Tornadoes
Many people hear about Tornadoes, and they know it is a kind of natural disaster. When you read my report, you will get to know, what is a Tornado exactly?
A Tornado is the most dangerous storm that nature creates. It appears as a dark funnel, wide mouthed at one end, and narrow mouthed at the top. It looks like a cloud, but very big and dark. A speed winds make this shape.
The first thing Tornadoes appears as rotating, the main cause of it is by a massive thunderstorm, these strong storms form when warm air goes upward and mix with the cooler, and drier air makes a huge thundercloud. Some Tornadoes are harmless, but other Tornadoes are dangerous, the most dangerous Tornado is: F5 it could kill people and destroy houses. It could reach a maximum speed of 300 miles. If a Tornado hits the ground, it could destroy anything in its way. I will tell you an example, and it is a true story. Once a tornado in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, carried a motel sign 30 miles and dropped it in Arkansas!
The next thing, the Tornado can damage an area of, 1 mile wide and 50 miles long. The states in the Tornado range mostly are under the risks, the Tornadoes season runs from March to August, it is not easy to expect the exact time of a Tornado. Sometimes Tornadoes accompany storms and hurricanes over land. Tornadoes take many shapes and sizes. There is a mild Tornadoes, and a sever ones.
How do we know that there is a Tornado coming?
It is never known, if there is a Tornado coming, but with experience, we have to look for the following, if it is there it means there is a Tornado on the way:
1-Dark sky, sometimes the color of it is near to be green.
2- Wall heavy clouds.
3- Large hail.
4- Loud roar.
Finally, everyone living in a Tornado range or expected Tornado areas should be prepared. Make a family plan of the house, work, school exits, so it will be fast to move and to react. All the family has to make many trials, as if there is a real Tornado. Each family has to have a radio at home, incase there is Tornado approaching, they will hear it immediately and get ready. Everyone has to go to the basement, or to the nearest shelter, they have to be away from windows, if they don't have a basement or a shelter around, the safest place will be to stay at the bathroom. If there is anyone in his car, they have to get out of it very fast, it is safe to be away from the car, try to find a low ground not on hills, and kneel on the ground while covering the head, and this is the best position to be protected from a Tornado.
So you see, Tornadoes are un expected nature disaster, happens in some areas, and some of them could kill people, and destroy cities, so be prepared, and make your plan talk to your children about Tornadoes and how to be prepared, and what the safest action should be taken, if a Tornado approaching. Talk to your neighbors about one plan to follow. It is up to you at the end and I think if everyone did this they will protect their families.
Resources:
www.fema.gov/kids
www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/saftey/tornadoguide.htm
www.weather.about/od/tornadosaftey.html
www.infoplease.com/spot/tornado/html.
By: Fatima El Behery
Weak Tornadoes
Strong Tornadoes
Violent Tornadoes
Best position to protect yourself
See below a chart of Tornadoes
Category Damage Wind
speeds
F0 light 40–72 mph
F1 moderate 73–112 mph
F2 significant 113–157 mph
F3 severe 158–206 mph
F4 devastating 207–260 mph
F5 incredible 261–318 mph
