Tornado Season 2011 Already Above Average - An outbreak of over 100 tornadoes in the United States has left at least 45 people feared dead across the lower Midwest and South. Deaths occurred from southeast Oklahoma into North Carolina. The Tar Heel state was the hardest hit with at least 22 deaths, over half of the reported total.
Two nuclear reactors in southwest Virginia shut down automatically when a tornado cut off the main electrical supply to the Surry Power Station. Backup generators kicked in and the reactors continued to deliver power. More than 200,000 electrical customers in North Carolina were without power.
Tornado season is in full force, even though the peak time for tornadoes occurs in May and June. The average number of tornadoes across the country is around 140. The recent outbreak of 116 tornadoes happened in the span of three days, according to ABC News. This year will probably be above average.
Deaths occurred when trees landed on homes, mobile homes were destroyed and even houses with foundations were tossed aside like pieces of paper. One photo showed nothing but cinder blocks and front steps left of a house with a solid foundation, but there was no basement.
States of emergency were declared in Alabama and North Carolina as they begin the work of cleaning up. Churches and public spaces were destroyed as people took shelter. It could have been much, much worse. A Lowe's store was damaged as customers and employees took cover in the back of the store. No one was hurt.
There are also other survivor stories. One man was saved after a tornado ripped through his mobile home while his wife and children were not spared.
Perhaps the most miraculous came out of Dunn, N.C. The Washington Post reports A three-month-old baby was ripped out of his cousin's arms and was feared dead. After a frantic search, they found him unconscious under some wood. The baby was rushed to the hospital with only minor injuries.
The Midwest and Southeast have already been pummeled by storms and tornado season is just three weeks old. States from Oklahoma all the way to the eastern seaboard have already been hit by major storms with violent tornadoes. As warm air gets even hotter in the coming months, storms will be more frequent and possibly bigger.
The month of May has the most tornadoes, on average, with nearly 400 reported between 2003 and 2005. June has just fewer than 300 in the same span across the United States. The best place to seek shelter from a tornado is in the basement of a home with a foundation. ( yahoo.com )
Two nuclear reactors in southwest Virginia shut down automatically when a tornado cut off the main electrical supply to the Surry Power Station. Backup generators kicked in and the reactors continued to deliver power. More than 200,000 electrical customers in North Carolina were without power.
Tornado season is in full force, even though the peak time for tornadoes occurs in May and June. The average number of tornadoes across the country is around 140. The recent outbreak of 116 tornadoes happened in the span of three days, according to ABC News. This year will probably be above average.
Deaths occurred when trees landed on homes, mobile homes were destroyed and even houses with foundations were tossed aside like pieces of paper. One photo showed nothing but cinder blocks and front steps left of a house with a solid foundation, but there was no basement.
States of emergency were declared in Alabama and North Carolina as they begin the work of cleaning up. Churches and public spaces were destroyed as people took shelter. It could have been much, much worse. A Lowe's store was damaged as customers and employees took cover in the back of the store. No one was hurt.
There are also other survivor stories. One man was saved after a tornado ripped through his mobile home while his wife and children were not spared.
Perhaps the most miraculous came out of Dunn, N.C. The Washington Post reports A three-month-old baby was ripped out of his cousin's arms and was feared dead. After a frantic search, they found him unconscious under some wood. The baby was rushed to the hospital with only minor injuries.
The Midwest and Southeast have already been pummeled by storms and tornado season is just three weeks old. States from Oklahoma all the way to the eastern seaboard have already been hit by major storms with violent tornadoes. As warm air gets even hotter in the coming months, storms will be more frequent and possibly bigger.
The month of May has the most tornadoes, on average, with nearly 400 reported between 2003 and 2005. June has just fewer than 300 in the same span across the United States. The best place to seek shelter from a tornado is in the basement of a home with a foundation. ( yahoo.com )
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