Since there was a great response to the “Prepping 101” series, we’ll keep it up with regular posts. This time we’ll take a look at Tornados. What they are, where they occur in Canada, and how to prepare for them.
So just what is a tornado anyways? By definition from The Glossary of the American Meteorological Society it is ” A rotating column of air, in contact with the surface, pendant from a cumuliform cloud, and often visible as a funnel cloud and/or circulating debris/dust at the ground. [Updated: October 8, 2013] “
However, simply put it is a rotating force of wind that can cause variable degrees of damage depending on speed.
You’ve heard about the devastation caused by tornadoes south of the border, but do you really have to worry about them in Canada? The short answer is yes. In reality, tornadoes in Canada are less frequent and less devastating, but they do occur. Tornadoes have been recorded in every province in the 30 year period between 1980 and 2009 as seen in this image from The Weather Network.
So when should you be on the lookout for tornadoes? Well, they mostly occur in the summer months with June and July being the most active. It should be noted though that they have occurred in every month with the exception of December as seen in this chart from Accuweather. I wouldn’t rule out December though, as weather conditions are very similar to November and January, when they have been recorded.
Not all tornadoes are created equal though. Until recent history, tornadoes were measured by the Fujita (F) scale. Now however, they are measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. These scales are quite similar and the EF scale is really only a revision of the original F scale and was adopted by Canada in 2013. In this chart, we see the differences in the two as well as the damage caused by each level.
It should be noted that the only F5 Tornado in Canada was in Manitoba in 2007. The majority of tornadoes only achieve an F0 level (about 65%).
Tornadoes can form quite quickly and predicting them can be tricky at best. We have become quite good at detecting the conditions that can lead to one. So how can we tell if a tornado might form? Well, the Canadian Government has recently taken preparedness a little more seriously and developed the Alert Ready system. When Watches or warnings are issued, an alert tone followed by a message is broadcast over television, radio, and certain smart phones that are in the area.
Another way to receive these warnings is to have a weather radio with S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) charged and properly programmed to receive alerts in your specific area.
Watches, warning, what’s the difference? A Tornado watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Warning are issued only once a tornado has actually formed. For this reason, I would suggest that you take appropriate action when a watch is issued. Once a warning gets to you, it may already be too late.
Once you get a warning, keep an eye on the weather and watch for:
- Severe thunderstorms, with frequent thunder and lightning
- An extremely dark sky, sometimes highlighted by green or yellow clouds
- A rumbling sound or a whistling sound.
- A funnel cloud at the rear base of a thundercloud, often behind a curtain of heavy rain or hail.
What to expect from a tornado depends completely on it’s EF category. In reality, the EF scale relies on the damage caused. Here is an overview…
EF0 – Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.
EF1 – Moderate damage. Peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos blown off roads.
EF2 – Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
EF3 – Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown.
EF4 –Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5 – Incredible damage. Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters (109 yds); trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.
How to prepare for a tornado.
Regional power outages are common after a tornado and can last for days or even weeks. Have an alternate source of power for your home. This can be in the form of a generator or small scale solar system. The goal is not to power your whole home continuously, but to provide enough power to run essentials and recharge mobile devices, and perhaps run a fridge for a couple hours at a time 2-3 times per day.
Water sources may be compromised by being contaminated or shut down completely. Keep a quality water filter and a supply of drinking water on hand. Empty soda bottles that have been washed out and well rinsed are a great way to store drinking water.
Emergency services such as fire, ambulance and police response time may be delayed or even unavailable. Keep a large fire extinguisher handy, take a first aid course and keep a kit, and harden your home against intrusion.
Your home will likely sustain damage if a tornado gets too close. Keep a supply of tarps, roofing nails, roof repair caulking and hand tools on hand to temporarily patch roofs until proper repairs can be done. Don’t forget a ladder!
Power failures can keep grocery stores closed, and debris can keep you from getting to them even if they are open. Keeping food on hand is essential. Store foods that you and your family enjoy and that does not require refrigeration or cooking.
For hot meals, try Mountain House freeze dried packages. These types of meals store for up to 30 years and require minimal water and cooking time. A small propane fueled camp stove works well for emergency cooking.
If you have any questions or would like to have your prepping questions addressed, please feel free to post it in the comments section below.
