Tornadoes, High Winds Compound Hurricane's Power 

Release Date: May 24, 2006
Release Number: 1604-364

» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina

BILOXI, Miss. -- Tornadoes often can be the most dangerous part of a hurricane, especially in the storm's right front quadrant. That is yet another reason for Mississippi residents to prepare for evacuation when a hurricane heads their way, emergency management officials say.

Evacuation preparedness is the Week 7 theme of Mississippi's eight-week Stay Alert. Stay Alive. hurricane preparedness campaign. Officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) encourage individuals and families, especially those living along the Gulf Coast, to be prepared to evacuate ahead of a hurricane.

"We cannot overemphasize the importance of planning for evacuation," MEMA Director Robert Latham said. "Everyone should know what to do, where to go and what to carry with them if they need to evacuate."

Hurricane Katrina produced 33 reported tornadoes - 11 in Mississippi, 17 in Georgia, four in Alabama and one in the Florida Keys. Not every hurricane produces tornadoes, but some generate several. More than half of the hurricanes that make landfall produce at least one tornado.

In 1967, Hurricane Beulah spawned 141 tornadoes. In general, tornadoes associated with hurricanes are less intense than those that occur in the Great Plains. Still, tornadoes and the larger area of hurricane-force winds can produce substantial damage.

The National Weather Service reports it cannot accurately predict exactly which storms will spawn tornadoes or where they will touch down. New Doppler radar systems have improved warning capability, but the lead time is usually only a few minutes up to about 30 minutes.

That means evacuation preparedness is critical.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 24-May-2006 15:24:06