Death wish: Why people ignore severe weather warnings
The News Review:
- Death wish: Why people ignore severe weather warnings
- Tornado debris travels long distances
- Regents look to Legislature on UTMB
- Forecasters: Clearer warnings could save lives
Death wish: Why people ignore severe weather warnings
USA Today
In addition to optimism bias some survivors thought the threat was minimal because February is not within the usual tornado season. thers said they spent time seeking confirmation and went to a safe location only after they saw a tornado. In all two-thirds of the people killed in that outbreak were in mobile homes and 60% did not have access to safe shelter (a basement or a storm cellar). ?Protecting life and property is not as simple as issuing a forecast? says National Weather Service Director Jack Hayes. ?A number of barriers often deter people from making risk-averse decisions and we want to learn all we can to determine if there is more the National Weather Service can do to change this.
Tornado debris travels long distances
WTHR
“I could not believe it. It just 'boom' and it was done” said Delilah Taylor storm victim. Taylor's Fayetteville home was right in the path of Sunday's tornado. “It raised the roof” she said. Across the street the force of the storm lifted Dallas Bolton's home right off the foundation. The house is totaled but he considers himself lucky. “We lost a few things but our stuff is not scattered to the wind” Bolton said.
Regents look to Legislature on UTMB
Houston Chronicle
UTMB leaders presented the UT System Board of Regents with a plan to rebuild and renovate island-based facilities of the medical school and — over time — restore it to its pre-Hurricane Ike capacity of 550 beds. However the plan hinges on about $300 million from the state along with funds the school expects to get from FEMA and insurance. The regents unanimously passed a resolution supporting the plan if the funds are approved. “This board by this vote is deeply committed to the future of UTMB on Galveston Island but this decision is not our decision alone” said H.
Related from Medcylopaedia: Regents look to Legislature on UTMB
Forecasters: Clearer warnings could save lives
The Associated Press
A report on an outbreak of tornadoes that ripped through the South in February 2008 found that some local statements failed to convey the peril. The storms killed more than 50 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. “Wording such as ‘extremely dangerous and life threatening situation’ should have been employed more often in tornado warnings and follow-up severe weather statements” says the report which was released this month. It continues “Many call-to-action statements that did not convey the urgency of the event were used.