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Catastrophe Report 2
January 1, 2002 - March 1, 2003
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Tornado - USA
| Territory: |
|
United States |
| Region: |
|
Spring: 17 states
including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri,
Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin
Autumn: 13 states including Tennessee, Ohio,
Alabama (less affected – Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
Pennsylvania) |
| Date: |
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April 27 – May 3 and November 9 –
11, 2002 |
| Event: |
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Tornadoes and associated thunderstorms |
| Impact: |
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Spring storms: 65 percent of
buildings destroyed in downtown La Plata (Maryland), causing
damage estimated at 115 million US$. Over 60 homes and mobile
homes destroyed in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Texas. Total
fatalities ~ 12. Economic losses estimated at 2 billion US $,
with insured losses totalling 1.5 billion US$.
Autumn storms: A third of the town of Carbon Hill (Alabama)
was destroyed and twelve people killed. Dozens of buildings
and mobile homes in Tennesee, Alabama, Mississippi, Pennsylvania
and Ohio were destroyed resulting in the loss of another 24
lives. In Ohio alone over 600 buildings were damaged, leading
to insured losses in excess of 90 million US$. Total economic
losses are estimated at 600 million US$, with insured losses
totalling 469 million US$. |
| Summary: |
|
Spring: Collision of warm,
wet air from the Gulf of Mexico and much colder air plunging
south from Canada resulted in dozens of severe thunderstorms
that spawned tornadoes across the mid-west. The worst tornado
ever to hit the state struck Maryland on April 28th, killing
five and injuring over a hundred. The tornado registered 4 on
the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale, with wind speeds exceeding
330km h, and cut a path of devastation 50km long through La
Plata and across Charles and Calvert counties.
Autumn: Violent thunderstorms developed ahead
of a strong cold front on November 10 resulting in a widespread
outbreak of severe weather, including many tornadoes that affected
thirteen states. The worst tornado damage was concentrated in
Ohio, Tennessee and Alabama. An F4 tornado struck Van Wert county
in Ohio. In Tennessee, the community of Mossy Grove was virtually
destroyed by a mile-wide tornado that claimed 12 lives. Peak
activity was reached on November 10th, when 75 tornadoes touched
down. |
| Data sources: |
|
National Environmental Satellite, Date and Information
Service
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/nov/hazards.html |
| Additional sources: |
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NOAA Recent Tornadoes 2002
http://www.tornadoproject.com/recent/recentts.htm
NOAA Maryland tornado report
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/pa/MDTornadoAssessment5-7-02.html
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