Tornado: Consequences

Despite their relatively limited individual existences, tornados wreak a significant amount of damage, depending on the areas they traverse. In purely qualitative terms, tornados cause damage depending on the velocity and rotation of their winds. Property can be destroyed by the strength of the winds. Power lines can potentially be knocked down, and water, gas and sewage system can be damaged. People and animals can be injured or killed through wind-generated whiplash, being hurled against harder objects or being hit by a projectile. After the tornado passes, secondary disasters such as fires and flooding can persist due to the direct effects of the wind. The destruction caused by a tornado can lead to injuries and disease from contamination, hypothermia and unsanitary conditions.

Economic

Tornadoes may bear even more consequences than aforementioned. Due to their unpredictable nature, tornados on course for an open field can suddenly veer toward power lines, power plants or other natural services operations. Should such a facility be damaged, the connected communities would be cut off from its products and services, severely impeding that community from progress in all senses of the word.  Additionally, should a region experience tornado damage, insurance rates can drastically increase in all areas from homeowners to life to car insurance as insurance agencies feel that there is statistical and empirical proof that such an event could again occur.

Social

This last factor, that one tornado sets the precedent for another, influences a growing correlative with tornadoes: sensationalism.  As those affected by severe weather would like to have their "15 minutes of fame", regardless of the weather phenomenon that caused their damage, if it was high winds of any sort, often it is claimed by the victims that they saw a tornado, even if they did not. This is a huge problem in that it hinders development of community initiative projects to help mediate tornado damage and sight notification.

Sources Consulted

Sources

  • Stoltman, Joseph, John Lidstone,  and Lisa Dechano. International Perspectives On Natural Disasters: Occurrence, Mitigation and Consequences. 2005.  1 Mar. 2006 <http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/50/>.
  • Douglas, Paul. Restless Skies. Sterling Company, 2004. 81