Tornado facts and safety – what you need to know
When the atmospheric conditions are just right, a tornado can strike with little warning and cause large amounts of damage in a very short time. Here are few tornado facts and tips that can minimize your risk and help keep you and your family safe.
What is a tornado?
Tornadoes (also referred to as twisters) are violently rotating columns of air that emanate from thunderstorms and come into contact with the ground. Twister intensity is measured using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale – which rates tornadoes on a measure from 0-5, based on the amount of wind and type of wind damage.
How common are they?
There are reports of about 1,000 tornadoes nationwide each year. They occur most often in the central U.S., though they can appear almost anywhere. A tornado can happen at any time of the year, though most occur between early spring and July.
What are the warning signs?
Signs that a twister is coming include:
- Dark, greenish skies
- Large hail
- Dark, rotating, low-altitude clouds
- A loud roar (like the sound of a train)
In areas like Ohio, where there is a history of tornado activity, there will be a tornado warning siren and digital messaging system to alert residents that a twister is incoming.
What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service issues both tornado watches and warnings. But there are important differences between the two alerts.
A tornado watch: means conditions are favorable for tornadoes. Be alert to changes in the weather and pay attention to local radio and TV stations for updated storm information.
A tornado warning: means a twister is likely to develop in your area. This means that danger is imminent and you need to take shelter immediately.
Ready for a Tornado?
If you have family members that rely on electricity, whether to keep them alive (such as medical devices that run on electricity) or just entertained, consider investing in a standby generator.
Unlike traditional generators, standby generators are, as the name suggests, always on standby. When electricity is interrupted, such as during a storm or tornado, the generator detects the problem and gets to work. The automatic transfer switch of the generator safely disconnects the utility line and transfers to generate power. Power is restored to your home within a matter of seconds so you’ll never even notice that the power was out in the first place. Once city utilities are restored, the generator returns to standby mode.
Contact A-Abel Electric for more information on how a standby generator can help you and your household stay safe when disaster strikes.