th
Gary Garnet
National Weather Service
Cleveland, Ohio

•The seven fatalities from this tornado make it the second deadliest tornado to hit the United States in 2010.
•Deadliest tornado in Ohio since the Niles/Newton Falls tornado killed 10 in Ohio, May 31, 1985
•The last multiple fatality tornado in the state was at Van Wert on
11/10/02 when 4 were killed. 4 were also killed at Blue Ash (Hamilton
County) on 4/9/99
•Since 1950 there have only been 4 F5's, 5 F4's in Ohio and 39 killer tornadoes. This is the 40 th killer tornado.
What lessons did we learn from this storm?

Tornado enters Lucas County From
Fulton County around 11 pm.
Tornado touches down in Moline
(Wood County) around 11:20 pm hits Millbury around 11:25 pm and enters Ottawa County at 11:30 pm.

11:00 pm
11:11 pm
11:07 pm
11:25 pm

11:00 pm
11:11 pm
11:07 pm
11:25 pm

Initial Tornado Warning issued at 10:53 PM for
Lucas and Wood
Counties
Tornado Warning issued at 11:15
PM for Ottawa County

• At 10:13 PM Tornado Watch 268 issued for 7 of
NW Ohio counties
• At 10:30 PM Lucas County receives a report of rotating clouds and activates local dissemination procedures for a tornado
• At 10:53 PM National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Lucas and Wood
Counties (Local Tornado Warning procedures activated in counties)
• At 11:00 PM Skywarn damage reports
Received from Whitehouse (Lucas County )

• At 11:15 PM National Weather Service issues Tornado
Warning for Ottawa County (Local Tornado Warning procedures activated in Ottawa County)
• At 11:20 PM Reports from Skywarn spotters about power line flashes east of Perrysburg. Tornado reported on the ground 2 to 3 miles east of Perrysburg
•At 11:26 PM Severe Weather Statement issued by the
National Weather Service stating a “tornado was on the ground”.
•At 11:30 PM Ottawa County re-activates local
Tornado Warning procedures when they receive a report of a Tornado on the ground in the county.

•Nocturnal tornado of EF4 intensity are very rare and extremely dangerous
•Tornado occurred around the 11pm news and received live media coverage
•Warning and preparedness programs were successful
•The actions of the National Weather Service, Media,
County EMA offices and various state and local agencies saved lives.
•However… Can we do better?

4 Fatalities in Millbury.
Tornado was EF4
Intensity
3 Fatalities Near Lake Township Building and Lake High School.
Tornado was EF3 Intensity
Ottawa County 1 injury.
Tornado was EF3 Intensity

• Bay Park Hospital at 10:15 pm
(Lucas County)
•Attempts to leave around 10:30 pm but is stopped by security guards because of tornado alert
(local)
•Leave hospital shortly after 11pm thinking the tornado warning is over and drives into Wood
County.
• They do not receive another notification of the tornado warning until they hear it on the radio seconds before they are hit.
Lucas/Wood County Line

• Approximately 25-30 minute lead time from warning issuance to tornado strikes Millbury
•Lives saved because of long lead time but how much time is to much time
•Tornado reports received with only 5-8 minutes remaining in the warning. Re-enforcement of the warning difficult.
•Did victim come up stairs due to false sense of security and what steps can we take to avoid this ???

•15 Minute Lead
Time with benefit of warning to the west
•SOCIAL
Networking!!!
•Second activation of local warning systems
•1 Injury No
Fatalities

“ I got a call from my sister who told me to get to the basement and not ask questions”
“I received a text message from a friend telling me about the tornado heading my way ”
Warning information is being received and forward via social networks. Instruments such as Facebook, Twitter, text messages and cell phone calls are monitored on a regular basis. These instruments can be effective in warning information dissemination.

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•Warnings and preparedness actions taken by the local communities were effective in saving lives.
• Attempts should be made by local, state and federal officials to convey a consistent warning message to avoid confusion and illicit the best possible response.
•Long lead time warnings while beneficial can lead to compliancy among residents. Re-enforcing the warning when possible during the storm may assist in keeping people aware and alert.
•Social Networking plays an important role in warning dissemination and should not be ignored.