Tornado Fighters

Correspondence

"NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT"
Expanded knowledge in diverse scientific disciplines is needed in natural resources and the environment to address important contemporary issues, not only for agriculture and forestry, but for society as a whole.

Initially, our project plan was submitted to the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program in mid-2000. The above is an excerpt from their statement. Tornado Fighters' primary objective in the project development is to stop tornadoes in its track. To accomplish this, we will need the support and financial backing of the U.S. Federal Government. Here's an excerpt from NOAA's website regarding their role:

"which promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable development, and improved living standards for all Americans, by working in partnership with business, universities, communities, and workers. The Department's goals are to: build for the future and promote U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, by strengthening and safeguarding the nation's economic infrastructure; keep America competitive with cutting-edge science and technology and an unrivaled information base; and, provide effective management and stewardship of our nations resources and assets to ensure sustainable economic opportunities. As a bureau within the Department, NOAA is an integral part of achieving this mission."

In order for NOAA to review any project submitted by the public, all project submissions must meet and conform to their specification and as such our project was submitted, reviewed and replied upon as referenced herein.

Click here to view NOAA's reply.

Click here to view NRICGP reply.

How it ended up in Plant Responses...At the time NRICGP didn't have a section for benign weather modification. But you could write your own ticket to do something to a fish.

Tornado-Proofing Your Home

We’re working hard - very hard - on making tornados less of a danger. But. in the meantime, tornado season can still pose a considerable risk to yourself and your property. If you live in tornado country, chances are that you’re already aware of the advised precautions regarding tornados. However, they’re worth reiterating for the uninitiated - and worth going over for those who think that they know everything already! The first rule of staying safe during a tornado is GTFI (Get The Fuck Inside!). However, it’s important to have a safe ‘inside’ to get to before the event. Here’s how you make your home as safe as possible from the ravages of tornado season:

Secure Loose Items

One of the biggest dangers to life during a tornado is being hit by debris. Although any good insurer will fund treatment for tornado-related injuries without question, they can still be very dangerous and debilitating. Best to limit your risk of getting hit. The whirling maelstrom of a tornado can reach wind-speeds of 300mph, which act with enormous strength. So there’s only so much that you can do to secure your premises and prevent things getting hurled about. What seems secure to you could be child’s play for the tornado to rip up and fling about! In general, therefore, it is advisable to remove all items of garden furniture, children’s play equipment etc from your yard and put them inside during tornado season. It’s also probably a good idea to get rid of any large tree branches, or shrubs, which could be ripped up and smashed into buildings. The weakest points of your house are your windows, doors, and roof. While it may not be possible to make these completely secure, you can do your very best to invest in tornado-proof window and door fastenings. These not only need to be fastened well enough to resist the drag of the tornado, but solid enough to stay firm should missiles be hurled at them. There are also various things you can do to secure your roof, including fitting galvanized steel hurricane clips. If you really want to ensure that you’re secure, you can even pin your home to the ground with strong clips which will attach the J-bolt of your foundation to the top plate. This reduces the risk of your home being torn from its foundations by the tornado (your chances of ending up in Oz after this happening are, alas, minimal).

Build A Safe Room

It’s been noted before that there’s an astonishing paucity of safe storm shelters in Tornado Alley. The reason for this is one of cost, largely, but it’s still worrying. It’s one thing to secure your house, but you have to live in your house for the rest of the year - and measures which would make it even safer would make it distinctly unnerving to live in. So it’s a good idea to make yourself a storm shelter or a safe room. This is a strong, well-anchored structure able to withstand the winds and the debris of a tornado, with few weak points and nothing externally which can be ripped off by the tornado. If you build your shelter according to FEMA guidelines, you should have near total protection from the storm and everything that comes with it. If you’re worried about the cost of installing a safe room or a storm shelter, then there are some funding opportunities for residential storm shelters in tornado-prone areas. Otherwise, it may be worthwhile campaigning for a community storm shelter to use in your local area. Many schools in Tornado Alley are currently debating the feasibility of installing storm shelters. Adding your backing to these plans could improve the safety of your community considerably.

Learn The Signs

A key element of tornado-proofing your home is personal alertness. Paying attention to the weather forecast and to tornado warnings will give you time to clear your yard of any dangerous extraneous debris, batten down your hatches, and get you and your loved ones inside (preferably into your safe room or basement). If you are nowhere near a radio or other tornado warning device, it’s useful to know the signs of an impending tornado. These are as follows:

A darkening sky, often with a greenish tinge.
A ‘wall’ of clouds and/or debris approaching.
Large hailstones, often occurring without rain.
A sudden stillness.
A loud roaring akin to an approaching train. You may be able to hear the tornado’s roar before you can see it.
A dark funnel of ‘cloud’ - this is the tornado itself. It can move very fast, and its path is unpredictable, so act quickly!

www.disastersafety.info

-_- Danger to First Responders -_-

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