Residents learn to prepare for tornadoes
Staff writer
With tornado season fast approaching, Robb Lawson’s weather safety presentation, “Storm Fury of the Flint Hills,” felt just in time.
Lawson spoke for two hours last week on behalf of the National Weather Service in the lobby of Tabor College’s Flaming Center for the Arts.
His subjects concerned the science behind weather events and how to keep safe in the face of windstorms, hail, flooding, lightning, and Kansas’ favorite — tornadoes.
Nearly 70% of serious hail and wind storms occur from April to July, Lawson said.
Similarly, 75% of tornadoes come between April and June.
Lawson spoke about the Hesston–Goessel tornado that caused extensive damage and killed a woman in Marion County on March 13, 1990.
The storm was one of the first of its strength to be captured on video. Lawson treasured VHS tapes of it as a kid.
Staying safe in a tornado is fairly straightforward: Go inside a sturdy home, preferably to a basement or interior room.
If you are in a car and unable to drive away from the storm or find shelter, Lawson recommended putting your seatbelt on, remaining low in your seat, and turning your car to face the tornado, as the front windshield is the strongest and the vehicle will be less likely to tip over.
Tornadoes move fast but are fairly easy to spot, especially on the Great Plains.
“The good thing about Kansas is that it’s flat,” Lawson said. “You can see forever.”
His presentation was livened with videos of extreme weather around Kansas. Pictures of a small tornado last year near Burns were featured.
Lawson encouraged people to text or call the National Weather Service with reports on high wind, hail, and tornadoes.
Reports should include time, location, description, and direction the storm is heading. Pictures are always helpful.
The presentation was sponsored by Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce and Marion County Emergency Management.
More than 100 people turned up to watch.