August 22, 2015
By Joe McHale
LINCOLN, Neb.-- As Southeastern Nebraska (click here for video) prepares for potential severe weather Saturday night, numbers suggest people in the Cornhusker State are prepared.
According to the National Weather Service, Nebraska has fewer fatalities related to tornadoes each year compared to several other states in the Midwest.
"I would certainly like to think that prevention, that early warning when these storms do strike populated areas, people do get adequate notice," said Lincoln and Lancaster County Emergency Manager, Jim Davidsaver. "And they know that they need to seek shelter."
Davidsaver says he's not in a position to comment on the numbers, but believes Nebraskans are very prepared when it comes to severe weather.
Injuries related to tornadoes have increased in Nebraska in the last five years, but so have the number of twisters. (32 so far in 2015, 61 in 2014, 51 in 2013, 42 in 2012, 54 in 2011, and 36 in 2010).
In 2014 there were 21 tornado related injuries, and 19 in 2013. The last time numbers were that high were in 2007.
Even tough Nebraska averages more tornadoes each year than states including Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky, there are less tornado related deaths.
There were two tornado related deaths in Nebraska in 2014. You have to go back 10 years prior to find another recorded death.
June 27, 2015
By James Samenow
The pair of violent tornadoes (click here) that ripped through Pilger, Nebraska June 16 did more than loft a house into the air and damage half the town. The twisters left a mark on the terrain visible 443 miles above the Earth from space.
NASA’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument aboard its Terra satellite attained the image below (from June 21, 2014) revealing the paths of the destructive tornado tandem....
The duration of the twin tornadoes ripped up the terrain. These tornadoes had an upper atmosphere system the size of the North American continent. The USA was very lucky this day. It occurred in flat lands with people were able to get away from the twin tornadoes.
