Epidemiologic Study of Deaths and Injuries Due to Tornadoes

Abstract

A case-control study, using both matched and unmatched controls, was carried out on individuals who were injured or killed by a series of tornadoes that passed through Ontario, Canada, on May 31, 1985. Many serious injuries (25%) and almost all (83%) deaths were the result of becoming airborne, while most minor injuries (94%) were due to being struck by objects. Head injury was the most common injury type. Few (21%) of those in buildings chose the recommended location, and most (61%) were not in the least damaged part. Most (91%) had less than one minute's warning, and only 47% had a functioning radio at the time the tornado hit. The following risk factors for injury and death were identified: poor building anchorage; location other than in a basement, especially outdoors; age over 70 years; and high wind strength. These findings support previous findings and point to measures which have potential for preventing death or serious injury in future tornadoes: adequate warning systems and public education to ensure that individuals understand the warning and respond by seeking appropriate shelter. Those in adequately anchored buildings should shelter in an interior room or basement. Those who are outdoors, in poorly anchored buildings, mobile homes, or portable classrooms require access to an adequately anchored building, preferably with a basement, during severe storm warnings. This should be arranged by local authorities.

Draft final report, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Technical investigation of the May 22, 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri

“…From the May 22, 2011, Joplin tornado, approximately 46 percent of the fatalities were aged 60 years or older, and further analysis revealed that approximately 38 percent of the fatalities were 65 years old or older. While some studies of U.S. tornadoes have found older populations (above 65 years of age) to be more vulnerable to casualty than other age groups (Moore 1958;CDC 1985;Sanderson 1989;Carter, Millson, and Allen 1989;Lillibridge 1997;Fernandez et al 2002), Fig. 4-18 shows that the two distributions are different and that older people made up more of the Joplin deaths than would be expected from the U.S. data.…”

Eldre personer er sårbare i ekstreme værsituasjoner

“…Oversykelighet og overdødelighet relatert til andre ekstreme vaersituasjoner der transport, elektrisitet og andre leveranser er mangelfulle, slik som etter en orkan eller et enormt snøfall er rapportert, men direkte årsaker og mekanismer er lite studert (10)(11)(12).…”

“…Snøfall på mer enn 3 cm i Pennsylvania, USA, er vist å øke mortaliteten hos eldre, men også hos middelaldrende menn som følge av hjertesykdom, sykdommer i respirasjonsorganene og cerebrovaskulaer sykdom (12). Høy alder er vist å vaere en risiko for død som følge av tornadoer (11). I Norge har vi erfaringer fra orkanen som rammet Nord-Vestlandet første nyttårsdag 1992 og førte til store ødeleggelser og sviktende elektrisitetsforsyning i deler av Nordmøre i opptil fem døgn.…”

The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Health Impacts of Extreme Weather Events in the United States

“…Carter et al surveyed tornado victims and found that only 21% of those in a building when a tornado hit chose the recommended safe location (42). As the Puerto Rico flood study revealed (30), educating people not to cross floodwaters by car or bike is a priority.…”