BACKPACKING & TORNADOS
Tornadoes in the wilderness are a less commonly addressed topic, so there is probably not as much information on response and preparedness than their would be for an urban setting. However, the synopsis is of advice for a wilderness response to a tornado threat would be to find an open area and lie down flat, in a depression or ditch if possible, away from trees and other potential hazards; cover your head with clothing or a back pack for protection from flying debris. A cave or rock overhang might be a better option if you could find one, but chances are they wouldn't be readily available when you needed them.

In more urban settings, seeking shelter under a highway bridge or overpass, or even a large culvert would be advisable. Folks in cars should stop them, get out and run immediately to a sheltered area or as noted above, lie down flat in an open area. If buildings can be found, going to the basement is best, otherwise inner walls/hallways of the main floor and away from doors and windows to avoid flying glass and debris is preferable. Contrary to popular opinion, opening or closing windows/doors has no effect on safety and only wastes time that should be spent finding immediate shelter.

The worst thing that most folks do is stand out in harm's way and "gawk" at the approaching funnel cloud when they should be finding shelter as quickly as possible. Many have died due to this behavior. This is due to a "denial" perception that such storms and weather phenomenon "cannot possibly be a threat to me.." Often when folks realize that they are imminently in harms way, they are too late to do anything about it. Note the precaution that lying flat in a ditch or depression during a tornado can also subject you to flash flood hazards related to the storm, as well as to risk of lightning strike, so it is advisable to get to a safer location once the tornado has dissipated or left the area.

Probably the most important skill is recognition of the potential for a tornado forming. Checking weather forecasts before you go, and watching for the formation of "wall or anvil clouds" and clouds with a dark greenish tinge, as well as those which form "nipples" which often are the precursor of funnel clouds may give you enough time to alter your route and get to a safe area. Another imminent warning is of course the "roaring sound" caused by the winds which some compare to a "railroad train engine noise." NOAA weather radio constantly broadcasts weather warnings, and small, battery operated weather warning radios are available inexpensively at local electronics stores such as Radio Shack. Early tornado watches are often given when there is a potential for a storm which can form tornadoes so you may have plenty of time to take precautions and move to another more safe area. The good news is that tornadoes in mountainous country are seldom as severe as those on open or plains area since mountains tend to inhibit the formation of large powerful funnel clouds. However, even an F1 tornado can certainly due substantial property damage and cause personal injury. Most mountainous tornadoes are seldom larger than F1 or F2, whereas plains tornadoes can reach up to F5 which is devastatingly dangerous to life and property. An associated hazard which is equally dangerous is of course lightning. The preferred response for imminent lightning strikes in open or exposed areas such as ridges on mountains is now to crouch into a "squatting" position with your feet together and your arms around your knees or alternatively, your hands covering your ears to protect from the sound impact of lightning.) Only your feet should be touching the ground to avoid transfer of electrical energy from the "ground wave" of a lightning strike that may stop the heart or cause ventricular fibrillation. Being inside buildings or in cars is the safest option since the structures or vehicles made of metal act as "faraday cages" and conduct energy around the occupants to ground. The tires on the vehicle have no "insulating value" as is commonly thought. Lightning strikes can occur on seemingly "clear days" where a cloud formation is several miles away, however a bolt can travel many miles and contains hundreds of millions of volts of electrical energy and very high amperage. The average lightning bolt is only about 1 inch in diameter, but appears much larger due to the brilliant light emitted. It has a temperature which is about five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Many tragic strikes on golf courses, parks, and open playing fields have happened during seemingly sunny clear days, so when storms threaten, take precautions even if the storm is miles away; get folks inside buildings, into cars, and off the water, promptly. Remember that most lightning strike victims survive, but may need immediate CPR and advanced life support from paramedics (defibrillation and cardiac drugs). Only those who are directly hit by a strike such as might occur by being close to a tree or out on a body of water are more likely to be fatally injured.

Bob Amick, EMT-B, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72/SES 72,Boulder, CO Longs Peak Council Exploring Training Chair; American Red Cross Community Disaster Education Instructor/Advisor, Emergency Management Explorer Post 493At 02:07 PM 6/4/98 -0400, you wrote:>To all our backcountry experts,> let's just say that you're deep in the forest when>something like this occurs. There's hail, 60+ mph winds, driving rain,>etc. and you're surrounded by trees (any of which might decide to>topple). And then there's the possibility of the funnel cloud itself>coming along, which you can't see because of the forest canopy.>Date: Fri, 5 Jun 1998 13:27:49 -0400From: Norman MacLeod To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Backpacking and Tornadoes Let's not pose an easy question or anything, eh? When hiking in the outdoors in the summertime, you should always keep a "weather eye" and "weather ear" out. Most thunderstorms move west to east in the Northern Hemisphere. There are, however, exceptions, so look around all 360 degrees at least once in awhile. You need your ears even more on hazy days, where you might not see a storm forming until it's too late. Stop your hike line every once in awhile and maintain absolute silence for a couple of minutes to try to hear any cell muttering in the distance. Remember that 30+ mile an hour movement is not uncommon, and a front can move even more rapidly if the conditions are right. You CANNOT outrun most thunderstorms on foot or horse back! When you see thunderheads forming, watch more carefully. Keep an eye out for possible bail-out routes as you go. When you begin to hear thunder from the nearest cell, it's time to do a temporary bail-out to a safer location. The bottom of an east-facing slope is generally the safest place to be, especially when you have a steep hill available. If you are approaching an alternate trail that does this for you, and still gets you to your destination, take that trail, if possible, moving onto it before you would have to consider bailing out for safety. STAY OUT OF SURFACE CAVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE FORMED BY BEDROCK SPLITTING! Tornadoes come from thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms have lightning. Lighting striking at bedrock has a nasty tendency to expend its energy via bedrock fracture lines. You often find a lot of these in caves near the surface. If you are beneath a fracture line, lightning can arc through the cave and hit you. Same goes for depressions in bedrock...However, if you can be close to one of these natural features, or next to a cliff, stick close by. If you get caught in a tornado, you'll need them. Avoid tall trees. Put on raingear. Crouch on the ground with your arms around your knees. This will help minimize your chances of being affected by nearby lightning strikes. It's possible to do your crouching on top of a backpack laid horizontal on the ground, to increase your degree of insulation. If hail begins to fall, place your hands on top of your head and KEEP THEM THERE. Better yet, put on a climbing helmet (if you have one) or a cooking pot (if you have one large enough to protect your head. A folded sleeping mat will also provide a high degree of body protection if you hold it to your head. Listen. Tornadoes make one heck of a racket. They make a much different sound than other types of wind. If you've never heard it, remember that people say they sound like a loud train. Not quite true, but close enough until you experience the real thing. (There's a howling and moaning quality to the sound that doesn't match up to the noise of a train...)If you hear or see a tornado, forget what I said about the danger of caves and hollows in the bedrock. The risk of being hit by lightning inside one of these structures becomes FAR more acceptable than the risk posed by a funnel cloud on or near the ground. How can a funnel cloud in the air hurt you? Tornadoes can carry debris a LONG way. The funnel may have been on the ground on the other side of the hill. That stuff has to come back to the ground some time...Remember, too, that just because a tornado has come and gone doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't another one in the area. Once it goes by, you still need to keep an eye and ear out. There were three distinct, separate lines of very severe thunderstorms associated with the weather front that produced the tornadoes in eastern Pennsylvania and western Maryland the other day. There are times when tornadoes DO happen in hilly terrain, contrary to what you may have learned in the past. The Maryland tornadoes happened in hilly terrain. Generally, a tornado that can survive hills is a VERY strong one, with potential to do a LOT of squirrelly thinks, including doubling back on itself and moving back the way it came for a little way, not far, but perhaps enough to get you if you aren't minding your Ps and Qs after it goes by the first time. Some people don't associate waterspouts with danger. A waterspout in conjunction with a thunderstorm is different from a tornado only because it's over water instead of land...as you will perhaps learn when you see one come ashore...============================================= GAELIC WOLF CONSULTING >>