Tornadoes are some of the most damaging weather events that can arrive without warning. On Monday night, May 19, a confirmed tornado hit Gore, Oklahoma, prompting severe weather and tornado warnings across multiple counties. Three other states have had similar warnings as the weather only worsens. Severe weather events like these affect millions of people and animals living in the Plains and Midwest.
Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri have been warned, implying that the weather event could extend past Oklahoma’s boundaries, creating a consistent reminder for residents to be aware of the potential hazards and dangers that accompany violent storms.
Predictions From Early May
Oklahoma’s tornado and severe weather events aren’t entirely unexpected around this time of year. Oklahoma typically has the most tornadoes at this time of year, and models predicted their potential early in the month.
The second half of May was predicted to see an increase in potential tornadoes, and this has held true so far. The peak of active tornadoes is just beginning in Oklahoma and a large majority of the Great Plains. So far this year, Oklahoma has seen nearly half the tornadoes that it saw last year by May 1.
How Tornadoes Form
Tornadoes arrive with little to no warning when a mixture of hot temperatures and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico creates the perfect conditions for them. These events make conditions perfect for supercells and tornadoes. Oklahoma is expected to see an even greater rise in tornado threats in the coming weeks, making May the expected peak of the tornado season in Oklahoma. Hopefully, if residents can weather these conditions for just a few more weeks, things should calm down.
The Damage To Oklahoma
Despite Oklahoma seeing around half the tornadoes it saw last year in the same time frame, the latest storm has contributed significantly to the toll they have taken on the state. With 31 tornadoes being recorded this year, multiple towns like Ada have been affected across different counties.
The damage that Mother Nature has inflicted on these towns includes the destruction of homes, which often leads to families being displaced and without a place to go. Infrastructure is also at risk of taking serious damage as tornado season ramps up in the state. Emergency response efforts aren’t equipped to deal with a massive uptick in severe weather and tornadoes.
Extending To Other States
With the recent surge in aggressive weather activity, warnings have been issued to several states, including Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. These states are susceptible to intense thunderstorms, which could create the ideal conditions for hail, powerful winds, and tornadoes.
Tornado watches have been issued through Tuesday morning, which showcases just how widespread the ever-present risk of tornadoes and the destruction that comes with them, especially for unprepared communities with infrastructure that isn’t up to code and has outdated evacuation plans.
Effects On Residents, Animals, And Economy
Even just the threat of severe weather events and tornadoes can impact towns’ local economy and daily life for many residents. Businesses, schools, and other sectors are forced to temporarily close as officials prioritize safety over anything else.
In the face of severe storms, public transport may become delayed or have to halt entirely, inconveniencing thousands of people trying to get to work on time. Agricultural sectors are at an elevated risk of these intense storms, which threaten to damage crops with dense hail and flooding. These events during peak seasons have far-reaching consequences on entire populations in affected regions, and not only people either.
Wildlife habitats have faced significant destruction in the past, displacing thousands of animals after forests become uprooted and vegetation gets obliterated. Even domestic farm animals aren’t safe, and many casualties can result from tornadoes. Residents who can keep their animals indoors are advised to during intense storms to protect them from debris or being blown away.
Straining Resources
Public resources during multiple storm events could be strained and inaccessible to many residents. Emergency services and communication networks are essential services during extreme weather conditions, both of which could become severely debilitated in the harshest events.
There are risks of complacency amid the high risks of certain regions, meaning that some municipalities may not be truly ready despite being forewarned. Public safety is an important concern, and residents should prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
How To Be Ready
Residents who live in tornado-prone areas should take potential risks seriously. With four states being issued warnings, millions of people could suffer the consequences of not being ready. Emergency kits should be bought and ready at home or in the car if going out. Safe shelters should be identified, and routes should be planned.
During intense weather events that have the potential to escalate, residents should avoid travel, and any outdoor objects in yards that could cause harm or damage should be tied down. Injury and loss can be mitigated by a prepared community that follows evacuation plans and does everything to be ready as storms ramp up.
Official Responses
At the end of the day, there’s only so much that a community can do to prepare after warnings have been issued. It is in the hands of officials to prepare as well. There have been calls for infrastructure to be improved and outdated codes to be further scrutinized.
As tornado season grows as an increasing reality for millions of people, state and federal responses include preparing emergency funds and disaster declarations. Early warning systems should be at the forefront of priorities, as other countries like Japan have made innovations in severe weather and tornado prediction models.
One Of Many
While the tornado that hit on May 19 is far from the first to arrive in Oklahoma, the weather warnings issued to three other states could mean that more should be expected and prepared for. Tornadoes are no joke and cause destruction of infrastructure, displacement of residents, economic disruptions, and stress on countless communities every year.
As these states prepare to weather the coming storms, we can hope for a future where prediction models and tornado-resilient infrastructure are innovated to ensure that damages to communities are mitigated as much as possible.
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