Tornado Intensity and Safety
damages to structures and trees as an estimate of wind speed close to the ground
F0 to F5
not very accurate because it doesn’t consider things like construction style, age of home, etc., which influence damage
accepted in 2007
extensive study to define more criteria for wind damage
uses 28 types of structures and trees
each evaluated based on 9 levels of damage
EF0-EF5
corresponds roughly with the Fujita Scale so that historical records can be compared to modern events
1706 total tornadoes in the US in 2011
6 EF5 tornadoes were 51% fatalities
if indoors:
get below ground (basement or storm cellar)
if no basement, move to interior room with no windows
get out of mobile homes
if outdoors on foot:
get in a ditch or hole
if in a car:
drive away from a tornado on best road perpendicular to (right or left of) translation direction of tornado
don’t hide under highway bridge or overpass
declining numbers of tornado deaths in recent decades
better forecasting/warnings
tornado watch: favorable conditions for tornadoes; few hours warning (be prepared and stay near the radio)
tornado warning: take shelter
damages to structures and trees as an estimate of wind speed close to the ground
F0 to F5
not very accurate because it doesn’t consider things like construction style, age of home, etc., which influence damage
accepted in 2007
extensive study to define more criteria for wind damage
uses 28 types of structures and trees
each evaluated based on 9 levels of damage
EF0-EF5
corresponds roughly with the Fujita Scale so that historical records can be compared to modern events
1706 total tornadoes in the US in 2011
6 EF5 tornadoes were 51% fatalities
if indoors:
get below ground (basement or storm cellar)
if no basement, move to interior room with no windows
get out of mobile homes
if outdoors on foot:
get in a ditch or hole
if in a car:
drive away from a tornado on best road perpendicular to (right or left of) translation direction of tornado
don’t hide under highway bridge or overpass
declining numbers of tornado deaths in recent decades
better forecasting/warnings
tornado watch: favorable conditions for tornadoes; few hours warning (be prepared and stay near the radio)
tornado warning: take shelter