Tornado Emergency - Criteria

Criteria

National Weather Service Des Moines is one of the forecast offices that has created a set purpose and criteria to the usage of "Tornado Emergency" in Tornado Warning products, which they made effective on March 12, 2010. According to their office, the purpose of the tornado emergency wording is:

  • To motivate and provide a sense of urgency to persons in the path of this storm to take immediate shelter in a reinforced structure that offers maximum protection from destructive winds.
  • To communicate to state, local, and county officials and emergency responders that they should prepare for immediate search and rescue operations.
  • To communicate the need to prepare for immediate medical emergencies, evacuation measures, and emergency sheltering.

And before usage, the following criteria must be met:

  • A large and catastrophic tornado has been confirmed and will continue (a radar signature alone is not sufficient).
  • The tornado will have a high impact and/or affect a highly vulnerable population (estimated to be once every 10 years for central Iowa).
  • The tornado is expected to cause numerous fatalities.

The National Weather Service office in Nashville, TN also created criteria for the usage of tornado emergency effective January 1, 2011. It states, "Tornado Emergency can be inserted in the third bulletin of the initial tornado warning (TOR) or in a severe weather statement (SVS)." Before the phrase can be used:

  • a confirmed large tornado must be going through a highly populated area such as Metro Nashville
  • a violent tornado with a significant damage history
  • a confirmed tornado, radar shows evidence of debris
  • the confirmed tornado is expected to cause significant widespread damage and loss of life.

Read more about this topic:  Tornado Emergency

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