Missouri/Alabama Tornadoes 2000-2011Travis Dolney, Erik Jordan, Elizabeth Wilson

HistoryJanuary 2000- June 2011, Alabama lead the country in tornado fatalities, followed by Missouri.

History● April 25th-28th, 2011

was one of the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks ever recorded

● April 27th, 2011 was the most active day: 211 tornadoes touched down from midnight to midnight.

Noteable Alabama tornadoes in this timeframe.❏ Cullman/Arab, Alabama❏ Hackleburg–Phil Campbell–Tanner, Alaba

ma❏ Cordova/Blountsville, Alabama❏ Tuscaloosa/Birmingham, Alabama❏ Raleigh, Mississippi/Uniontown, Alabama❏ Fyffe/Rainsville, Alabama❏ Ohatchee/Piedmont, Alabama

Deadly 2011 Tornado Season● April 2011 had most tornadoes

ever reported in a month (875)● 369 fatalities (average a year

for past 11 years was 55) ● 317 fatalities in one day● Six significant multi-day

tornado outbreaks● Oklahoma to NC● Texas to NY

May 2011● 370 tornadoes recorded

(more than usual)● 171 fatalities● Joplin, Missouri tornado

was the seventh deadliest tornado in US history

Source: Aguado and Burt (2013), p. 336

Contributing FactorsAguado and Burt (2013) offer three possible explanations as to why states like Alabama and Missouri experienced such high death tolls as a result of tornadoes:

a) time of day (night)b) complacency of populationc) housing

Time of Day● Nocturnal tornadoes are more difficult to spot and

people are more likely to be sleeping and thus unable to hear warnings and take precautions.

● Unclear why the region might be particularly prone to night time twisters.

Complacency● They also argue that residents of the deep south may

underestimate the danger posed by tornadoes because they live outside the traditional “tornado alley.”

Mobile Homes

From: weather.com

Mobile Homes as a percent of total housing units (2007)

Alabama: 14.7% (5th)Missouri: 6.7% (27)

U.S. Avg: 6.7%

Source: US Census Bureau

Steps Towards Prevention1. Inside a ‘framed’ structure

a. Seek the lowest level of the structureb. Cover your head with anything

i. Attempt to cushion yourself with a mattress or blankets

c. Do not attempt to ‘escape’ from a tornado, it will catch you

2. Inside a mobile homea. Get out!

Improving Structural Integrity1. Installing storm proof doors on shelters2. Fortifying garage doors3. Fortifying trusses to exterior walls4. Cover windows5. Install ‘walls of concrete’6. Move out of the area