What Causes Most Deaths During a Tornado? Understanding the Danger of Tornadoes

How many deaths are caused by tornadoes each year? On average, 20 to 100 people are killed by tornadoes in the US each year. However, the trend of tornado fatalities has increased in recent years due to climate change. What causes most deaths during a tornado?  

A tornado has a wind speed that may reach hundreds of kilometres per hour. This wind speed can damage buildings and turn vehicles upside down. Therefore, it is not surprising that a tornado can kill and injure many people at once.

What Causes Most Deaths During a Tornado?

Each year, hundreds of tornadoes strike the US. They range from the least destructive to the most devastating. Still, even the less dangerous ones can cause fatalities. What causes the most fatalities in a tornado?

1. Flying Debris that Turns into Missiles

Tornadoes generally collect debris during their formation processes. The debris inside a tornado can fly and swirl at a deadly speed and turn into missiles. 

Consequently, even small debris, such as broken glass and small pieces of wood, can injure people. In some cases, this debris hit people on the head, chest, or neck. As a result, these people will suffer from severe injuries that may lead to death.

2. Being in a Car or a Mobile Home

Some people are travelling by car during a tornado or living in a mobile home in a tornado-prone area. However, cars and mobile homes are not ideal for staying safe during this hazard.

Tornadoes can easily toss them into the air, roll them over, or destroy them. Accordingly, those who are inside mobile homes and cars can be killed during a tornado. 

3. Fallen Structures

Even a sturdy structure cannot always survive a tornado without minor damage. Its roofs or walls can collapse due to the power of this disaster 

These collapsed structures are dangerous for the people inside the building. Therefore, it is not surprising that numerous people have failed to survive tornadoes because of fallen structures.

However, not all buildings are at a high risk of suffering from tornado destruction. Buildings with large rooms, such as big-box stores and gymnasiums, have a higher risk of being destroyed by tornadoes. This is because large rooms have sizable and heavy roofs but few wall supports.  

4. Being Tossed by the Winds

Tornadoes are strong enough to turn cars and mobile homes upside down. Therefore, they can easily throw people in the air. Moreover, this strong wind will smash them down hard to the ground. This situation will surely cause severe injuries and even death.

5. Nocturnal Tornadoes

More than a quarter of the total tornadoes in the US are nocturnal tornadoes. They can cause more deaths and injuries since they are not visible. 

Therefore, those who are outdoors cannot avoid them. Moreover, many people do not hear outdoor warnings and read cell broadcast warning messages because they are sleeping. Consequently, they can’t respond to this warning properly and are at risk of getting injured or killed by tornadoes.

6. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

What causes most deaths during a tornado? One of the top contributors to tornado fatalities is carbon monoxide. Tornadoes typically cause a power outage. As a result, people will respond to this condition by operating generators.

Unfortunately, some people use generators improperly, e.g., placing them too close to the house or putting them in an enclosed room in the house. On the other hand, generators may release carbon monoxide when they are generating power. 

Carbon monoxide may spread all over the house without the occupants realising it because this gas is odourless. Accordingly, they will get carbon monoxide poisoning and die.

How to Survive a Tornado

The number of tornado deaths and casualties can be minimized if those living in tornado-prone zones know how to respond to tornado alerts properly. Below are tips on how to survive a tornado. 

1. Seek Shelter

Basements and small windowless rooms, such as closets and bathrooms, on the lower floor are ideal shelters during a tornado. People who are hiding in those rooms during a tornado have a higher chance of surviving this hazard.

2. Get Under Cover

Aside from seeking shelter, people must cover themselves during a tornado. For illustration, they can hide under the table or protect their head and body using their hands, a blanket, or a mattress. 

3. Close All Windows

Before seeking shelter, people must close all windows. It may also be importnat to tape the window glass. Taping this glass can minimize debris missiles that may hurt people inside the building.

4. Stay Away from Windows

In addition, people should stay away from windows. Windows can explode during a tornado. Moreover, the debris from those exploding windows can injure or even kill people nearby.

5. Don’t Stay in Mobile Homes 

Those who are in a car or mobile home, particularly the old ones, must get out of it and seek sturdy buildings to stay safe from tornadoes. These vehicles are not safe places to survive tornadoes.

What causes deaths during a tornado? Flying debris and other conditions can kill people during tornadoes. Still, people can prevent tornado fatalities by seeking shelter in safe rooms. Also, the government can minimize those fatalities by using cell broadcasters from smsbroadcaster.com when disseminating tornado alerts.