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Highway Overpasses as Tornado Shelters:
Fallout From the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma/Kansas
Violent Tornado Outbreak
| Slide 1 |
Introduction and Abstract |
| Slide 2 |
Associated Press Photo |
| Slide 3 |
A Brief History |
| Slide 4 |
Schematic of the Kansas Turnpike Video from 4/26/1991 |
| Slide 5 |
Events in Oklahoma on 3 May 1999 |
| Slide 6 |
Meteorological Reasons Why Highway Overpasses Are Inadequate Tornado Sheltering Areas |
| Slide 7 |
16th Street Overpass – Newcastle, Oklahoma |
| Slide 8 |
Shields Boulevard Overpass - Moore Part I |
| Slide 9 |
Shields Boulevard Overpass - Moore Part II |
| Slide 10 |
The Crescent/Mulhall/Perry Tornado |
| Slide 11 |
A Tornado and an Overpass - What is Reality? |
| Slide 12 |
Misconception of Tornadic Winds - Part I |
| Slide 13 |
Misconception of Tornadic Winds - Part II |
| Slide 14 |
A More Realistic Conception of Tornadic Winds - Part I |
| Slide 15 |
A More Realistic Conception of Tornadic Winds - Part II |
| Slide 16 |
Other Severe Weather Threats in Addition to Tornadoes |
| Slide 17 |
Examples of Other Severe Weather Threats - Gainesville TX – 26 April 1994 and Jarrell TX – 27 May 1997 |
| Slide 18 |
Examples of Other Severe Weather Threats - Lancaster TX – 25 April 1994 |
| Slide 19 |
Examples of Other Severe Weather Threats - Minneapolis/St. Paul Hail/Windstorm and Flash Flood – 1 July 1997 |
| Slide 20 |
How Can Meteorologists Assist in Solving This Problem? |
| Slide 21 |
Current Safety Guidelines for Well Constructed Buildings are Extremely Effective |
| Slide 22 |
Close Examination of the Current Open-Country Safety Guidelines |
| Slide 23 |
Non-Meteorological Reasons Why Highway Overpasses Are Dangerous Severe Storm and Tornado Sheltering Areas |
| Slide 24 |
How Do We Minimize the Use of Overpasses as Sheltering Areas? |
| Slide 25 |
Acknowledgments |