Humidity in the Deep South creeps in like the intrusive kudzu vine. At first, the twisting and winding vine is little more than just a minor annoyance. Over time, the resilient undergrowth envelops your property like a plaque. Humidity is like kudzu in that it smothers and slowly suffocates the besieged Deep South. It’s ubiquitous as it is inescapable. Like any southerner will tell you, “It’s just something you must deal with it.” But the rampant humidity of the south can be a harbinger of doom as the hot, thick and sticky heat fuels powerful thunderstorms that spawn deadly tornadoes. Drawing from the saturated warm of the Gulf of Mexico while intermingling with the cool prevailing winds from the Rockies, humidity repeatedly sets the stage for carnage and destruction. This delicate act of nature dancing around the progress of man played out once again the Deep South this weekend after a Mississippi tornado swept across the region.
Tornadoes Slam Gulf Coast
One person was killed and nearly 20 were injured when an outbreak of 17 tornadoes terrorized the Deep South and Midwest. Emergency management officials said 20 to 30 homes were “majorly affected or destroyed” and more severe weather could be on the way. Acting like a double-prong pincher, record breaking heat and the violent line of thunderstorms gripped the entire region. Temperatures topped out at 117 in Austin and even the swirling winds of the coastal region did little to relieve the heat stricken Big Easy that crested the 107 mark. Buffered by the back-end stifling heat invading from the west, storm-afflicted residents must sift the wreckage while contending with unbearably high temperatures for the days to come. Even those with central air conditioning will find little room to ensconce themselves with from the sorrow as the high-whipping winds knocked out power for most in the region.
Steel Tornado Protection Can Withstand Storms Similar to Mississippi Tornado
“Where is the best place to be during a tornado?” While we are not privy to Google’s search analytics, we would wager this was one of most commonly searched terms on the massive search search engine in the hours following the storms. And almost any Internet source will tell you that a basement is the best place to be during a tornado for those who do not have a safe room or belowground bunker. While a basement offers superior protection to any other room in the house, it can still leave your family vulnerable to wind driven debris if your interior walls and flooring fall victim to the tornado terrorizing the ground above. Many residents in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia live in storm-prone area where underground shelters and basements can be just as dangerous as the chaotic winds raging outside once floodwaters sweep through the neighborhood. To mitigate the risk for serious injury and death, many residents have opted for a reinforced panelized stee safe room that can be retrofitted into almost any room, home office or closet. Panelized safe rooms can be easily and discreetly assembled in your home with minimal disturbance to the structural integrity of your home – meaning, it’s the ideal turnkey solution for anyone wanting to add an extra layer of protection.
