New Tornado Warnings Designed to “Scare”
Concerned people aren’t moved to take cover by the “traditional” tornado warning, the National Weather Service is kicking off an experiment this week.
The idea—use language so strong when issuing a warning that people will be scared into taking cover.
When a deadly tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa, Alabama last year, a lot of people got out their videocameras and started rolling– instead of seeking shelter.
The National Weather Service says studies after last year’s deadly tornadoes found most people didn’t heed the initial warnings about the oncoming storms.
They also say people in tornado-prone areas have become desensitized by frequent false alarms.
This week, weather service offices in Missouri and Kansas will start sending out what they’re terming “impact-based” warnings.
They include language like : “COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IS LIKELY” and “MASS DEVASTATION IS HIGHLY LIKELY MAKING THE AREA UNRECOGNIZABLE TO SURVIVORS.”
No word on when or if the weather service plans to use the warnings in Georgia.
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