Ever heard of a mountain tornado? While extremely rare, mountain tornadoes can be silent killers in the ancient hills. Towering peaks and lush evergreen forests make it nearly impossible to spot spinning cyclones lurking beyond the next ridge. Unlike their storm weary brethren of the Deep South, folks living in the Appalachian Mountains don’t rank twisters high on the list of natural hazards. They’re more concerned about heavy snowfall and localized flooding than a few pesky windstorms. If you’ve watched any YouTube videos of the decimating power of killer tornadoes on fully display, you might fall prey to the conventional mindset that tornadoes only touchdown in wide open areas. Because much of the Appalachian regions stretches into warmer southern air, this area is no more immune from dizzying twisters than their counterparts in the flatlands. Earlier this week, residents in northwest North Carolina were rudely awaken from their sleep when thousands of cellphones began to buzz with the ominous, “Take Shelter! Possible cloud rotation from a tornado has been spotted in your area!” message.
Elevation is No Safeguard From a Mountain Tornado
While sustained on-the-ground tornadic activity requires open stretches of flatland for destruction, tornadoes will never be known as picky eaters. They will devour anything in sight once updraft winds get the pivoting rotation needed for descension. The Appalachian Mountains aren’t the towering granddaddies of the prehistoric age either. Comparing them to more daunting peaks, like the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada, the Blue Ridge looks more like a few anthills than a formidable bastion of rock and soil. Lined with idyllic valleys and rolling plateaus, the Appalachian chain yields several long runways for approaching tornadoes. Tornados don’t share the same physical limitations as airplanes. They don’t need much elbow room to land and wreak havoc either. Even a storm with just rudimentary funnel clouds can rip tree limbs to shreds while pulverizing rooftops without ever touching the ground. While the most recent storm did little to no damage – with no confirmed sighting of a tornado – folks living in the Appalachian Mountains should pay closer attention to evolving weather patterns. Killer tornadoes will become a stark reality in the near future. Only panelized steel protection of an underground tornado shelter can completely protect you from life’s endless cycle of storms.
Panelized Steel Tornado Protection For Any Geography or Climate
While there’s not much consensus on the science behind the phenomenon, meteorologists agree on thing: Tornado Alley is shifting to the southeast. Even more concerning and perplexing to weather forecasters is the fact that most tornado-spawning storms happen in the dead of night. By the time they receive notification from the National Weather Service, people living in the mountains will find themselves at a distinct disadvantage for eluding destruction. Where will you go when the howling winds of approaching storms bypass those nurturing mountaintops and make a beeline for your home? Even an archaic root cellar will offer little protection from indiscriminate destruction. Panelized storm shelters from U.S. Safe Room allow families all the advantages of superior tornado protection without leaving the comfort of their home. By strategically retrofitting an existing bedroom, office or closet with a panelized steel kit, you give your family more than just a fighting chance at survival when impromptu storms make a visit to your sleepy hollow. Adding a tornado shelter can also increase the value of your home without disturbing existing floorplans. Forego pricey renovation projects and home makeovers with guaranteed steel protection from U.S. Safe Room. We also offer a line of steel underground storm shelters and bunkers for those living in prefabricated manufactured homes.