International student planning to transfer to UAHuntsville (university, tornado)

[lyannefebo]

Hi there!
I'm currently an art student in Puerto Rico, about to start my second year here, however I'm not happy with what I've been doing so I've decided changing my major. UAH offers what I want. There's only one thing that is freaking me out badly: tornadoes. We don't get that kind of stuff here, apart from a few earthquake scares now and then, and maybe a tropical storm per year. I've been checking the university out and it seems like a great campus with lots of activities and clubs for students. However, I'm so scared about tornadoes occurring, that it might be a deal breaker. I would really like to know how it really is for actual residents, in terms of being safe and getting out of a tornadoes way if it's in your path. I would be living close to campus, if that matters.

Thanks in advance.

[RatSnake]

OK - as someone who is more used to earthquakes, typhoons (hurricanes) ... I was also apprehensive myself but this is what I have learned after 5+ years.

1. Tornadoes do not have the same breadth as hurricanes.
2. Tornadoes last only for a few minutes (then they are gone or move on)
3. You will have ample warning if tornadoes are likely to form (days in advance)
4. You will have ample warning if one is headed your way

There are many simple ways to keep safe if and when tornades are likely to form.

[padmaster]

And don't move into a trailer park

[AuburnAL]

Originally Posted by lyannefebo

Hi there!
I'm currently an art student in Puerto Rico, about to start my second year here, however I'm not happy with what I've been doing so I've decided changing my major. UAH offers what I want. There's only one thing that is freaking me out badly: tornadoes. We don't get that kind of stuff here, apart from a few earthquake scares now and then, and maybe a tropical storm per year. I've been checking the university out and it seems like a great campus with lots of activities and clubs for students. However, I'm so scared about tornadoes occurring, that it might be a deal breaker. I would really like to know how it really is for actual residents, in terms of being safe and getting out of a tornadoes way if it's in your path. I would be living close to campus, if that matters.

Thanks in advance.

I don't worry about. If a big hits the place you're at it'll probably be a done deal unless you're in a substantial structure or underground. However, the odds of that are pretty unlikely since even large tornados have small footprints and usually don't last that long.

Most people who die in tornados die from being hit by debris so if you're indoors, and it doesn't hit that buildings directly you'll almost always be fine.

[steveklein]

the threat of tornadoes is nowhere even close to a good reason to not move to alabama (or anywhere else across much of the united states that experiences tornadoes).

the LARGE majority of people who live their entire lives in this part of the world will go their entire lives without having a significant tornado cause significant damage to their lives.

[Huntsville_secede]

Yes the likelihood of a tornado hitting a given location directly is extremely low, even with the high frequency that we get them in Alabama. Even so, most people survive the fierce winds of a tornado. Also tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States so that's not a good reason to rule out attending UAH. Floods by the way are far more deadly than tornadoes.

[Lamar Bowman]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

Yes the likelihood of a tornado hitting a given location directly is extremely low, even with the high frequency that we get them in Alabama. Even so, most people survive the fierce winds of a tornado. Also tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States so that's not a good reason to rule out attending UAH. Floods by the way are far more deadly than tornadoes.

Yeah, the flooding scared me more than any tornado.

[Lamar Bowman]

Originally Posted by RatSnake

OK - as someone who is more used to earthquakes, typhoons (hurricanes) ... I was also apprehensive myself but this is what I have learned after 5+ years.

1. Tornadoes do not have the same breadth as hurricanes.
2. Tornadoes last only for a few minutes (then they are gone or move on)
3. You will have ample warning if tornadoes are likely to form (days in advance)
4. You will have ample warning if one is headed your way

There are many simple ways to keep safe if and when tornades are likely to form.

It is honestly sad that we still have people that manage to get themselves killed in these situations.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by RatSnake

2. Tornadoes last only for a few minutes (then they are gone or move on)
4. You will have ample warning if one is headed your way

2. - Generally true, but not always. Some of the tornadoes in the 2011 outbreak lasted more than an hour.
3. and 4. - Not necessarily true. Because of a tornado's nature (usually true #2), a tornado can form and be gone in 60 seconds. We had one like that just a few weeks ago in Limestone County. Weather service didn't even figure out it was a tornado until they analyzed wind patterns.
That's why you need to be alert and pay attention when conditions are likely to produce tornadoes.

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by Southlander

2. - Generally true, but not always. Some of the tornadoes in the 2011 outbreak lasted more than an hour.
3. and 4. - Not necessarily true. Because of a tornado's nature (usually true #2), a tornado can form and be gone in 60 seconds. We had one like that just a few weeks ago in Limestone County. Weather service didn't even figure out it was a tornado until they analyzed wind patterns.
That's why you need to be alert and pay attention when conditions are likely to produce tornadoes.

Even the long lasting tornadoes don't stay in one spot for long. Less than a minute.

And yes, occasionally there will be tornadoes that spin up and disappear quickly. However, I'm guessing the Limestone county tornado you speak of was not a significant one that did a great deal of damage.