Tornado alley consists of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, and North Dakota. These states have frequent severe weather that can give rise to tornadoes, and often brutal damage as a result. Oklahoma has seen it’s fair share of tornadoes since the National Weather Service began recording tornado activity in 1950, and of course even before that. The area’s tornadoes and severe weather are caused by a variety of factors, the two main reasons being the geography and wind current interaction. In short, the activity of weather impacts the rigid geography nearby and creates a tunneling effect, that can birth deadly storms and numerous tornadoes in the warmer months. Recently, tragedy struck Oklahoma yet again as a severe storm caused a tornado to coalesce and injure thirty people as well as cause massive damage to property in it’s path. The video below details some of the most recent assessments of the event.
The thirty people that were injured were actually very fortunate, as none of the injuries proved to be fatal. Most of the injuries were minor, caused by debris, falls, and general mishaps due to the storm. Tulsa has seen it’s fair share of tornado related injuries and St. Francis hospital was duly prepared to treat the influx of patients after the storm.The center of the area was hit with a tornado warning just before it tore through, given the residents and locals not enough time to prepare. Local news sources interviewed some downtown locals about the event. Among them was, Rayvonne Marcheselli a mother of three. She had just enough time to rescue her kids when she heard the tornado strike a nearby building with a “boom.” She said the tornado tore through “Like a…razor, it just took out a path of trees through here.” In total the the local businesses downtown, several homes, a traffic light, and the high school’s entryway was damaged. After the storm had ended, 11,000 locals were left without power after power lines had been completely destroyed. The National Weather Service is still investigating the storm. Oklahoma’s recent history has been rough. Last year residents were also damaged severely by a string of tornadoes and severe storms.
Tornadoes in Oklahoma 2016
Severe weather has been on the rise in recent years, and as it’s panning out it seems 2017 is no exception. Two of the most costly weather disasters ever took place in Tornado Alley just last year. Billions of dollars were lost in an outbreak of thunderstorms, tornadoes, and severe winds. Oklahoma was ranked on the “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disaster’s Report” as a result of the previous year. For perspective, alongside last year’s other ranking disaster’s were the wildfires in California, and the historic Hurricane Matthew that struck Florida. Billions of dollars in damage is nothing to shake a stick at, but the deaths and severe injuries that come with severe storms leave their mark on families for decades to come. The tragedy doesn’t end simply at the loss of the loved one, the sting is only intensified upon discovering that the deaths were preventable with safe rooms. Some debate has been sparked by official in Oklahoma as to whether or not they will be made mandatory. Legislation is on the table, but not yet passed.
The destruction caused by a tornado is not predictable. But, the tornado warnings in Oklahoma are intended to be an hour before the storm reaches conditions favorable to the formation of a tornado. This is a large window compared to states outside of Tornado Alley. The reason being it allows residents plenty of time to wait safely in an above or below safe room or safe area until the threat of tornado has passed. In the instance of this most previous tornado in Oklahoma, the National Weather Service even went as far as saying that the occurrence was “not outrageous.” The lack of surprise is shocking to those citizens that don’t live through every summer with at least a few tornadoes, but severe storms aren’t going anywhere. On the contrary, they are elevating in frequency, and some scientists predict that the frequency elevation is even exponential in nature. That much is to be determined, but what is certain is that a safe room in every home would prevent hundreds of injuries and some deaths every year.
For example, the six deaths that took place in the southern area of tornado valley took place between “April 16th and May 2nd.” Disaster strikes quickly. These deaths were caused by three tornadoes that went through Oklahoma in that time frame. That wasn’t all of the tornadoes that struck within the expanse of that month last year. Just a few days later two more struck nearby, and went the storms caused damage throughout the surrounding states in Kentucky, and parts of Tennessee, as well as Colorado. 16 billion dollars were lost in tornado alley last year. That number still pales in comparison to the price each family would pay to have their loved one back. Money isn’t everything, and although it’s tough to say what the future holds a few thousand dollars on a premium safe room to save the your life or the life of your loved ones is an easy call to make. The history of Oklahoma just within the past year should be able to communicate that.
More storms came through Oklahoma even still last year, with more injuries, and 93 homes sustained damage in the month of May alone. Oklahoma ended up topping out at 2nd place in 2016 for one of the most disastrous ridden year in history. That’s not news to the residents, who’ve seen flooding, droughts, and severe storms just in 2015. Tornadoes are still the bane of the state, not due only their destructive power, but in combination with their unpredictability and frequency. A single tornado can destroy the lives of an entire family in under a minute and be gone just moments later. That’s why it’s imperative that anyone in Tornado alley, Oklahoma, or an area where tornadoes have been known to form (literally every state in the country) should consider purchasing a safe room from US Safe Rooms.
U.S. Safe Rooms
Above Ground Safe Room Features and Benefits
- Customizable to any size, to accommodate any number of people
- Quick construction and cost effective installation
- Units can be Installed by a professional or D.I.Y.
- Provides Protection against burglary
- Provides Protection against natural disasters
- Provides Protection for your valuables
- Provides Protection for family, neighbors, employees, and coworkers
- Peace of mind
Modular Safe Room Benefits
- Customized steel panels can retrofit any room
- Panels come in single units and are lightweight
- Installed by a professional or by you
- Protection against burglary
- Protection against natural disasters
- Protection for your valuables
- Discreet and easy to install
- Save the lives of loved ones, employees, and coworkers
- Peace of mind
Underground Bunker Benefits
- Encased in steel for maximum protection
- Customizable for any of your needs
- Peace of mind that you and your family have a fallback option
- Versatile uses include home gym, office, or media room
- Accessibility from the safety of your home
- Can be prepped for extended periods of stay without sacrificing quality of life
- Our design and installation team will do all the heavy lifting for you
- Protection against environmental forces, and even burglary
- Storage of valuables and other heirlooms
Our thoughts and compassion goes out to the residents in Oklahoma during these trying times. For those fortunate enough to sleep with a roof over their heads throughout the country, consider yourselves lucky. Luckily no residents were killed in the most recent storm, but fatalities have occurred as recent as just last year. Call in today to prevent your family from unnecessary injury or death by purchasing one of our many safe rooms. We have configurations available that should suit every size home and familial unit. Our building advisors and engineers are waiting for your call, and are eager to give you a free consultation. Consider this your first step into protecting your family from unpredictable and reliably devastating tornadoes today.
