Screeching wind, pounding rain and the distinctive wail of severe weather sirens — what now? The University of Memphis has weathered some major storms in the past week, and students are more aware than ever of the challenges posed by tornado weather.
“We will do all we can,” said Peter Groenendyk, associate director of Residence Life.
In the midst of this fall tornado season in Memphis, the National Weather Service has issued several tornado watches and warnings in the past week. The season is in its early stages, and the warnings are only likely to continue.
When a tornado warning is issued in The University of Memphis area, Residence Life must jump into action to protect those students living in the dormitories. The residence hall advisers on duty are sent door-to-door inform the occupants of the situation.
The hall staff advises occupants to go to safer locations in the building, but cannot force students to seek shelter.
“Safety is a personal choice,” said Groenendyk.
The location the students are advised to go to varies depending on the building itself, according to Groenendyk. In some buildings basements provide a safe retreat, and in other buildings the safest places are enclosed corridors.
When it comes to The University as a whole, in the case of a disaster alert, The University will notify the coordinator or assistant coordinator of the Emergency Operations Control Group, who will then be responsible for initiating disaster actions.
The factors involved in the formation of tornadoes are still being researched, but it is known that tornadoes result from unstable atmospheric conditions. When a cold front and a warm front collide, the result is an unstable atmosphere, according to Jim Belles of the National Weather Service.
Shear winds are indicators of a tornado. Shear winds occur when winds are blowing in opposite directions at the same time.
Tornadoes are rated on the Fujita scale, which measures tornado windspeed on a scale which ranges from F-0 through F-5. F-0 indicates the weakest tornadoes, and F-5 the strongest.
Belles said West Tennessee usually has about 10 tornadoes per year. Four percent of tornadoes in West Tennessee are F-4 or greater, which is a high percentage, according to Belles. About 60 percent of tornadoes in West Tennessee measure between F-0 and F-1. About 35 percent of tornadoes in West Tennessee measure F-2 and F-3.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, safety precautions during a tornado vary according to where you are located. Indoor precautions include going into the room on the lowest floor with fewest windows. After going to this location, cover your head and neck with arms, or cushions.
Outdoor precautions include lying in a ditch or low-lying area. Another outdoor safety measure is to crouch near a tall building or stable structure. As with inside safety measures, use your arms and hands to protect your head and neck, according to FEMA.
It is often easier to measure tornadoes in terms of casualties rather than by figuring monetary damage, according to Belles.
“A tornado can tear through a trailer park just as it can tear through a high-class neighborhood,” said Belles. “But the cost to repair a high-class neighborhood will be much higher.”
Tornadoes in the Mid South average over 200 casualties, death as well as serious injuries, per year, according to Belles. Tennessee usually suffers about 60 casualties per year, Mississippi 124 casualties per year and Arkansas 55 casualties per year due to tornadoes.
