houses were leveled,
leaving families without a place to call home.
It would take months to clean up the damages
and account for the losses. Former Governor
Bob Taft issued a state of national emergency
for Van Wert County and sent in the Ohio
National Guard to help clean up the debris
left by the tornado (right). This was the worst
weather catastrophe in Van Wert history since
F-3
the snow and ice storm of 1967 that literally
cut off all lines of communication between
Van Wert and the rest of the world. Luckily,
many lives were spared thanks in part to the
quick reaction of the County Emergency Manager Rick McCoy, who sounded the tornado
sirens 25 minutes before the tornado touched
down. Being alert of weather conditions and
being prepared for disasters is ideal with the
tornado season.
Wind Speed Effects
158-206 mph
While tornadoes are never expected, there are several steps to
establish safety and order in a moment of panic.
Not only useful during tornadoes,
first-aids kits are something every
household should have fully stocked.
All prescription drugs should also be
included in the first-aid kits.
Bottled water, non-perishable
foods, flashlights, batteries+, and
a battery operated TV or radio are
also essential items in case of a
power outage. It is also important
to know how to use a fire extinguisher and to have one nearby.
Van Wert County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
director Rick McCoy believes being
prepared for a storm and knowing
how to react can decrease stress
during a major storm.
“Several things people should
own include a NOAA weather
radio which would alert them
anytime a warning is issued from
a weather service and a disaster
kit,” McCoy said. “People need to
be educated in what to do in case of
a bad storm or tornado. Van Wert
County has had more tornadoes
than any other county in Ohio;
people should pay particular attention to get warnings.”
NOAA radios can be purchased
from stores such as Radio Shack
or Best Buy. An easily accessible
waterproof or fireproof safe is
another important item to store all
social security cards, birth certificates, lists of contacts and doctors’
numbers, bank account numbers,
and pictures if space allows.
One of the most important parts
of preparing for a tornado is finding
a location that is safest within the
house. There should be plenty of
blankets and pillows close by, and
a mattress is helpful to help shield
from possible debris.
“People can be aware of storms
through sounding sirens, NOAA radio, radio, television, home scanner,
internet, or cell phone. By paying
attention to warnings, families become prepared and stay safe during
a bad storm,” McCoy said.
Survival supplies
•Three day supply of nonperishable food
•Thee day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
•Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
•Flashlight and extra batteries
•Toothbrush and toothpaste
•Hand sanitizer
•Tolietpaper
•Lighter in a waterproof container
•Whistle for signaling help
•Clothes
•Blankets
•Photocopies of identification and credit cards so that you can
get to necessary information quickly
•Cash and coins
•Special needs items such as medicines, glasses, contact solution and hearing aid batteries, and infant needs ltems
•Tool kit
•Pet supplies if you have pets
•Map of the area
•Shoes, clothing such as clean underwear, etc as well as sleeping bags for your family.
F-0
Houses leveled,
structures blown off
foundations, cars
thrown.
F-4
207-260 mph
F-5
261-318 mph
Houses ripped off
frames and disintegrated, cars thrown
over 100 meters,
steel enforced buildings damaged.
F-6
319-379 mph
Very unlikely. Evidence only found in
ground swirl patterns, may never be
identifiable through
engineering studies.
Surviving the storm: essential elements to have handy during a storm
Lauren Taylor
Uprooting of forests, damage of
house walls and
roofs from well
constructed homes,
trains overturned.
F-1
F-2
F-4
F-5
photos courtesy google images
F-3
Basements, interior rooms prove safest place during storms
Daniel Mulvey
Tornados are beginning their tumultuous
season, leaving seasons searching for ways
to protect themselves and be prepared. This
brings up one of the most essential questions
concerning severe storms: Where does one go
to be protected?
Emergency Management Director Rick
McCoy received national recognition for his
ability to prepare the county for the 2002 F4
tornado. He now has a few answers of the
best places to get when a tornado strikes, no
matter someone’s location.
“Getting below ground is number one
(during a severe storm). If anyone has basements or shelters underground that is the
first place they should go. They should go to
the center of those basements or shelters to
be the most protected,” McCoy said.
Houses can be limited with the amount of
safe places to go during a severe storm. Not
all residents have basements or shelters in
their homes, but there are other options.
“It’s important to get to the lowest level
of home, especially with house that have a
second story. The goal is to get to the center
of the house, maybe an interior room, preferably with no windows,” McCoy said.
Windows are one of the largest dangers
during a severe storm due to their tendency
to implode when they receive a large amount
of wind pressure. This flying debris often
results in severe injury if a resident is not
protected. As McCoy said, the ideal is to be
in a room without windows, but that is not
always an option.
“If you are somewhere where there are
windows all around then you must first off
crouch to the floor. Then, you must find
something heavy duty, such as a rug, and
wrap it around you while covering your
head with your arms,” McCoy said.
Many people do not have the luxury of
being within a house when a severe storm
hits. Often on long roads trips travelers can
run into unexpected storms that could soon
turn severe. There are several precautions
to take in these instances.
“If you are in a car and a tornado touches
down dangerously close to you, then you
must get out of the car. Get in a ditch or
somewhere with low elevation close by. If
the tornado is several miles away then you
must drive away very quickly. Tornados
generally travel from the southwest to the
northeast. You are going to want to go in an
easterly direction, eventually turning south
then take a right,” McCoy said.
During a severe storm, one may be stuck
in an area, lacking of any shelter. Perhaps on a far away camping trip, playing
a football game in a field, and many other
instances that could occur.
“In that instance, you need to get into
a sturdy structure if at all possible. If
you cannot locate a sturdy structure then
you must get to the lowest area possible.
Hopefully, the tornado will pass over you,”
McCoy said.
These are a few simple guidelines from
our county’s Emergency Management
Director that one would be wise to follow
if stuck in any of these situations. Severe
storms can be a huge danger, and being
informed is a great weapon against them.
Watch: A watch is issued when meteorologists be-
Characteristics of a developing tornado
Warning: A warning is issued when a storm, such
What to do in the aftermath of a storm
lieve that the conditions are favorable for storm weather, like a thunderstorm or tornado. At this point, families
should review their safety rules. Keep a battery operated
television, radio, or weather radio on.
as a tornado, has been spotted or the radar has indicated
that one is developing. In other words, a storm is coming
so at this point, families should be moving to their safe
place, such as an interior room or basement as soon as
possible. At this time, tornado sirens will be sounded.
•Greenish/black sky
•Rapidly rotating clouds
•Eerie quietness followed by loud sounds such as a train or jet
•A low hanging cloud
•Objects being pulled upwards
•Debris falling from the sky
•Help injured and trapped people/give appropriate first aid
•Call for help/don’t move the seriously injured unless necessary
•Turn on a t.v. or radio and only use phones for emergencies
•Take pictures of the house and contents for insurance
A history of weather
February 1959
January 1978
February 1992
November 2002
December 2008
Nearly 1/5 of Van Wert was underwater and under a state of emergency from flood waters originating
at Town Creek. Hundreds of people had to flee their homes.
A snow blizzard buried Van
Wert, forcing some county
roads to close down. The
total snowfall for January
was 13.7 inches.
An incognito storm hit the
county, injuring six people.
The damage is blamed by a
tornado, which smashed several houses in the area.
An F4 tornado hits Van Wert
County at approximately 2:30
in the afternoon, destroying
the county’s movie theater
and creating over $5 million
in damages.
A severe ice storm swept
through the county leaving
hundreds of people without
power for days.