Severe Weather Articles
Why Tornado Shelters Are More Than a Legal RequirementTornado shelters in schools aren’t just about checking a legal box; they are a life-or-death safeguard for students, staff, and the wider community. The U.S. experiences around 1,000 tornadoes each year, the highest frequency globally, resulting in hundreds of injuries and dozens of fatalities. In 2024 alone, tornadoes injured…
Think Tornado Season Ends in Spring? Think Again.For many homeowners, tornado season feels like a springtime concern, something that peaks between March and June and then fades away with the heat of summer. Late summer tornadoes are not a fluke, they’re part of the normal seasonal shift. Waiting until next spring to prepare may be…
This blog post was originally posted in 2020, but it has been updated with current data. We were warned that this year (2024) would bring a particularly harsh season for hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, and though it started mild, the violence of hurricane season has officially…
Being home during a tornado threat is not for the faint of heart. The sky turns dark quickly, which can make your home’s interior darker, even during the day. The wind picks up speed, and you may hear sounds you don’t normally hear: the rafters of your home creaking, branches scraping the house, the gusting…
The threat of tornadoes is a constant reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. We understand the worry that comes with sheltering from a powerful tornado. We see this fear present in the questions asked by those who wonder how we can possibly anchor down something above ground against an EF5 tornado.The answer is in the science…
In many areas of the United States, tornado season is well underway. In the Southeast, states like Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee have already had a particularly rough start and they’ll be on edge until June. (And they may have a secondary tornado season in the fall, depending on weather conditions.) Residents of the Central US,…
Your past 12 months are likely full of ups and downs. Looking back at 2022, many people will size up the events in their lives and the significant accomplishments or setbacks. The purpose might be to set an intention for the coming year or to figure out what we want to accomplish.At Survive-A-Storm, we’d like…
When it comes to measuring the intensity of tornadoes, you may have seen an “F5 tornado” referenced or an “EF5 tornado.” So, what is the difference, or are they essentially the same? Let’s take a closer look.The F and the EF reference the Fujita scale and the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF scale). Both of these scales…
It’s National Preparedness Month, but how prepared will you be when a tornado touches down in your area? As you may have read, the area known as tornado alley is changing, and tornados have touched down in all 50 states.If you live in an area where tornados are a common occurrence during parts of the…
September is National Preparedness Month, created by the federal government to encourage Americans to prepare for hazards of all kinds. At Survive-A-Storm, we understand safety and the importance of being prepared.What’s Your Tornado Plan?Will you be at work or at home? What’s your plan? How will you prepare? In our personal lives, that might mean…
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…
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,…