Natural Disasters

Storm-chasers track, follow, and do news coverage of these storms. There is no way at the present to predict exactly which storm will spawn tornadoes or where they will touch down. The United Kingdom is actually the world’s most tornado-prone nation. The great plains are the most common ground for tornadoes and are often called Tornado Alley. Natural disasters, such as tornadoes, are temporary events that seriously affect the social and economic development of the lives of people and regions.

The primary cause of tornadoes occurs from different storm systems when warm and cold airstreams collide. Secondly, air within a low pressure front rises, creating a strong upward draught like a vacuum cleaner. These strong air currents can create a vortex, a spiraling funnel of wind. Winds, in fact, can reach up to 300 m.p.h. Where the funnel touches the ground, it creates a path of concentrated destruction, rarely more than 250m across. Hurricanes are yet another factor that can produce tornadoes. Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the right-front quadrant of the hurricane. When associated with hurricanes, tornadoes are not usually accompanied by hail or a lot of lightening.

One important effect of tornadoes, are strong winds that can suck up objects or toss them around, like a thrashing machine. A considerable amount of damage is done to roofs of houses, and torn-off frames, resulting in extreme damages to communities. Another result is loss of power when winds knock down trees on power lines. Trees are uprooted in the forest and also, in the orchards of produce from the vicious winds of tornadoes. Other results are horrendous damages to homes and other structures. Tornadoes can completely wipe out and entire community, resulting in loss of homes and lives.

Consequently, these tornadoes affect our lives in many ways. Shelters are available in most places; nevertheless, staying at a shelter after a tornado has destroyed homes can be very emotional. The economical aspects of having to rebuild after a tornado that has destroyed homes are too unbearable to rebuild again. In addition, when tornadoes destroy factories and places of business, people loose their jobs, forcing families to relocate. The most important effect, loosing a loved one as a result of a tornado can be overwhelming.

In conclusion, natural disasters happen all the time. When conditions are favorable, natural disasters will strike and will continue to happen all over the world. These disasters are part of nature; therefore, there is nothing that can change this from happening. Tornadoes cause much disruption and seriously affect lives and communities; however, people have learned to deal with these disasters with the help from organizations and people helping each other.

In 1985, I was sitting in a lounge when the winds picked up and the rain came. On the television it was giving storm warnings with the chance of hail and high winds. I thought it best to stay put until the storm subsided. It seemed to get over fairly quickly. I left the lounge to go back to my apartment and on the way heard sirens everywhere. I turned on the television and it was telling of the tornado that touched down 10 miles from where I lived.

The next morning I left to go to work but was unable to get through. It looked like a war zone. It had wiped out streets and homes completely. It was a horrible feeling to see such destruction.

In 1889, hurricane Hugo came through with massive destruction. I was getting ready to go to work when the eye of the storm was on us. I watched while Hugo broke trees and power lines. There was no power for weeks for most people.

In times of these natural disasters we need to remember our fellow man. People helping people.