Emilee&Savannah

media type="custom" key="8085008" THE LIFE OF TORNADOES

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 BY: THE REAL TWISTA SISTAS

EMILEE AND SAVANNAH

__//**The Science **//__

Tornadoes are very large wind tunnels. Tornado winds can reach 300mph. Inside of tornadoes is rapidly spinning air. Tornadoes happen by hot and cold air chasing each other around and around. In the US there is a place called "Tornado Alley". "Tornado Alley" stretches over eastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, Missouri, and eastern Colorado. These places are home to some of the worst tornadoes throughout the year. A tornado is most likely to happen during a storm. Tornadoes are normally accompanied by hail, greeenish sky and a powerful train-like roar. Tornadoes can be found happening anytime of the year, but the "tornado season" is March through August.

Sites Used for The Science: 1: http://enviornment.nationalgeographic.com 2: http://www.fema.gov/kids/tornado.htm

**//__In The News __//**

On December 31, 2010 (new years eve)a series of tornadoes going between 80 and 100 MPH hit North St.Louis. These counties include, Sunset Hills, Fort Leonord Wood, and Rolla. Click on the link below to learn more about the destruction.

[|Click here for more info on this new years resolution!]

__//**Historical Event **//__ May 6, 1965 a series of 5 tornadoes hit Deephaven, Fridley and Twin Cities, Minnesota. 13 people were killed and 683 people were injured. There would have been many more if it weren't for the warnings to peoples homes made by the city.

[| Click here to learn more about this Minnesota twister] This is a picture of one of the tornadoes that hit Fridley.

. This is a tornado that hit Twin Cities

This is another picture of one of the tornadoes that hit Twin Cities.

Safety Corner

//__**DO'S AND DON'TS FOR TORNADOES**__//

DO listen to the radio or watch television for weather outside.

DON'T go outside. [|Look at this insane TWISTER!!]

DO immediately find shelter.

DON'T be anywhere near windows or glass.

DO listen to your teacher if there is a tornado at school.

DON'T go towards a tornado or you might get hurt.

**//__HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TORNADO__//**

**//__1: ALWAYS be prepared for a tornado; tornadoes can happen anytime of the year.__//** Keep your ears open. Know your own risks. Know where to go. Make a list of items to bring inside in the event a tornado was issued. Help your parents trim trees and shrubs. Talk to your parents about creating a plan for shelter. Build a safe room.Install strapping to your roof. Have mom and dad talk to your local building official about additional actions you can take.

Book Nook

[|Here is a book about tornadoes] A tornado appears in the distance, and Pete, the farmhand, gathers everyone into the storm cellar. While they wait for the storm to pass,he tells the family about the dog dropped down by a tornado when Pete was a boy. Named Tornado, Pete's pet was no ordinary dog -- he played card tricks, saved a turtle's life, and had a rivalry with the family cat. By the time Pete tells all of Tornado's lively stories, the storm has passed, and another family has been entertained by this very special dog.

 Tornado Movies!

media type="youtube" key="GHfkAAwpsu0" height="390" width="640" This is a tornado video from 8-7-2010 in Minnesota.

media type="youtube" key="GM-abtIT6Is" height="390" width="480" This is a video of how a tornado forms.

Expertise

One of our experts is Brian Barnes, a meteorologist that studies storms. He has been interested in storms ever since he can remember. He also provides tours for people to explore into the "heart of tornado alley".

The man on the left talking to the reporters is BRIAN! [|Brian's Website]



Our other expert is Dean Findley,he lives in Oklahoma City. He is the major at the Oklahoma City fire department.

This is part of the e-mail he sent us.

"Preparing for tornadoes is a continual process. Although tornadoes typically happen in the springtime, they remain a threat throughout the year. Thus, we must always be prepared. As a city, we have a large number of outdoor warning sirens to warn residents of a possible tornado. We test these sirens every week to ensure they are working properly. I’ll explain later how the sires are used. Our city’s emergency management office and first responders (fire, police, emergency medical and public works) continually plan and train on their response to a tornado impact. We also conduct public education campaigns throughout the year to remind our citizens that they need to be prepared for a tornado as well. www.ready.gov is an excellent resource for basics on personal preparedness. When discussing tornado preparedness, we specifically remind people of a couple of items: • Stay alert – watch the weather and be aware of what might happen on any given day. Our local television stations do an excellent job of monitoring weather conditions; especially conditions that favor the formation of tornadoes. People should also purchase an “all-hazards” alert radio. These radios provide the latest weather information from the National Weather Service and will also alert people when “watches” and “warnings” are issued; very useful during the night while people are sleeping. Think of the alert radio as a “smoke detector” for the weather.

• Have a plan – make sure everyone in your family knows what to do in the case of a tornado. This includes planning what you will do while at home, school, work, shopping and even while driving. Everyone must decide what action they will take well in advance of the storm.

On an individual level, I have an underground storm shelter at my home. I have an “all-hazard” alert radio and maintain “weather awareness” via television and radio. When threatening weather is possible, I also pre-plan my actions everywhere I go. Nothing extravagant, just simply noting what I will do while at the store or driving around town. I’m safest at work because my office is an underground storm shelter…which is the best place to be during a tornado. A safe room constructed according to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) guidelines will also work. If neither is available, take shelter in the center part of your home; inside a bathroom or closet. First, let’s talk about the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch is usually issued early in the development of a storm to alert everyone to the possibility that a tornado could develop in the area. No immediate threat is associated with a tornado watch. People just need to be aware of the possibility. A tornado warning, on the other hand, means that radar has identified rotation (indicator of a tornado) within the storm or someone has visually spotted a tornado. Our city only sounds the outdoor warning sirens when a tornado warning has been issued. When our 9-1-1 dispatch center receives notice that the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that includes our city, they immediately activate our warning sirens. We urge people to take shelter and seek additional information when they hear the sirens. Weather radar is the best technology available for trying to predict when and where a tornado will form. However, we cannot actually see a tornado on the radar screen. So how does radar help? The radar images show us the movement of the winds inside the storm. By studying these images, meteorologists can identify areas of rotation that indicate a possible tornado. These areas of rotation prompt the meteorologists to issue a tornado warning. As this technology advances, meteorologists are able to issue a tornado warning sooner which ultimately saves more lives."

Thank you websites of letting us use your info!!!

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