December 11, 2021 Deadly Tornado System (Mayfield, Leitchfield: home, high school, live in)

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

Overnight our state got hit by devastating tornado. It left destruction across over 220 miles of Kentucky. Estimates of deaths in Mayfield alone is estimated between 50-100. At least one WKU student has died.

We had some activity last night but from what I can tell most destruction was not too bad, although there are some flattened barns.

If I weren’t tied to a paycheck, I’d already be up there volunteering. I really hate these kinds of disasters. The victims didn’t ask for it or do anything wrong, the definition of innocent, and the devastation is awful.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by bjh

I wondered about that. Like why wasn't there a concrete walled structure somewhere in the floor plan? Seems obvious in hindsight. Maybe that will change now and such places will be built that way or retro-fitted.

There were areas designated and authorized as safe shelter areas. People were in those areas. Everything was destroyed.

[censusdata]

The big issue is our area has a lot of tornado warnings and 99% are at most moderate or light damage over a brief path. There has to be a way to issue warnings based on risk level. It wouldn't make sense for a warehouse to spend an hour sheltering employees for a possible weak tornado within a line. But a storm capable of a high end tornado should be treated differently. At a warehouse type building in those rare events evacuation needs to be ordered with workers told which direction to drive out of the path. All storms are not created equal, only a few are capable of a long track EF3+ tornado.

Of note a Wrangler jeans factory in Hackleburg AL did send workers home early during the 2011 Super Outbreak... probably saving dozens of lives as the EF5 directly hit it.

https://www.al.com/spotnews/2011/08/...yed_in_al.html

[censusdata]

News reports just said only 8 not 70 are missing at Glade factory in Mayfield. However also heard 13 dead and 100 missing in Dawson Springs which is basically wiped out.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

There were areas designated and authorized as safe shelter areas. People were in those areas. Everything was destroyed.

Sure there were designated areas, but if they were knocked flat they were clearly inadequate. Areas within these types of buildings that are constructed of concrete have a much higher likelihood of weathering severe storms. They should have had such areas. If not, moving forward this is something that should be done so this doesn't happen again.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by bjh

Sure there were designated areas, but if they were knocked flat they were clearly inadequate. Areas within these types of buildings that are constructed of concrete have a much higher likelihood of weathering severe storms. They should have had such areas. If not, moving forward this is something that should be done so this doesn't happen again.

This is a once a century or two event. Have you not seen the area? This is my brother-in-law’s hometown. Concrete building were destroyed all over the town including the church he attended. The buildings weren’t designed to stay erect in a nuclear attack either. It is impractical and unfeasible to plan for, let alone prevent, every danger Mother Nature dreams up.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by bjh

Sure there were designated areas, but if they were knocked flat they were clearly inadequate. Areas within these types of buildings that are constructed of concrete have a much higher likelihood of weathering severe storms. They should have had such areas. If not, moving forward this is something that should be done so this doesn't happen again.

I read that the Amazon warehouse in Indiana which was destroyed with loss of life had concrete walls and at least one of the walls collapsed, so in extreme tornado situations like this, it makes little difference. That was a relatively new building, not a century old.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

This is a once a century or two event. Have you not seen the area? This is my brother-in-law’s hometown. Concrete building were destroyed all over the town including the church he attended. The buildings weren’t designed to stay erect in a nuclear attack either. It is impractical and unfeasible to plan for, let alone prevent, every danger Mother Nature dreams up.

Perhaps underground homes are the answer to some of these areas in Tornado Alley?

[ohioaninsc]

My thoughts are with everyone that was affected by this extreme storm...that goes for the people in Edwardsville, IL as well.

Regarding the candle factory, my mind keeps going back to the Wrangler Jean factory that was flattened by an EF-5 tornado in Alabama a decade or so ago. Only 1 person died there because they had the forethought to shut down and send everyone home w/ the threat that was ongoing that day. Had the management of the factory put employee's lives first over profits and production levels. they would have done the same thing...NWS earlier in the day stated that this could be a very violent night of storms. To me they should have shut down. Candles can wait. Now, w/ the devastation that occurred, maybe it wouldn't have saved many lives...but it very well could have. Either way, this is a very sad situation.

[Tyryztoll]

Originally Posted by AdrianVanAmstel

Many houses have basements. Those industrial building that were destroyed are a hell of a lot more sturdy than a house.

I thought I saw video of homes that had their basements ripped into by that Mayfield twister. I'm not sure if that region has many basements or not, but regardless being underground is not always a fail-safe when it comes to the most powerful tornadoes.