Midwest disasters

[Keely Ward]

Living in the Midwest, tornadoes are not uncommon to hear about. Since kindergarden we have been practicing drills, but all it ever seems to be is ten minutes without having to do school work. It never really crossed my mind that I would have to do this for a real tornado. After seeing the recent pictures of the tornado that went through Joplin Missouri, I really started to think of what it would be like to lose everything in a tornado. The pictures show a town that is now nothing. Not to mention the death count is at 116.  It was surprising to hear within minutes an entire town was destroyed.

Unlike some natural disasters like flooding and sever thunderstorms, there is no way to prevent a tornado. Besides knowing to go a basement or a room without windows, I know nothing else about what to do for a tornado. The red cross gives ideas like having a first aid kid prepared, having enough supplies, listening for warnings, and taking cover. 

Even though tornadoes aren't common in the Chicago area, is it still something we should be worried about and learn how to stay safe? or is it too rare to care about? 

 

[Josh Jyawook]

As much as tornadoes aren't common in the Chicago area, it is still something to be worried about living in the Midwest. Natural disasters are anything but expected and we have to be ready to deal with any kind of weather living in Illinois a.k.a that blizzard this winter. I may not be stocking up on supplies for a tornado but I am cautious when there's warnings.

[Michael Naselli]

Its sad how that whole town was destroyed in a matter of minutes. I can't even imagine having everything that i own destroyed. Its horrible to think about. I feel terrible for all those people that lost everything :(

[Michael Weber]

Im not worried about anything happening..if something every happened I think we would have enough help to be ok

[Duncan Brown]

Tornados typically occur away from water...in the Chicago area I don't think we have a lot to worry about.  It truly awful what happened to Joplin, but it's hard to prepare for a tornado.  One solution is building codes mandating that new houses have basements and other structures have adequate foundations to with stand tornados.

[Patrick Witt]

I feel terrible for the people of Joplin, Missouri for losing everything they have. But I really don't think we should have to worry about tornadoes where we live. I think it's a good idea to have the necessary precautions at the ready beceause it's better to be prepared and not need to use it than to need it and not be prepared.

[Meghan Byrne]

Here in Illinois, there really is'nt any need for us to be worried about torandoes. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't take any pre-cautions. We have had tornadoes here, just not that bad like the one in Missouri.

[Alex Costigan]

I think there's really no point in tornado drills where we live.  When was the last time you heard a tornado killed anyone in Palatine, IL?  I think the real threat we should be worried about here is a tsunami.

[Katie Hughes]

I agree with Lauren saying that we're pretty safe here, but to go through that kind of disaster is completely mind boggling to me. To think that families are ruined and memories gone forever is just so sad.

[Lauren Olson]

I think in this area we are pretty safe and don't have to worry about tornados. I couldn't even begin to imagine leaving through a tornado like the one in Missouri. It would be so horrible to loose everything you own and have to rebuild your life.