something about tornados
Austria to America. All I was asking for was a basement when my husband, my 3 little ones and I moved from the suburbs of Vienna to the Cornhusker State of Nebraska. I felt a lot of fear to live in a state that is known to be in the so called Tornado Alley.
(weather radio, weekly test)
It was as early as March when Nebraska had its first Tornado Watch of the season. I’ve never experienced anything similar. Yes, there are thunderstorms, supercells, funnel clouds and Tornados around the Alps. There are even some stormchasers that run http://www.stormhunters-austria.com. Since the 1950´s there has been about 90 registered Tornados in Austria.
So I informed myself well in advance. I went around and asked our new friends, neighbors and acquaintances in Lincoln about Tornados and what to do. Do I keep on driving? Do I leave my house and drive to an official shelter? Do I run down to school? What exactly means a Tornado Watch and what is a Warning? Sirens? When do they go on? What if I don´t hear them?
What I hear makes me wonder and think about it even more. Not everyone is taking precautions. Not all have basements. Most never experienced a Tornado. A lot don´t take shelter during a Tornado Warning. Some simply pray and hope for the best. Most people live with the Tornado Warnings for most of their lives and take them what they are. Nature.
Someone then told me to buy a weather radio! How safe I felt all of a sudden. I bought even two. Just in case. One that fitted in my purse and I could take with me outside of town, anytime. That made me feel safer. (Oh, later that year I got my first iPhone – what a great help to get those weather apps).
We learned fast that not every Tornado Watch meant to go and run down to your basement. We learnt to live with it, like everyone else does who lives in a state that is constantly struck by Tornados. I’ve learned my lesson in being more calm about Tornados, but I’ve also realized that it´s the awareness that keeps you safe!
The awareness and an unfortunate accident kept us safe during several Tornado Warnings outside of town last May. Read more about this crazy experience on my blog: http://theaustrianwalnutproject.wordpress.com/tag/tornado/
Talk to me about Austria 