Which is the worst, tornado or hurricane? (Dallas, Fort Worth: how much, home)

[elan]

An F5 is my nightmare too. I drove from north of Denton back to Dallas on the day Oklahoma City had their F5. I knew something was wrong even before I heard the reports. I was miles and miles away from the storm, yet you could just feel that something was up. The clouds overhead looked like huge scoops, the winds were weird, it even smelled funny. I think that was in May 1999.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by kdogg817

I would say tornadoes because they touchdown without warning. The biggest thing I fear is a F5 tornado hitting the DFW area one day. The Joplin Missouri tornado is a good example of what we hope will never happen in the Metroplex.

I agree a big one hitting DFW was by a major disaster. I have a theory, since tornados move from sw to ne usually, the areas of DFW south or the metroxplex or where there is open land to the SW of them are most venerable. If a huge one was on the ground like this recent one in Arlington then by the time it goes 5 or 10 miles it will be reduced in scale as the buildings will resist the wind motions as they get torn down by the monster. Expending energy to take the buildings down might weaken it and save points further North. Lancaster seems to get a few or Forney which I believe also has open land to its SW.

Tornados are the worst

[hoffdano]

Objective data says hurricanes cause 10 times as much damage as tornadoes in the US. The data below was reported in 2004 but it covers many years of data.

Which Is Worse: Hurricanes or Tornadoes? - ABC News

I think a tornado is more intimidating and more frightening on an individual basis. But hurricanes are far more damaging.

[ericeric]

If tornado is much worse, then I would vote for Houston. Since Dallas is subject to Tornado, and Houston is subject to Hurricane.

How do you guys think?

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

Objective data says hurricanes cause 10 times as much damage as tornadoes in the US. The data below was reported in 2004 but it covers many years of data.

Which Is Worse: Hurricanes or Tornadoes? - ABC News

I think a tornado is more intimidating and more frightening on an individual basis. But hurricanes are far more damaging.

No question this is true, with a tornado you have less personal choice to make to avoid it, you have significant ability to avoid a huricane with advanced planning. Damage cost in general is different from how do I control the impact on my life personally is where hurricanes give you more notice. It would be interesting to compare death tolls over the long term with both.

[LilyLady]

Tornadoes.

For all the reasons mentioned above.

[blkgiraffe]

Tornadoes are exciting!

I'd rather be in the middle of a tornado than a hurricane.

[debzkidz]

I would say Houston as well, although I was actually in First Colony Mall in Sugar Land back in 1998 (Feb or March maybe?) when it was hit by a tornado. Weather had been fine all day. When I drove to the mall, I could see lots of puffy white clouds off to the southeast. Not uncommon to see, coming in off the Gulf. A little while later, we were all taking cover in the hallways and stock rooms of the mall.

[Metro Matt]

Dallas & its tornadoes most definitely.

At least in Houston you have days, sometimes weeks to prepare for a major hurricane headed your way.

Flooding is actually Houston's main problem, not so much the hurricanes, but hey, it floods in Dallas too just not as easily.

[sxrckr]

I'd much rather have to deal with a hurricane than tornadoes. I've actually driven through the middle of a hurricane (in FL, not TX).
Unlike with a tornado, you have time to prepare and will likely not lose your house or die unless you live on a small island, right by the water, or below sea level (New Orleans). The winds aren't as strong. The only reason they cause more financial damage overall is because they cover a much larger area and can pull sea water up.