WHAT IS A DEVASTATING TORNADO LIKE? Based on experiences on March 2, 2012 Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of North Carolina, USA

SECOND EARLY SEASON TORNADO OUTBREAK IN USA March 1-2, 2012

SUDDENLY With little of no warning, you hear a loud noise You turn to walk back to the house and it’s gone. You are alive, but homeless.

SUDDENLY You’re in the middle of an eerie state of confusion. You’ve lost everything. So have your neighbors.

AND ALMOST AS SUDDENLY People you’ve never met before are giving you food, water, clothing, and medicine, and helping you find the strength to start over again.

MARCH 2 STORMS STRETCHED FROM GULF COAST TO GREAT LAKES

“TORNADO ALLEY” IN THE USA

THE TWISTERS TOUCHED NEARLY ALL AREAS OF LIFE FROM THE GULF COAST TO THE GREAT LAKES TO THE EAST COAST

SOCIETAL IMPACTS Homes, schools, fire stations, trailer parks, shopping malls, churches, hospitals, prisons, senior centers, resorts and complete towns were damaged and destroyed by high winds and hail.

DEATH TOLL (about 38) COULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER BECAUSE 10 MILLION PEOPLE WERE AT RISK

WARNING MESSAGES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS

WIND DAMAGE- TONEY, ALABAMA; MARCH 2

WIND DAMAGE- HARVEST, ALABAMA; MARCH 2

DAMAGE: OOLTEWAH, TN

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY: MARCH 2

INDIANA: EXPERIENCES SEVERE DAMAGE HENRYVILLE AND MARYVILLE DEVASTATED

TORNADO IN NEW PEKIN, INDIANA

HAIL

AN EF-4 TORNADO IN INDIANA: MARCH 2

ES-4 TORNADOES HAVE WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 277 KIPH (166 MPH)

HENRYVILLE, INDIANA: DAMAGE AT JR – HIGH SCHOOL

BUS DAMAGED, BUT CHILDREN ESCAPE: HENRYVILLE, INDIANA

DAMAGE: HENRYVILLE, INDIANA

MARYVILLE, INDIANA—A TOWN OF 2,000

MARYVILLE, INDIANA DEMOLISHED

STORM APPROACHING ATHENS,GEORGIA AREA

DAMAGE- ATHENS,GEORGIA; MARCH 2, 2012

CHURCH DAMAGE- ATHENS,GEORGIA