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Jo: [We’ll] get a profile [of the tornado’s structure] for the first time.Dr. Reeves: What will that do?Jo: If we know how tornadoes work, we can design a warning system.Dr. Reeves: Aren’t there warnings already?Jo: Right now, it’s three minutes. If we can get this information, we can increase it to 15, give people a…

The following article was originally published in March of 2017. It has been updated to include relevant information and topics. There is never the perfect plan for an emergency,  and sometimes that is very clear in the aftermath of a natural disaster like a tornado, hurricane or other severe storm or event.

Tornadoes are one of nature’s most elusive and almost mystical phenomena. As a result, a large number of myths have developed around them throughout the decades. Unfortunately, those myths can put you and your family in great danger if a tornado approaches. So, we’ll run down some of the most common:Tornadoes will not strike    …

What caused this latest setback in the United States’ baby formula shortage? A derecho.”Abbott Laboratories said it has paused baby-formula production at its plant in Sturgis, MI, after recent thunderstorms flooded part of the facility, causing another setback for the company’s efforts to help alleviate a nationwide formula shortage.”Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf…

Tornadoes are far deadlier than most realize. Until the Weather Bureau began tornado warnings in the 1950s, tornadoes caused triple-digit death tolls surprisingly often. It is estimated that during a bad year, such as 2011, total tornado deaths in the USA might exceed two thousand if warnings didn’t exist.While tornadoes have happened in all 50…

How Sheltering Saved Lives in These Similar Tornadoes Seventeen deaths versus zero deaths. An important tornado safety lesson was gleaned from the recent tornado affecting Wichita and Andover, Kansas. On April 29, 2022, a strong tornado touched down in the far southeast part of the City of Wichita at 8:10 pm. The 2022 tornado moved…

The Survive-A-Storm blog is an informational hub for storm and tornado safety. As the leading manufacturer and distributor of commercial and residential storm shelters in the United States, Survive-A-Storm, is proud to announce that it has teamed up with one of the nation’s most well-known and respected meteorologists, Mike Smith. Smith will be contributing to the Survive-A-Storm…

Imagine working in a warehouse with the sound of hailstones pounding the roof, while thunder periodically roars. You check the radar on your smartphone but it is just a mass of confusing colors. Apprehension rises among the staff as something feels “off.” Suddenly, the sound of wind becomes deafening as the west wall begins to…

Weather patterns are changing and the last few years have been some of the most active and deadliest for tornadoes. So, what can you do to prepare if you are worried that you and your family might be in the path of upcoming severe weather, like hurricanes, tropical storms, or tornadoes? For starters, begin with…

Tornado warnings and when it’s safe to come out. Being under a tornado warning is a stressful time. The thought of your home being damaged, eerie sirens screaming, and deep concern for your family by themselves is enough to get your blood pressure up. But, being in an unfamiliar location such as a bathtub, closet,…

If you’re considering buying a storm shelter to protect your family, the employees at your small business, or the members of your community, you probably have a lot of questions. Here at Survive-a-Storm, we’ve got answers! And you can definitely trust Survive-a-Storm to give you dependable answers. After all, multiple Fortune 500 companies including Walmart…

The threats associated with the Coronavirus known as COVID-19 are dominating the news cycle. But it’s important to remember that, even during the pandemic, other deadly hazards haven’t gone away. It’s spring, and tornadoes and other severe weather events are still ravaging the United States. Yes, COVID-19 is real. But its ongoing presence does not…

Tornadoes, as we have pointed out before, can form on any day of the year, and at any time of the day. And, although some regions are more prone to these destructive twisters than others, tornadoes have struck all 50 states. Of course, if you live in Tornado Alley or Dixie Alley, the threat of…

Yes, tornadoes, like hurricanes and many other natural phenomena, do technically have a “season.” In the United States, tornado season generally falls in the spring, during the months of April, May, and June. Higher numbers of tornadoes form in these months compared to other times of the year. Tornadoes are often more intense during these…

Let’s be blunt: Don’t ever take the threat of severe weather lightly, especially while on the road.Proper preparedness in the face of tornadoes, thunderstorms, and other severe weather may literally determine whether you and your family live or die.And being on the road, in any type of vehicle, is one of the most dangerous places…

As the leading national storm shelter provider, we get asked many questions concerning community safe room/tornado shelters that we would like to share.Where is the best location for me to put these shelters?In a general location for all employees/occupants to have a quick entry time.Do you all build and install below ground commercial shelters?Yes! We…

Tornado season is coming fast and so now is the time to prepare a plan of action or freshen up the plan you may already have in place.For example, your tornado safety plan should include some of the following to-do tasks:Have an evacuation plan in place so that your whole family knows what to do…

For the first time ever, we are days away from this becoming the first year in the modern record with no violent tornadoes touching down in the United States.That means no tornadoes were rated EF4 or EF5 this year. It also means the 10 tornado deaths in 2018 are competing for the record low.Why the downward…

Tornadoes seem to be growing more powerful. Scientists are learning more about their power, as well as how they form, through the latest scientific studies. And according to one of the latest theories, your eyes may be deceiving you.Tornadoes don’t really drop down from the clouds, as our eyes tell us. The opposite is true, according…

Whether you live in a high-risk tornado zone or not, it is essential that you know the risks and the signs of a tornado in order to be prepared. Follow this advice from ready.gov: Know your area’s tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a greater risk for tornadoes. Know the signs…

Just when the weather seems safe, everything can change. Take today, for example.This morning, the National Weather Service in Portland said funnel clouds could form in Oregon, when stormy conditions straddled the Interstate 5 corridor, stretching from south of Cottage Grove all the way north of Kelso, Wash.The NWS predicted showers with scattered thunderstorms spreading across southwest…

You were wise. You planned ahead. You purchased a storm shelter. You outfitted it with the necessities. But how do you keep the kids busy while they are waiting out the storm?If you want to keep the kiddos calm and distracted when your family has to take shelter, make sure you have a few supplies on…

By Ben Nunnally, Star Staff Writer, bnunnally@annistonstar.com Residents of the Thankful community west of Anniston have one more thing to be happy about: a new storm shelter on 14th Street at Thankful Community Park. The shelter — called a “community safe room” in FEMA’s codes — has room for about 96 occupants, according to Georgia-based manufacturer…

Driving through our small town of Thomasville and seeing the destruction that Hurricane Michael caused, my heart is heavy.  I think about Panama City, Tyndall Air Force Base, and what used to be Mexico Beach, and I wonder how so many displaced people are just supposed to pick back up and start all over.  Where…