Issues with transmitting tornado warnings in various areas of the country

[calvinkaskey]

I have had issues with not getting a tornado warning from my car radio or older phone and in New York there are no tornado sirens. In North Carolina I had bought a weather radio in loo of the previous incident and it took 7 minutes after the warning was supposedly issued. I did have a cell phone but my service was spotty in the area and it took 5 minutes (although I had called to report the tornado and it went through after 2 minutes. There should be tornado sirens in the area since N.C. is very tornado prone at times.

 

[rdale]

There was not a 7 minute delay in NOAA Weather Radio unless major technical issues hit that day. Normally it's on the order of 5-15 seconds.

Tornado sirens are not cheap. In emergency management we rank all hazards and their risks - and from that can base where to allocate resources (and money.) Tornadoes aren't as high in NC as they are in OK.

 

[calvinkaskey]

It's all on video. here is video

 

[NealRasmussen]

Seems historically that SC is somewhat a min.
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/onlin...1=0&w02=9999&showt=0&legend=1&showh=0&showw=0
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/onlin...1=0&w02=9999&showt=0&legend=1&showh=0&showw=0

One of those is OK/KS and one is SC. I'm not sure which is which.
It's from 1950-2010 of all F3+ from this site. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/sp3/plot.php
I think at F4, SC has like 8 in 60 yrs. OK has like 42.

But ya. Seems to me a siren would cost about as much as a stoplight set of 4?
How much are them thar cameras on top of the traffic lights that don't EVEN
analyze traffic to time the lights? Actually... I do think my neighbor's cat may
be smarter than our traffic lights, but I digress.

 

[rdale]

Sirens cost about $20K to install, and then $1-2K every few years for maintenance. So for good coverage in a large city like Columbia you'd be looking at $2-4 million up front and a a quarter million per year in upkeep.

 

[calvinkaskey]

I'm sure there is a way to cut costs of a siren and its maintenance. North of North Carolina (except maybe Massachusetts) I don't think tornado sirens are needed but North Carolina south and west and Ohio west and south are the areas that get violent tornadoes. Sorry for putting out that video here is one that really shows the possible significant tornado in it's mature stage with a tornado warning just issued after slowing going through a populated area and reports to NWS and emergency management agencies. It's a good thing the area it hit was a very unpopulated area (estimated it hit along a stream).

P.S. North Carolina and West Texas are some of the areas that are predicted to have increases in severe weather day with global warming according to one site. I'm not sure what you guys have heard.

 

[rdale]

No, there really isn't a way to cut the cost Otherwise we'd do it already.

There is no way to predict specific states that may get more tornadoes due to climate change.

 

[calvinkaskey]

So you didn't watch the video?

 

[rdale]

Sure did. Nice video! I see a tornado with the audio of a tornado warning playing in the background. Good work at NWS getting that info out in a timely manner!

 

[calvinkaskey]

In light of people recently dying in Texas during a tornado what warnings are transmitted to vehicles? One has to pull over and stop to check out even if their cell phone buzzes and then it says to check NWS radio or other broadcast and one might even forget or not know what their cell phone is doing. Cell service might not be good or their phone might be dead. Regular radio does not make any sounds to alert in areas I have been in. I have heard warnings for large hail but none for tornadoes even when a warning was issued for the area at that time.

 

[rdale]

In light of people recently dying in Texas during a tornado what warnings are transmitted to vehicles?

Several of the drivers knew of the threat and decided to continue driving. But the WEA will not only buzz you cellphone but tell you TORNADO WARNING. That by itself should be a clue.

one might even forget or not know what their cell phone is doing.

You've apparently never heard a WEA alert

Cell service might not be good or their phone might be dead.

Whenever inclement weather is in the forecast, I'd suggest keeping your phone charged.

Regular radio does not make any sounds to alert in areas I have been in.

It absolutely DOES. It's called EAS.

I have heard warnings for large hail but none for tornadoes even when a warning was issued for the area at that time.

You weren't listening at the time the warning was issued then...

 

[calvinkaskey]

You don't travel to other parts of the country do you?

 

[rdale]

You don't travel to other parts of the country do you?

Quite often actually. Thanks for asking!

 

[calvinkaskey]

http://thevane.gawker.com/the-national-weather-service-couldnt-send-out-tornado-w-1580370776

Nobody really cares here in the "East" until maybe people die or the NWS is sued.

 

[rdale]

People do care - but you clearly do not understand what you're reading. Ask questions instead of posting and looking... well... fill in the blank...