Metro Creative Connection
Roughly 1,000 tornadoes per year are reported
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Tornadoes are intense, violent
storms that feature a column of air that extends
from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground.
Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world.
However, the United States experiences more
tornadoes than any other country. According
to Verisk's Property Claim Service, tornadoes
accounted for 39.9 percent of insured catastrophe
losses from 1997 to 2016, and the average annual
loss on these severe storms was $11.23 billion.
Tornadoes, although impressive to watch, are
volatile storms with great power. ey have the
capability to flip cars, destroy buildings and
send deadly debris flying into the air. Intense
winds can reach more than 200 miles per
hour.
e Department of Homeland
Security notes that there are many
things people can do to keep themselves
safe from tornadoes before, during and
aer these storms.
Before
Understand and learn about
the risk for tornadoes where you
live. People in the midwestern and
southwestern United States have
a greater risk of experiencing
tornadoes than those elsewhere in
the country.
Establish a safe room in your
home, which can be a basement or
Tornado
safety tips
More information is available at www.ready.gov/tornadoes
32 • FEBRUARY 2020 • OZARK LIVING
