Finger on the Weather

Ask local meteorologists for recent examples of “success stories” when it comes to tornadoes, and they mention Greensburg, Haysville and Hoisington.

That may seem hard to believe, since 11 people were killed in Greensburg by a tornado that decimated 95% of the town two years ago; that 6 people died in the tornado that slammed into Haysville and Wichita in 1999; and that 2 people lost their lives in Hoisington in 2001.

But each of those tornadoes had a couple of things in common with each other: All of them happened at night, and residents responded quickly to the tornado threat. If they hadn’t, weather officials have often said, the number of people killed would have been much, much higher.

And that’s why Severe Weather Awareness Week is so important: it’s a chance for people and businesses to review how they’ll respond when severe weather threatens. The more thought and preparation given to these measures, the more readily and calmly people will respond when circumstances demand it.

The statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Tuesday. It’s an ideal day for families to conduct their own drill, reminding their children where to go and what to do when a tornado warning is issued. It’s a good day to replace the batteries in the weather alert radio, flashlights, and portable radios.

It’s the right time to make sure you have hard-soled shoes next to the bed or within easy reach – along with ID, a whistle, and baggies with any necessary medication and nonperishable food inside them…just in case you have to make a dash for the basement or interior room on the ground floor.

These steps may seem like overkill now — but if a tornado ever strikes , you’ll be glad you took them. They could be the difference between surviving a tornado…or not.