Evacuate a City?

[rdale]

Then the EF5 dissipates before reaching town

Sorry about confusing the reference to the other thread I meant in 50 years when we can predict EF5's at 90 minutes.

 

[Shane Adams]

Sorry about confusing the reference to the other thread I meant in 50 years when we can predict EF5's at 90 minutes.

Yeah, that'll never happen.

 

[rdale]

And by "never" you mean "not for a few years at least" Looking at where forecasting is now versus 1965, it's not hard to imagine that the trend for increased forecasting abilities will only curve higher the next 50 years. If we wait for the technology to appear but never thought about how to implement, then that knowledge is wasted.

 

[Brian G]

Totally not an expert and I humbly admit that I could be way off base, but it definitely seems plausible that we could predict violet tornado tracks 90 minutes in advance with an acceptable degree of skill within 50 years. Consider what's happening right now...today. They are already working on an effort to forecast tornado tracks up to 60 minutes in the future with enough skill to make the tool operational within a decade or so. If that project is successful and if it happens as soon as they hope then imagine the possibilities if given another 40 years to improve upon it.

 

[Stephen Szulborski]

I could see this working for a small town but the problem is tornadoes still are erratic by nature. Case in point what happened in El Reno in 2013 when the tornado shifted northeast very quickly catching many off guard. You don't want to call for an evacuation and then have the tornado change course hitting those leaving town. The safest place is always going to be in an interior room of sturdy building or preferably below ground.

 

[Shane Adams]

I agree we could predict potentially strong/violent tornadoes 90 minutes ahead....hell we can do it now on certain events. But I don't see us ever predicting what EF scale a tornado will be an hour and a half ahead of time.

 

[NealRasmussen]

I was hoping to not have the thread turn into a discussion on Mike Morgan. As to the broader scope of the issue. Traffic control. Guidance. And think outside if the Moore river valley trap. Think of Dallas, Ft Worth, Wichita, KC. Etc. Anywhere there's a 5pm prime tornado time. Our traffic lights are way old and stupid. Your neighbor's cat is smarter than all.

Secondly, you're missing the chance at great kickbacks due to city purchase. Cost of one Cadillac escalade you get good lights and $5000 kickback to the city purchasing agent.

And lastly, education is key, yes. Do not drive when severe weather. But you know some will for human reasons. Why pile em up so bad on LBJ in Dallas on a whimpy EF3? Gonna have the hiway patrol wisk over to the on ramps? Riiight. Screw tech.

Neal.

 

[rdale]

So you're suggesting that a few billboards will allow us to clean out DFW during the evening rush hour if an EF3 was on the horizon?

 

[Greg Higgins]

Actually, in the DFW area, there are "electronic information billboards" that can be timely updated with a new message when the need arises. Currently they are used for "accidents ahead, road construction, "silver alerts", CAE and road closures". The problem......getting people to pay attention tot he message and then to actually do what needs to be done.

 

[NealRasmussen]

Pardon me if this has been discussed to death, or is in the
wrong area.

On May 31st, 2013 the entire city of Moore tried to evacuate. Entire
mile stretches of roads in south Moore were clogged with bumper
to bumper 1mph lines of cars.

I don't want this thread to be WHY this occurred. That it is likely to
occur again is the issue.

The City of Moore should remove the 4-way stop signs at the major
mile crossroads with addressable signals. Ones with LED panels
that could say, Tornado West! Do not go west! And have appropriate
blinking lights. It would help with EM vehicles too.

People will stupidly try to flee again someday, perhaps with
tragic results. Education to not evacuate from a tornado in a
city, and routing/control of traffic could save a few.

Neal

 

[rdale]

Neal - whatever you tried to say didn't come through