SUNDRE — While tornadoes remain relatively rare in Alberta – especially when compared with ominously-named regions like Tornado Alley in the U.S. – the recent bout of raging storms that swept through the region serve as a reminder to freshen up on safety tips and emergency preparedness.
In early July, one such powerful storm produced a twister near Bergen that destroyed a home and devastated multiple properties, and more extreme weather later brought down massive hailstones that smashed windows out of vehicles that had parked along Highway 2 near Innisfail until the storm passed.
Ross Clews, the Sundre Fire Department’s chief as well as the municipality's director of emergency management, said people should be prepared for extreme weather by drawing up their own personalized plans for worst-case scenarios.
“People have to come up with their own plans on what they want to do and what works for them and do the research on it,” Clews told the Albertan.
“But (based on) everything I’ve seen, you do not want to be in a vehicle or in a mobile home if a tornado is going to hit,” he said.
Of course since twisters don’t frequently tend to hit Alberta, there are no public or designated tornado shelters readily available in the event of an emergency, he said.
“There’s a lot of places that have a lot more tornadoes than us,” he said, adding such shelters are not uncommon in some States where, for example, trailer parks are much more vulnerable to regularly recurring extreme weather.
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“You got to come up with a plan that works for you and do the research on it.”
The bulk of the planning boils down to common sense. While there is no short supply of storm footage posted online that was recorded by people standing next to windows, that’s perhaps the last place a person should be standing amid a powerful storm conjuring up gusts of wind that can send debris flying through the air like deadly projectiles.
“If you’ve got hail coming down the size of tennis balls, common sense would dictate you don’t stand in front of a window and watch it,” said Clews.
The fire chief said he agrees with all of the recommendations outlined not only by the government of Canada but also survival tips provided by the U.S.-based National Weather Service (NWS) Training Center.
According to the Canadian government, “more than half of all deaths from tornadoes happen in mobile homes.”
The NWS states that, “When you are in a mobile home, you are 15 to 20 times more likely to lose your life in a tornado compared to when you are in a permanent structure.”
Even less severe tornadoes rated EF-1 as well as severe thunderstorm winds have the potential to completely destroy mobile and manufactured homes.
“Regardless of how well built a mobile or manufactured home is, anchor system failures are the primary cause of most fatalities. Even well-built manufactured homes can be destroyed,” says the NWS.
Provided there’s adequate advanced notice to escape prior to a twister touching down, mobile and manufactured home residents are encouraged to seek shelter elsewhere – preferably in a building with a strong foundation.
So, it’s important for people who live either in mobile or manufactured homes to identify a fall back location and plan a route to get there safely before the weather turns.
“It’s important to identify a safer structure that you can evacuate to before storms hit,” says the NWS, adding those could include single-family dwellings with basements as well as structures that are built with reinforced concrete and designated community buildings.
“Identify your evacuation route from your home to a shelter and how long it takes to evacuate to a safer place,” the organization says, adding that the ideal time to evacuate is when a tornado watch is issued.
However, if a tornado funnel has already begun to form, attempting to escape somewhere else might at that point only place a person in even greater peril.
“In many cases when a tornado warning is issued, it may be too dangerous to take your evacuation route,” says the NWS. “So, it’s best to evacuate your mobile home before warnings are issued and the storms hit.”
The federal government also urges people to avoid being in a vehicle or mobile home when severe weather strikes.
“If no shelter is available, lie down in a ditch away from the car or mobile home. Beware of flooding from downpours and be prepared to move,” states the government’s official website.
If caught while already out on the roads, anyone who’s driving when they spot a tornado in the distance should immediately find the nearest solid shelter.
“If the tornado is close, get out of your car and take cover in a low-lying area, such as a ditch.”
People in a home should head to the basement or alternatively take shelter in a small interior ground-floor room such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
“If you have no basement, protect yourself by taking shelter under a heavy table or desk. In all cases, stay away from windows, outside walls and doors.”
Residents on rural acreages including farms are urged to prioritize their own safety ahead of any livestock, which tends to instinctively sense impending extreme weather.
“If your family or home is at risk, the livestock will be a non-issue,” the government says. “If your personal safety is not an issue, you may only have time to open routes of escape for your livestock. Open the gate, if you must, and then exit the area in a tangent direction away from the expected path of the twister.”
Those either working in a multi-storey office or residing in an apartment building should stay out of elevators and find shelter in an inner hallway or room, ideally in the basement or at least the ground floor.
And anyone who finds themselves in a large building with wide-spanning roofs such as a gymnasium, church or auditorium – which are at increased risk of collapse in the event a twister hits – should if at all possible find shelter in another building or at the very least under a sturdy piece of furniture like a table or desk.
Regardless of a person’s situation, everybody should attempt to remain as low to the ground as possible and protect their head. And as twisters are unpredictable and can on a dime suddenly change direction, people are advised not to chase after them.
“A tornado is deceptive. It may appear to be standing still but is, in fact, moving toward you.”
People are also encouraged to always keep a close eye on forecasts, especially when weather watches and emergency warnings are issued.
