Tornado Safety Information

Public Information Statement

1116 am EDT Mon Mar 12 2007 ...Public information statement...

This is the first of a five part series on severe weather safetywhich will run each day during Pennsylvania's weather awarenessweek. Weather awareness week runs from March 11th through March17th.

...Tornadoes...the most violent storms on Earth... In an average year...nearly 1000 tornadoes are reported nationwidewith 80 deaths and over 1500 injuries. Worldwide... the UnitedStates ranks number one in the highest occurrence of these powerfulstorms. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendousdestruction as wind speeds can exceed 250 mph. Despite tornadoesof this magnitude occurring extremely infrequently in thisarea...it is important to know tornado safety precautionsregardless. Even a weak tornado can cause a substantial amount ofdamage!

The fujita scale which runs from F0 to F5 is used to rate tornadostrength. The weakest tornado is ranked as an F0 and has estimatedwind speeds less than 72 mph. F5 is the strongest ranking reservedfor tornadoes with wind speeds greater than 260 mph. Again...mosttornadoes in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and theEastern Shore of Maryland are on the weaker side. However...a fewstrong tornadoes have occurred in the region. An F3 tornado rippedthrough the town of Lyons in central Berks County Pennsylvania onmay 31 1998. Half the town was destroyed... but because residentsreceived ample warning...and because they took appropriateaction...no deaths or serious injuries occurred from this event.Less than one percent of tornadoes in eastern Pennsylvania reachan intensity of F4 or higher. The only F5 tornado in recordedPennsylvania history occurred on may 31 1985. No F5 tornadoes haveever been recorded in New Jersey, Delaware or the Eastern Shore ofMaryland's history.

As of February 2007, an upgrade has been made to the currentfujita scale. The enhanced fujita scale is meant to further refinethe tornado wind-force classifications begun using the fujitascale. The use of this new scale should allow for more accurateand uniform tornado strength estimates by investigators.

The most recent occurrence of a tornado in Pennsylvania happenedon August 29, 2006 as an F1 tornado touched down in the hindenburgarea of New Garden township in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Thepath of the tornado was 2.0 miles long with the maximum path widthof 150 miles. Maximum winds were estimated to be around 100 mph.Numerous trees and power lines were reported down but no injurieswere reported. Six homes reported minor damage. Three roofs weredamaged and doors were ripped off of a mushroom house at theguizzetti mushroom farm. Total property and crop damage estimateswere around 100,000 dollars.

The most recent occurrence of a tornado in New Jersey occurred onJune 2, 2006 as an F0 tornado moved through East Greenwichtownship, New Jersey. The path of this tornado was three-quartersof a mile long and mainly 100 yards wide, with a maximum width of250 yards. Numerous trees and wires were reported down with 3homes reporting major damage and another 20 homes reporting minordamage. Maximum wind speeds were estimated to be 65 mph. Totaldamage estimates were around 100,000 dollars.

The most recent occurrence of a tornado in Delaware occurred onSeptember 28, 2004 as an F2 tornado moved through northern NewCastle County. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at around 130mph. Damages estimates were around one million dollars. The pathlength was 5.0 miles long and 150 yards wide. Significant damagewas reported to planes and hangars at the New Castle CountyAirport in Wilmington. Five injuries were reported along the pathof this tornado. A self-storage facility reported major damage.Several other buildings reported minor damage. Trees and wireswere also reported down around the area.

On September 23, 2003, a series of F1 tornadoes raced throughcentral New Jersey as a strong cold front passed during the earlymorning hours. This system also produced a tornado in MontgomeryCounty. The following storm reports are from the ncdc storm eventarchive:

An F1 tornado touched down in Hunterdon County in Delawaretownship. It touched down just south of County Route 523 insergeantville and moved northeast and lifted near County Route 579east of Sand Brook. One house suffered significant damage. Severalhouses suffered minor damage. Two barns blew off their foundation.Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.

An F1 tornado touched down in Florence township and uprooted about100 tress along its path. Some of the trees fell on and damagedhomes. Wind damage in the County due to the tornado and the lineof severe thunderstorms was estimated at $2.1 million dollars. Themaximum wind speeds were estimated at 85 mph. The tornado remainedon the ground for about 1.75 miles and lifted in the Roeblingsection of the township.

An F1 tornado touched down in the eastern part of Trenton aroundHillcrest and traveled northeast passing through the southern partof Ewing township and into the southwestern part of Lawrencetownship before it lifted around the slackwood area. The worstwind damage and the strongest part of the tornado occurred justwest of the Lawrence/Ewing township border. A car dealership lostits roof. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down andseveral telephone poles were snapped. The tornado remained on theground for about three miles and its path width was about 100yards.

An F1 tornado touched down along the Lower Merion township side ofthe Narberth borough/Lower Merion township line in MontgomeryCounty, Pennsylvania and traveled east passing through Narberthborough. Damage estimates throughout the County was one milliondollars. The maximum wind speeds were estimated around 75 mph. Afew thousand home and businesses lost power. Trees fell on onehome in narbrook park and on the Septa r5 train as it was leavingthe station. No injuries were reported. The tornado remained onthe ground for three-quarters of a mile long and was about 100yards wide.

Rutgers University students clearly remember a tornado event onOctober 27th 2003 when a weak tornado (f0 on the fujita scale)briefly touched down along the Raritan river... just off theCampus of Rutgers University. It touched down just east ofnorthbound US Route 1 and proceeded east along the Raritan riverwhere people sighted it looking west from the New Jersey Turnpike.

Clearly...although occurring infrequently...tornadoes are possiblein the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland areas. Thefollowing safety tips should be followed if ever a tornadoapproaches your area.

-When at home...stay away from windows...doors...and outsidewalls. Go to a basement or interior part of the house on thelowest floor. Cover your head with something sturdy for addedprotection.
-If caught outside...lie flat on low ground and shield your headwith your arms. Watch out for possible flooding in low lyingareas.
-If in a car or truck...do not try to outrun a tornado. Leave yourvehicle and take cover in a sturdy building. If no building isavailable...leave your vehicle for lower ground and cover yourhead.
-Mobile homes offer little protection. If threatening weatherapproaches...seek sturdier shelter. If no substantial shelter isnearby...lie flat in a ditch or on low ground.
-When in a public building...move to a designated shelter area.These are usually identified in schools...hospitals...and otherpublic buildings. Otherwise...go to a small interior room orhallway on the lowest floor possible. Do not take shelter ingymnasiums or auditoriums. Due to their nature, the large openexpanses offer little protection.
-Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media outlets as oftenas possible for updated storm information.

Remember...a Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable fortornadoes to develop. You should continue your daily routineduring a Tornado Watch...but keep an eye on the sky. Keep abreastof current weather information for your area...and be prepared totake quick action if necessary.

A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted on theground or is indicated by Doppler radar. When a warning isissued...move to a safe shelter immediately. Also remember thattornadoes occasionally develop in areas where no SevereThunderstorm Watch or warning is in effect.