Dan Robinson
EF5
While doing some reading last night, I discovered a rarely-talked-about aspect of tornadoes that while macabre, is probably something more of us should think about. The movie depictions of someone in a tornado (and maybe our own perceptions and confidence in armored vehicles) are a far cry from the realities. Yes, we probably know that to some extent, but do we know *how* bad it actually is?
Here are a few things gleaned from these sources, some I hadn't fully grasped previously myself:
- Tornado winds at the surface are densely packed with small particles that will 'sandblast' off clothing and large patches of skin.
- Any wounds will be deeply penetrated with fungus and bacteria-rich soil, causing serious secondary infections.
- The wind gets into cavities (eye sockets, nose, mouth, ears) and can do severe internal damage and ghastly mutilations.
- In addition to debris impacts, many people are killed/injured from being violently tumbled along the ground or becoming airborne and then falling.
http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/full/10.1175/1520-0434(2002)017<0343:TRDAII>2.0.CO;2
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/10/joplin-tornado-health-fungus_n_874806.html?
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/21/nation/la-na-nn-oklahoma-tornado-injuries-20130521
Think twice before you plan on driving/running into a tornado.
Here are a few things gleaned from these sources, some I hadn't fully grasped previously myself:
- Tornado winds at the surface are densely packed with small particles that will 'sandblast' off clothing and large patches of skin.
- Any wounds will be deeply penetrated with fungus and bacteria-rich soil, causing serious secondary infections.
- The wind gets into cavities (eye sockets, nose, mouth, ears) and can do severe internal damage and ghastly mutilations.
- In addition to debris impacts, many people are killed/injured from being violently tumbled along the ground or becoming airborne and then falling.
http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/full/10.1175/1520-0434(2002)017<0343:TRDAII>2.0.CO;2
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/10/joplin-tornado-health-fungus_n_874806.html?
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/21/nation/la-na-nn-oklahoma-tornado-injuries-20130521
Think twice before you plan on driving/running into a tornado.
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