Is anyone extremely scared of Tornadoes?

Question

I am deathly affraid of tornadoes and whenever there is a thundertorm I get extremely stressed out and I always picture a tornado forming. I live in New England and it isn't common to get hit by a tornado, but I still can't feel any better because lately there has been a few tornadoes in New England. Is there any ways to calm down? How do I know if one is going to form? Does the sky do anything specific? How will the clouds move? How can I get over my fear? Is anyone else scared like me??? Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

We live in Huntsville, AL: #4 on the list of cities likely to get hit by tornados (last time I looked anyway...)  My brother in law is terribly afraid of them; had a bad experience when he was a kid.

You get a hint that one is possible by watching the Doppler radar on the weather report.

The clouds will be so dark and it'll be raining so hard, generally, that you won't be able to see them.

I've been told the 'freight train' noise that the wind makes is a sure sign that one is almost on top of you.

However, your real question is about getting over your fear.  Mostly that's about telling the truth:  

The odds of actually being under a tornado are astonomically small.  You're more likely to be struck by lightning.

With modern weather reporting and warning systems, you generally get about 20 minutes warning that a possible tornado is on its way.  That's plenty of time to get to shelter.

Even if you do find yourself in a tornado's path, taking shelter is pretty easy.  A ditch, a culvert, the lee side of a bridge abutment, anything that gets you out of the straightline winds will do it.

Personally, I don't worry about them.  I know how to stay safe.  If I do all I can and it's still not enough, well...  Dying's not so bad.

Answer 2

h**l yes. Ever since I saw twister when I was 7. I live in an area with no history of ever getting hit by a tornado (the only known report was of someone who saw a funnel cloud form and dissipate), but am still afraid when a strong storm comes through.

Answer 3

*Nods*

I haven't seen or experienced any real tornadoes. But come on!:

-Spiralingclouds, huge wind-speeds, and clouds that reach ground level! (I especially hate those REALLY thin, loopy ones; as opposite to the rest of my family, while they hate those short, fat ones.)

So... yeah!

Advice to keep calm, etc:

-You can calm own by watching a weather channel, and see what kind of storm approaches, if there is no red rectangle (the basic weather channel), you are safe.

-The sky turns green, red, or another odd color, there will be a very loud noise (like a jet) when a tornado forms.

-To know if oone is going to form: Weather Channel, and listen for loud noises and see debris flying!

-The clouds move really fast, spiralling, then forming a cone that travels to the ground.

-Since facing this fear is dangerous, the best idea to rid the fear is to frequently check the weather (on-line/TV). This helps anyone with this kind of phobia.

-Yes, I am scared of these too, but I RARELY experience them here. Once in Ocean County, but it was a C1.

Answer 4

i don't stress much over storms but I am TERRIFIED of tornadoes!! Always have been........ when it storms bad I try to turn on the local news and see if there are any warnings or anything. Do not drive when there is a warning/watch. Go to a basement or room with no windows. I also heard to lay in the bathtub with a mattress or something over you. The sky will be very black! It sounds like a train coming is what I have always heard!

Answer 5

Because you live in an area not prone to them, relax.

Still, it doesn't hurt to have an emergency kit handy, and a plan for what everyone in your household should do.  This should cover any kind of emergencies including fire, blizzard, power outtage etc.  Keep a kit of items you might need, such as bottled water, canned food AND can opener, flashlights (check batteries or have the kind you can recharge by moving it around), first aid kit etc.  Keep valuables and items you can not replace in a safe place such as bank security box.

Now as for tornadoes specifically.  Keep an eye on the weather.  Most local TV stations broadcast alerts of warnings and watches.  They present as a "crawler" at the bottom of the screen, usually accompanied by beeps.  Tornado sky warning signs are usually fast-moving clouds accompanied by yellowish light.  Apparently they also sound like an express train coming toward you.  Get to a basement in the middle of a house, preferably under a table that would support anything that might fall.  If you live in a place with no basement, get into the middle of the house (bath tub or linen closet).

Having said all that, yes, I'm a bit leery of any kind of storm, but I don't spend too much time worrying about it, because statistically the odds of one coming your way are very slim.

Answer 6

I'm scared of storms in general, especially during hurricane season. Nothing's hit us since Gloria, and now there's supposed to be a bit of Hanna coming up; I'm terrified, since I've never been through a TS or a hurricane.