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Saffir-Simpson Tornado Research Paper

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Tornados

1. Define the disaster type. What are its characteristics?
a. A tornado is a mixture between rising hot hair and falling cold air that causes a swirling column. It is first characterized by rotating air that looks like a funnel. As the funnel and storm develop, the funnel cloud drops down into a tornado that looks like a column. As the tornado picks up debris and dust its speed increases.
2. Does the type of disaster have a SCALE?
a. What is the scale used?
i. Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Intensity Scale
b. What are the defining characteristics of the scale?
i. The defining characteristics of the scale are: category, average wind speed, and damage description. This scale is intended to rate the intensity of tornadoes based on …show more content…

Does the type of disaster have a SCALE? Yes
a. What is the scale used?
i. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
b. What are the defining characteristics of the scale?
i. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1-5 category based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates the potential property damage. Category 3,4 and 5 Hurricanes are considered major hurricanes because of their potential to be deadly and damaging (Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale).
c. Are there “small” versions of the disaster on the scale that are not particularly damaging or deadly?
i. All categories of hurricanes are damaging and dangerous. However preventative measures can be taken during hurricanes reaching a category 1 or 2 (Saffir-Simpton Hurricane Wind Scale).
3. Describe the geography of the disaster type.
a. Do they occur more often at certain locations in the US? If so, where?
i. Hurricanes occur more often on the East coast (Atlantic Coast) and the Gulf of Mexico.
[PLACE HERE: Map of the continental United States with region(s) prone to the disaster …show more content…

N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2017. .

c. For any particular location where the disaster is more common, what could be the timing between one event and the next? Days, Months, Years, Decades, Millennia?
i. The timing between hurricanes depends on the weather patterns. Some hurricanes can be followed by another hurricane due to the weather patterns.
5. Would you consider this type of disaster “predictable” or “unpredictable”? Predictable.
a. If predictable, what range of warning time is typical?
i. Residents of costal or near coastal regions (east coast, Florida, Gulf of Mexico region) are advised to prepare for hurricane season regardless of the outlook. Weathermen can determine the path of a hurricane from a couple days to a week. However, hurricanes are more predictable as they approach because it is easier to determine the weather patterns of the storm (Hurricane Season's Peak: Most Intense U.S. Hurricanes Hit in This 17-Day Period). This allows meteorologists to give residents days warning of an approaching hurricane.
b. If unpredictable, is there any warning at

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