2014 Tornado Season in the U.S. ( & Canada )

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Two states hit heavily.

 

It has started.  Several casualties.  Hope the people can recover soon.

[CapTon 592]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7s2lzDtjew

 

This a video showcasing the wreckage in parts of Arkansas. Very tragic, but it's only the beginning.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Update: Storm cell has not dissipated.

 

Many casualties.  Deaths now up to 28.

[CapTon 592]

Last I saw, the death toll was at 35 since Sunday.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Last I saw, the death toll was at 35 since Sunday.

True.  Follow up.

 

The number of casualties from this kind of weather increases with the population density of this area.  Economics drives people to live in what would ordinarily be an empty quarter.  It is tragic, but at the same time, hard to sympathize with people who insist on living there.

[Snugies 91]

About that video of the tornado damage what the heck was taking that footage?

 

It looks like the construction of these buildings is what causes most of the damage. Wood frame buildings just get torn to shreds by wind damage like this. Most buildings in these rural areas seem to be built quite lightly wood frame barns and light metal sheds. But the Insurance companies pay for wind damage, so most people I think will get their money back here.

[Odainsaker 2,133]

The suddenly extreme low pressure causes buildings to explode and their roofs to lift off much like the lift of a plane wing, and any light frame or balloon construction with cladding is doomed as their connections are typically not designed to hold against this type of extreme force. Any debris as well becomes flying javelins and whirlwind artillery that batters and shreds anything in their way. Even automobiles and tractor trailers will be hurled about. You have better chances in a reinforced CMU block building with many interior CMU walls, and most schools and public emergency centers will be built as such, but their roofs and windows often will still be blown out and filled with flying debris daggers as well. Better still is an underground bunker or cellar with a door and ceiling braced against lift.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Exactly.  Best structure is reinforced steel and concrete.  Anchoring the roof is a tricky thing.  Expect the windows (and doors) to blow out unless they are built like ports in a ship, and even then don't bet on it.

[CapTon 592]

About that video of the tornado damage what the heck was taking that footage?

 

It looks like the construction of these buildings is what causes most of the damage. Wood frame buildings just get torn to shreds by wind damage like this. Most buildings in these rural areas seem to be built quite lightly wood frame barns and light metal sheds. But the Insurance companies pay for wind damage, so most people I think will get their money back here.

It was a drone