Bashful Mother Nature's Twister

Those of us living in New England have largely been safe

from tornadoes.  They usually are confined to ‘Tornado 

Alley’.  Yet in this age of ‘global warming’ or whatever phase

our planet is in, a ‘twister’ can strike anywhere and at any 

time.

An Oklahoma Tornado

In 2018 a tornado struck the town of Sandwich, at the 

entrance to the Island of Cape Cod. Similar reports came

from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and several other towns in 

Massachusetts.

In the summer of 2019, Cape Cod and numerous other areas

in the Northeast have had several tornado alerts, but so far 

none have actually materialized.

As stated, most ‘twisters’ in the adjacent 48 United States descend on Tornado Alley. It’s the great swath of land between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. The plains are ideal for ‘twisters’ forming because they have so much open area for the torment to gain speed and power.

This is why Texas and Kansas have so many Tornadoes. While Kansas can claim the most famous tornado of all – the one that whirled Toto and Dorothy to the land of Oz, it is not the most tornado prone state.

A Texas Twister

That dubious distinction belongs to the state of Florida, which has more reported tornadoes annually than any other state. This is due to the combination of humidity in the air mixed with thunderstorms. However, the severity of the tornados in Florida is, generally far less than those of the mid-west. They don’t cause anywhere near the amount of damage as the ones in the middle of the ‘alley’.

The worst tornado damage comes from those that form in Oklahoma. The areas of tornado alley that are the biggest dangers include Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. These can be in the ranges of F3 to F4 tornadoes that are known to create a great deal of damage.

Some areas in tornado alley are prone to more tornadoes during specific seasons. There are spots that are famous for them in the summer months while others tend to form only during the winter. In order to help people prepare for tornadoes in these areas, detailed systems are in place. They notify people of approaching tornado watches and warnings.

There are also various types of building codes along tornado alley that you won’t find anywhere else. This is to ensure the various structures can withstand the tornadoes that come through. Most homeowners are required to carry tornado insurance on their homes and businesses as well.

Most individuals that live along tornado alley have learned to deal with it. They are prepared for when tornadoes will come across. They also have plenty of loud sirens in the area to warn people. They go about their daily routine without worrying too much about tornadoes.

However, many travelers through such areas are not aware of the tornado issues and are not prepared for them. Many public locations along tornado alley have shelters for those that need a place to go. If you are going to take a trip along tornado alley you should make sure you are prepared for them to occur.

Years ago I spent some time in Oklahoma, while one of my sons was stationed at Fort Sill.  I confess to hoping to get to see a tornado, but during my stay, there were none.

My son and some of his army buddies also hoped to see a ‘twister’ up close and personal.  They wanted to be storm chasers.  They too were frustrated when there was not one single ‘touchdown’ during their service time in Oklahoma.

Apparently Mother Nature is a little shy.  She does not want to perform her ‘twisting’ on demand.  She much prefers to sneak up on unsuspecting victims and catch them unaware.

As long as you are watching TV or listening to the radio these days, you won’t be the victim of a sneak attack by a twister.  The broadcasters have an emergency system that kicks in when a tornado alert has been posted for your area.

I found this out one night in July as I was watching the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays baseball game.  It was the last of the ninth.  The Sox were leading but the Rays were threatening.

Suddenly the TV screen went blank and a series of annoying electronic beeps assaulted my ears, followed by an announcement that a tornado watch was in effect for Barnstable County (the county consists of the 15 towns of Cape Cod) and I should take cover.

The game quickly came back on.  Luckily, the Sox held on and the storm held off!

This was the first time I had ever heard a ‘twister’ alert broadcast on television.  It was both comforting and disconcerting.  One the one hand I was glad to be warned, on the other – what was I to do?  Should I have taken cover in the cellar?  I chose to continue watching the ball game and fortunately the tornado never did materialize.

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