Tornadoes (live, better, personal)

[HarlequhnBoy]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

There are many other things to worry about here other than tornados

I've never seen one, nor do I know anyone who lives here who has seen one or had any effects of one. I think last year there was some big wind (questionable tornado) that hit a fairly empty mall. Inside of a city, especially on the bluff by a huge river, we don't see tornados. Usually they hit fields and bit empty areas (thus, the trailer park stereotype).

That wasn't a questionable tornado. It was an EF2 that killed 3 people in Memphis, and was part of the deadliest tornado outbreak in two decades that killed 58 people in AR, TN, KY, AL, and MS.

That said I've lived in MS for most of my life, and Memphis now, and have only seen one tornado crossing the just south of my town. There's really NOTHING to worry about.

[bjh]

Tornadoes are made to look terrifying in movies, but they are rare and usually highly avoidable, ie. you can see them coming from miles away.

Having said that I have lived for decades in Texas which has more tornadoes than Tennessee, yet I have never personally seen one. YOu have a better chance of getting struck by lightening...oops shouldn't have said that.

[Senor Boogie Woogie]

I remember the first year that John Elway and the Broncos won the Super Bowl, they were playing in the AFC championship game (the game to go to the Superbowl), I forget who they played, but that's not important.

The game was played on WREG Channel 3. There was some bad weather coming. Now remember, this was WINTER in Memphis, but was a tornado sighting and all that. At first, the station cut into the game warning of the weather when bunches of football fans called the station including myself (it was busy) demanding the game to be turned back on, probably with a few hurling insults at the poor weatherman who had to work on Sunday. Finally, they did a split-screen type of deal, with the weatherman (named Tim Simpson) complaining nicely that we weren't taking his heed seriously, with him yammering on while myself and everyone else were trying to watch the game wishing he would just shut up.

Memphis is at the eastern end of "Tornado Alley" which more or less spans from the Rockies to the Appalachians. I lived in Germantown, and one tornado killed a family in their homes. Another tornado ripped through West Memphis Ark., only killing six people. I say only because poor West Memphis was devestated. The tornado went through West Memphis, then skipped across the river into West Tennessee hitting a community there.

The odds of getting killed by a tornado are pretty damned slim. Besides, there is very little one can do about it anyway. The houses here have no basements, and if you get nailed by one, you're dead anyway. The weatherman jabbering on about possible tornados interrupting the game were rightfully pissing us off. Many people here in Memphis believe in God and if we get killed by a tornado, then it is divine providence for it to happen. If not, get off the TV and let us watch some football!

[JPACE]

No real tornadoes since your posts - might be able to help with other details of move, schools, area, etc.

[Ginsaw]

I have lived in Memphis from the '50s on (reluctant to say really how far back) and have never actually seen a tornado. Several have hit in the city limits, and most I think have been after dark, so you couldn't have seen them coming. These days as others have pointed out already, there is really a lot of media warning with graphic radar color coded displays and in depth analysis.

So frankly I wouldn't worry about it at all. That's what most of us do.

However, if I have plenty of advance warning and really know one is on the ground and headed right for my neighborhood, I wouldn't stay there. But I've just never seen it get to that point.

[hawkster]

Boy...in my opinion you guys are downplaying the whole tornado thing. Let's be honest, I have never seen a tornado either but at least 15 times during tornado season we are forced into our "tornado closet" in order to hide from possible tornado's or high winds. Just because we do not see it does that mean it's not there? come one. Years ago when I first moved to town a tornado hit the Houston High School area, knocked out a bit of a neigborhood.....do you think those people "saw" the tornado????


That said there are precautions you can take from building a storm shelter to getting one burried under ground.

[HarlequhnBoy]

Last week a tornado hit the suburb of Olive Branch and very damaging winds swept across Memphis.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

There are many other things to worry about here other than tornados

I've never seen one, nor do I know anyone who lives here who has seen one or had any effects of one. I think last year there was some big wind (questionable tornado) that hit a fairly empty mall. Inside of a city, especially on the bluff by a huge river, we don't see tornados. Usually they hit fields and bit empty areas (thus, the trailer park stereotype).

A "big wind"?
I am not sure what your purpose of that answer was but that TORNADO killed a few people and it was not a "fairly empty mall". I have lots of friends at Macys that had that tornado right over their head that can tell you otherwise.

[Ginsaw]

The mall tornado was limited in area damaged but because of the loss of life factor, I'd say it rates as one of the three worst storms overall I can remember over the last several decades. The one claiming in my opinion the top "honor" goes to the 1990s Great Ice Storm. I don't know if this forum was around then, but the disruption and dislocation caused for the entire city was truly profound.

As for the theory about the bluffs as a tornado deflector, actually I think it'd make a pretty good project for MythBusters...I wonder if it could be submitted to them?

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Ginsaw

As for the theory about the bluffs as a tornado deflector, actually I think it'd make a pretty good project for MythBusters...I wonder if it could be submitted to them?

The theory of bluffs as a tornado deflector is false. If you believe a bluff (or river or mountain or hill or series of hills ............. etc......) will protect you from a tornado, you are an idiot.