Tornadoes
Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Spawned from power
thunderstorms, tornadoes can uproot trees and buildings, and turn
harmless objects into deadly missiles. They can devastate a
neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating,
funnel-shaped cloud that extends to the ground, with whirling winds that
can reach 300 miles per hour.
Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.
Every state is at some risk from this hazardous weather phenomenon.
Historical records of severe weather events across West Virginia include
the following tornado incidents:
- On May 2, 1929, a tornado swept through Morgantown. The
storm cleared a path about a quarter mile wide from the hills near
Dents Run through Riverside, Seneca, and Walnut Hill. Two were
injured.
- Tornadoes hit West Virginia on June 23, 1944. One path ran
from Wellsburg, through southwest Pennsylvania, into Preston County,
and into Deer park, Maryland. A second storm, to the south,
was worse. It's funnel touched down around 7 pm just northwest
of Shinnston. Eyewitnesses stated the tornado crossed the West
Fork River and so much water was drawn up that the river bottom was
visible. The twister continued for 40 miles, up and down the
hills, until it dissipated on Cheat Mountain. It's path ran
right through the Pleasant Hill area of Shinnston, as well as the
towns of Flemington, Simpson, and just north of Philippi.
There were 103 deaths attributed to the storm in West Virginia
alone.
- A tornado hit Raleigh County at 11 pm on April 19, 1959.
The path was one mile long and 150 feet wide. Twelve were
injured.
- April 4, 1974 was part of a major tornado outbreak in the Ohio
Valley. McDowell, Wyoming, Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, and
Greenbrier Counties were affected by at least one tornado between 4
am and 5 am. One child was killed, and 32 were injured.
- An F-3 tornado struck Monongalia and Preston Counties on June 3,
1980. The path was 24 miles long in West Virginia, and an
additional five miles in Maryland. Locations impacted included
Ridgedale, Reedsville, and Kingwood. Fifteen people were
injured, and 28 homes were destroyed.
- A tornado struck Morgantown on June 16, 1982. An infant
was killed when a tree fell onto a mobile home.
Tornado Safety Tips
Tornadoes can occur any time of the year without warning, giving you
little time to act. It is important to know the basics of tornado
safety so that you can survive should a tornado strike.
The National Weather Service uses Doppler weather radar to sense the
air movement within thunderstorms. Early detection of increasing
rotation aloft within a thunderstorm can allow lifesaving warnings
before the tornado forms. A tornado watch means
tornadoes are possible. A tornado warning means
tornadoes are occurring or have been indicated on radar. Tune into
one of the following for weather information: radio, local television,
cable television, The Weather Channel, or NOAA
Weather Radio.
Don't wait until a warning is issued before planning how to respond.
Take responsibility for the safety of yourself and your family and plan
now. Because they are so infrequent in West Virginia, you should
practice what you would do in the event of a tornado and know where a
safe shelter is.
Have a plan. Meet with household members to discuss how to
respond to a tornado warning. Hold tornado drills. Learn how
to turn off the water, gas, and electricity to your residence.
When a tornado watch is issued, review your plan. Do not wait for
a warning to be issued.
When a tornado warning is issued
- The safest place to be during a tornado is the basement.
If you have no basement or cellar, go to a small room (bathroom or
closet) in the middle of the building. Once there, try to find
something sturdy you can crawl under. Getting underneath a
work bench or heavy table will protect you from flying debris and/or
a collapsed roof.
- Be aware of emergency shelter plans in buildings and schools
where you and your family spend time. If a specified shelter
does not exist, move to the building's lowest level. Try to
avoid areas with large glass windows or wide, free-span roofs.
- Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to damage from high
winds. Residents - even those who live in mobile homes with
tie-downs - should seek safe shelter when a tornado threatens.
Go to a prearranged shelter when the weather turns bad. If you
live in a mobile home park, talk to management about the
availability of a nearby shelter. If no shelter is available,
go outside and lie on the ground in a ditch or depression.
Cover your neck and head with your hands and wait for the storm to
pass. While waiting, be alert for flash floods that often
accompany tornadoes.
- Never try to outrun a tornado. A tornado can toss cars and
even large trucks around like toys. if you see a funnel cloud
or hear of a tornado warning for the area you are in, get out of
your vehicle and find safe shelter. If no shelter is around,
lie down in a low area using your hands to cover the back of your
head and neck.
After the tornado
- Look out for broken glass and downed power lines.
- Check for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously
injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of death or
further injury. If you must move an unconscious person, first
stabilize the neck and back, then call for help immediately.
- Use great caution when entering a damaged building. Be
sure that walls, ceilings and floors are in place, and that the
structure is still resting firmly on it's foundation. Wear
sturdy work boots, gloves, and eye protection.