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Comparing reactions to two severe tornadoes in one Oklahoma community
Author(s) -
Comstock R. Dawn,
Mallonee Sue
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
disasters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-7717
pISSN - 0361-3666
DOI - 10.1111/j.0361-3666.2005.00291.x
Subject(s) - tornado , storm , poison control , occupational safety and health , suicide prevention , action (physics) , injury prevention , medicine , forensic engineering , medical emergency , engineering , meteorology , geography , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics
The authors compared the effect of the 3 May 1999 F5 and 8 May 2003 F3 tornadoes on the community of Moore, Oklahoma, by canvassing damaged areas after both tornadoes and surveying residents. Significantly more 1999 than 2003 residents reported property damage and injuries. Television and tornado sirens were the most common warnings each year, however, more 1999 residents received and responded to television warnings. Importantly, storm shelters were used more frequently in 2003. Fifty‐one per cent of residents who experienced both tornadoes took the same amount of protective action in 2003 as they had in 1999; 22% took less; and 27% took more. Residents who took less action said that the reason for doing so was inadequate warning and shelter. Firsthand experience of tornadoes prompts people to heed warnings when adequate notification is received and to take effective protective action when adequate shelter is available.