By Jana Foggan; Edited by Angela Fontenot
As the dark storm clouds began to fill the skies, everything suddenly became quiet. People began to see clouds spiral out of the sky into a funnel and makes its way towards the ground. At that moment people become worried and prepared to take immediate action once the tornado started on its treacherous path.
|Tornadic Storm in Hammond|
One of the key steps in the event of a tornado is taking shelter. Much of Louisiana is known for being under sea level and it is nearly impossible to have basements unless people lived close to Mount Driskill in the north central portion of the state. Otherwise, the best idea to be protected from the storm is to get into the lowest level of a structure such as a closet or the interior of a bathroom, and cover up to protect from debris.
Tornadoes, like hurricanes, are a form of nature’s most destructive phenomenon known to man. While tornadoes are not frequent, it is still good to know enough about them, including the necessary preparations.
Tornadoes tend to scare most people, but at the same time, they can be quite exciting for thrill seekers.
Skywarn storm spotter Autumn Hartman says, “My first thoughts are I go grab the camera and get outside to spot and take pictures.” Tornadoes amaze some people; however, if they get too close the experience can be quite frightening.
When storm chasers are viewed on television, they are viewed as asking to be killed in the most serious of situations. Although they show no fear on the camera, the anxiety is definitely bottled up inside. “I think the scariest moment is when it gets very quiet and calm," said Hartman. "You stand there looking around, and then from out of nowhere you begin to hear the winds pick up and the rain begins to pour.”
Tornadoes are quite unpredictable. The storms can cause people to have a sense of panic and worry.
Kansas resident Ashley Wilson stated, “Prior to, you feel concerned about the weather as you are anticipating the worst at the same time."
Tornadoes are known to stay on the ground anywhere from a few minutes up to hours depending on the severity of the storm. People look for the light at the end of the tunnel once the storm has passed.
Hartman stated, “I feel calm because that means most times I can finish what I was doing earlier or go to bed.”
As we gain a better understanding of how tornadoes behave, it is also good to know the psychological factors that come with experiencing storms.
People may experience several different things during tornadoes and severe storms, but what matters the most is that they are prepared and aware of the factors before, during and after the storm.