Learning from Alabama tornadoes 

There were roughly 3 dozen tornadoes reported in Georgia last year including at least 4 killer twisters. People in general and governments can learn a lot from last years tornado outbreak.

In 2011, 177 tornadoes struck Alabama, making it the state with the highest number of twisters in a year that the South was hit particularly hard by violent storms, Mississippi was right behind Alabama in second place with 169 tornadoes and North Carolina was fourth with 113 according to the Storm Prediction Center. We in Georgia and the rest of the nation should heed the lessons learned from last years tornado outbreaks.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley formed the Tornado Recovery Action Council after tornadoes killed 248 people on April 27, 2011 across the state.

In a 117-page report delivered to the governor, the council came up with 20 recommendations: tougher building codes, more tornado shelters and sales tax holidays for storm preparedness and emergency supplies. Louisiana and Virginia have an existing sales tax holiday to encourage residents to be prepared before severe weather strikes. The report also calls for unannounced casualty drills, continuing campaigns about emergency preparedness and tax incentives for home and business owners to build safe rooms.

Meteorologists and safety officials now have a fairly new recommendation for all people in tornado-prone areas, especially those of us in the south where true basements (completely below ground) are rare. It is a good idea when a tornado warning is issued for your area to go to your safe spot AND put on helmets. You and your kids should wear bicycle, football or motorcycle helmets. Most deaths from tornadoes result from blunt force trauma to the head as a result of flying debris in the tornadic winds.

Sadly it seems people are being injured and killed because they do not take the right action or safety measures when watches and warnings are issued. Even when tornado sirens sound, meaning take cover now, the reaction of too many people is to just stand around looking at the sky and listening. Many people indoors THINK they should hear a siren if a tornado is nearby. But tornado sirens ARE ONLY INTENDED TO WARN PEOPLE OUTSIDE in the first place. Sirens ARE NOT supposed to warn you if you are inside. They are not even DESIGNED for you to hear them indoors! You should never EXPECT or wait to hear a siren indoors or outdoors. But if you do hear one take cover immediately. Listen to the radio for the latest information and/or have a NOAA Weather Alert Radio.

People believe a lot of things about tornadoes that just are not true. See this link for Tornado Myths that could cost you your life http://news.yahoo.com/tornado-myths-tough-forecasters-bust-204015239.html