Saragosa, Texas, Tornado May 22, 1987

An Evaluation of the Warning System

Éditeur: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309044356
eISBN Pdf: 9780309572187
Lieu de publication: United States
Année de publication électronique: 1991
Mois : Janvier
Pages: 70
Langue: Anglais

Légende

The small community of Saragosa, Texas, was devastated by a violent multiple-vortex tornado on Friday, May 22, 1987. Despite the extensive warning dissemination efforts, which are documented in this book, the overall warning system in Saragosa failed to reach most of the residents in time for them to take effective safety measures.

The primary purpose of this book is to combine the information provided by the respondents to a postdisaster survey with the facts surrounding the tornado in order to understand and evaluate the severe weather warning procedures used in Reeves County, Texas, where Saragosa is located.

The evaluation of this survey is intended to determine ways of adjusting existing warning systems and better prepare the citizens, public officials, and news media in Reeves County, as well as in every city, county, and township where severe weather threatens lives and property.

Natural Disaster Studies
Copyright
NATURAL DISASTER STUDIES
Acknowledgments
Glossary of Abbreviations
Contents
Executive Summary
1 The Tornado and Its Effects
- POSTDISASTER SURVEY
- THE SETTING
- THE TORNADO
- THE DAMAGE
- THE WARNING SYSTEM (OR ABSENCE OF IT)
  - Absence of Bad Weather
  - Absence of Clear Geographical References
  - Absence of Public Warning Systems
  - Absence of Warning on Cable Television
  - Absence of Pretranslated Warnings
- NOTES
2 Tornado Preparedness Activities
- PUBLIC AWARENESS WEEK
- STORM SPOTTER TRAINING
- HAMFESTS
- SUMMARY
3 Tornado Warning Activities
- WARNING ISSUANCE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES
- NOTES
4 Tornado Warning Dissemination
- NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
- LAW ENFORCEMENT TELETYPE SYSTEM
- NOAA WEATHER RADIO
- EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM
- TELEVISION AND THE CABLE SYSTEM
- RADIO
- SIRENS
- PECOS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
- PECOS/REEVES COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE
- NATIONAL WARNING SYSTEM
- SUMMARY
- NOTES
5 bservations Recommendations, and Conclusions
- OBSERVATIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- CONCLUSION
- NOTE
References
Appendix A
Appendix B Eyewitness Accounts
Appendix C Preparedness Activities Related to Reeves County, Texas, by NWS Midland
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
Appendix D Meteorological Information on the Saragosa Tornado
Appendix E Chronology of Releases on West Texas Weather Wire
- FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1987
Appendix F Palestine, Texas, Tornado—November 15, 1987
- DISASTER RESPONSE
- WARNING DISSEMINATION
- CONCLUDING REMARKS