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Tornadoes

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This is a difficult question. It is basically asking yourself what is the lesser of two evils?

The annual average death rate in the United States from tornadoes is 42 while the annual death rate from hurricanes is 16. Based on that statistic, I have to say tornadoes are more deadly.

I live in tornado alley (Oklahoma) and I have seen the destruction from tornadoes. Compared to other states, Oklahomans are fortunate that we have advanced warning and some of the best meteorologists in the country, therefore as a state we have a lower death toll from tornadoes.

Oklahomans usually have plenty of warning when tornadoes are headed our way. The weather people on the news channels not only let us know when there are storms that can produce tornadoes, they are also able to track the route once the tornado is on the ground. However, we have had tornadoes touch the ground with no warning. Evening tornadoes are even more deadly because many people are not awakened by the sirens.

Many people in Oklahoma have storm shelters and you can go underground into your shelter until the tornado passes. Additionally, tornado shelters must have permits, therefore, if a tornado goes through your neighborhood, rescue crews are dispatched afterwards to make sure you are not trapped in your shelter by fallen debris on top of the opening. However, many people cannot afford to put a shelter in their home nor is there any shelter near their homes to evacuate to. Sometimes, a person may only have 10 to 15 minutes to get to shelter.

While the death toll from Katrina was very high, those numbers are not usual. Additionally, many deaths occurred after the hurricane had passed and due from the flooding from the broken levees.

Hurricanes are also monitored and there is plenty of advanced warning (more so than in tornadoes), but in a hurricane the safest route is to evacuate the area. This can result in a mass exodus and traffic jams (as witnessed two years ago in the Houston area).

While both natural disasters are deadly, if a tornado is headed straight towards you, the only safe place is underground. However, if a hurricane is getting ready to hit, if your building has been built to sustain a hurricane, most of the time you can ride out the storm in your home. There is more danger after the storm passes from flooding, downed power lines, etc.

Learn more about this author, Peyton Riley.
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