Thread by @edu4drr

So #ICYMI #OnThisDay in 1974, and into the following day, was the #Tornado #SuperOutbreak This montage of images is on the @NWS pages at: weather.gov/iln/19740403

I have the following image as a poster in my office for several reasons, which I will expound upon in subsequent tweets. Firstly it was produced by hand by Theodore ‘Ted’ Fujita, who developed the F-scale (later the EF-Scale based in wind intensity and damage.

What I really noticed in the key/legend on the map was how he was also looking at the type of structure where fatalities occurred, something that other scientists (@StephenMStrader) were looking at before I came along, but once you start, you can’t stop. I’m pretty much obsessed.

It’s important to know and think about how to ameliorate (including the extent to which this is possible). I have been studying #tornado #epidemiology (fatalities & causes) to look at broad patterns as well as what happens precisely to individuals. Not new as @hebrooks87 there b4

But this gives us a baseline for understanding/considering the multiple social #vulnerabilities that contribute to #tornadofatalities and injuries (which we shouldn’t discount as many are life changing - this includes the psychological impact) + impact on employment opportunities

I created the previous graph and the following greyed/highlighted versions show where people were when they died (as taken from @NWSSPC data). This helps us understand risk and potential safer behaviours that can help with public understanding too.

I am lucky enough to be able to work at the social science/Geography interface with a team of brilliant people including @Wxmanms1, @tlyzawx, @kimklockow and others as part of the VORTEX-SE project. My research focus is on societal risk and vulnerability alongside others...

...where we are trying to gain insight on the potential gaps and working with others to close them. Currently I am working with @SeaGrant to understand citizen perspectives, risks, vulnerability alongside adaptation strategies taken in severe weather events...

We hope to them work alongside communities to bring them together to find solutions to #sheltering options, being aware of #nocturnaltornadoes and getting the right information from multiple sources. This is why #socialscience is key to unlocking new solutions to limit impacts.

You can find out more about this work at a recent presentation I gave of our @NOAANSSL &
@MSALSeaGrant
project: 'Community Centered Co-Produced Knowledge & #Learning Towards #SevereWeather #Preparedness & #Resilience' to
@SESVRSymposium

...The map near the top of this thread is printed out A0 size on my wall in my office as a constant reminder of the complexities and potential solutions in reducing fatalities and injuries when #tornadoes occur. To find out more about the 1974 event see: weather.gov/iln/19740403