NATURAL DISASTER STUDIES
Volume Three
SARAGOSA, TEXAS, TORNADO
MAY 22, 1987 AN EVALUATION OF THE WARNING SYSTEM
Prepared by:
For:
Committee on Natural Disasters
Division of Natural Hazard Mitigation
Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems
National Research Council
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C. 1991
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Samuel O. Thier is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 90-63997
International Standard Book Number 0-309-04435-9
A limited number of copies of this monograph are available from:
Committee on Natural Disasters, HA 286
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20418
202/334-3312
Additional copies are available for sale from:
National Academy Press
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20418 202/334-3313 1-800-624-6242
Printed in the United States of America
S-287
NATURAL DISASTER STUDIES
An Investigative Series of the Committee on Natural Disasters
The Committee on Natural Disasters and its predecessors, dating back to the committee that studied the 1964 Alaska Earthquake, have conducted on-site studies and prepared reports reflecting their findings and recommendations on the mitigation of natural disaster effects. Objectives of the committee are to:
-
record time-sensitive information immediately following disasters;
-
provide guidance on how engineering and the social sciences can best be applied to the improvement of public safety;
-
recommend research needed to advance the state of the art in the area of natural disaster reduction; and
-
conduct special studies to address long-term issues in natural disasters, particularly issues of a multiple-hazard nature.
EDITOR
Riley M. Chung
National Research Council
EDITORIAL BOARD
Dennis S. Mileti, Chairman
Colorado State University Fort Collins
Arthur N. L. Chiu
University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu
Joseph H. Golden
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Washington, D.C.
Dale C. Perry
Texas A&M University College Station
Norbert S. Baer
New York University New York
Hanna J. Cortner
University of Arizona Tucson
Wilfred D. Iwan
California Institute of Technology Pasadena
William J. Petak
University of Southern California
Los Angeles
Earl J. Baker
Florida State University Tallahassee
Peter Gergely
Cornell University Ithaca, New York
Ahsan Kareem
University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana
Robert L. Schuster
U.S. Geological Survey Denver, Colorado
SPONSORING AGENCIES
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Science Foundation
INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION
Materials presented in Natural Disaster Studies often contain observations and statements that inspire debate. Readers interested in contributing to the discussion surrounding any topic contained in the journal may do so in the form of a letter to the editor. Letters will be reviewed by the editorial board, and if considered appropriate, printed in subsequent issues of Natural Disaster Studies.
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL DISASTERS (1987–1990)
NORBERT S. BAER,
Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, New York
EARL J. BAKER,
Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee
ARTHUR N. L. CHIU,
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu
HANNA J. CORTNER,
Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona, Tucson
JOHN A. DRACUP,
Civil Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles
DANNY L. FREAD,
National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
PETER GERGELY,
Department of Structural Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
JOSEPH H. GOLDEN,
Chief Scientist Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C.
WILFRED D. IWAN,
Department of Earthquake Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
AHSAN KAREEM,
Civil Engineering Department, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
DENNIS S. MILETI,
Department of Sociology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
JOSEPH PENZIEN,
Department of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
DALE C. PERRY,
Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station
WILLIAM J. PETAK,
Institute of Safety and Systems Management, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
ROBERT L. SCHUSTER,
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
RANDALL G. UPDIKE,
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
Staff
RILEY M. CHUNG, Director
BARBARA BODLING, Editor
SUSAN R. MCCUTCHEN, Administrative Assistant
SHIRLEY J. WHITLEY, Project Assistant
Liaison Representatives
WILLIAM A. ANDERSON,
Earthquake Systems Integration, Division of Biological and Critical Systems, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C.
BRUCE A. BAUGHMAN,
Hazard Mitigation Branch, Public Assistance Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.
FRED COLE,
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
ROBERT D. GALE (deceased),
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Forest Service, Washington, D.C.
EDWARD M. GROSS,
Constituent Affairs and Industrial Meteorology Staff, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
WILLIAM HOOKE,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C.
PAUL KRUMPE,
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
J. ELEONORA SABADELL,
Division of Biological and Critical Systems, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C.
GERALD F. WIECZOREK,
Office of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Engineering, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
ARTHUR J. ZEIZEL,
Office of Natural and Technological Hazards Programs, State and Local Programs and Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.
LAWRENCE W. ZENSINGER (alternate),
Office of Disaster Assistance Programs, State and Local Programs and Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.
Glossary of Abbreviations
AFOS
automation of field operations and services
AP
Associated Press
AWIPS
Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System
CDT
central daylight time
DPS
Department of Public Safety
EBS
Emergency Broadcast System
EOC
Emergency Operating Center
LETS
Law Enforcement Teletype System
LI
lifted index
MDT
mountain daylight time
MIC
meteorologist in charge
NAWAS
National Warning System
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NSSFC
National Severe Storms Forecast Center
NWR
NOAA Weather Radio
NWS
National Weather Service
NWWS
NOAA Weather Wire Service
PPI
planned position indicator
TSN
Texas State Network
UPI
United Press International
VIP
video integrator processor
WSFO
Weather Service Forecast Office
