Tornadoes Devastate Tennessee
As many as seven tornadoes ripped through central Tennessee last week, claiming the lives of at least 25 people. The National Weather Service estimates that these tornadoes have left a path of destruction that stretches across 74 miles. With winds reaching up to 175 miles per hour, the tornadoes damaged hundreds of buildings and left thousands without power.
Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Tornadoes Devastate Tennessee
Links
“Tennessee Tornado Death Toll Rises; Several People Still Missing in Putnam County”
https://weather.com/news/news/2020-03-03-tennessee-tornado-damage-deaths-severe-storms
“Day 5 tornado updates: City says volunteers’ vehicles are blocking streets, hampering recovery effort”
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2020/03/07/middle-tennessee-electric-announces-power-restored-most-customers/4985419002/
“Minute by minute: How a deadly tornado cut a devastating path across Tennessee”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/05/tennessee-tornado-how-deadly-storm-unfolded-minute-minute/4960309002/
“Tennessee tornado tragedy was tied to a lack of warning, awareness and readiness”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/03/06/tennessee-tornado-tragedy-was-tied-lack-warning-awareness-readiness/
“Two EF-4 and EF-3 tornadoes left a deadly trail of destruction in Tennessee, weather service confirms”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/04/weather/tennessee-tornado-wednesday/index.html
“For Tennessee tornado victims, this is how you get FEMA money”
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2020/03/06/fema-disaster-relief-nashville-tennessee-tornado-victims/4976025002/
Assessment
- Writing: Describe the role of the National Weather Service in preventing loss of life in the event of a catastrophic natural disaster. How effective has the agency been at predicting natural disasters and in relaying warnings to residents? Are tornadoes more difficult to predict?
- Debate: The federal government hasn’t done enough to ensure the safety of communities affected by natural disasters.
- Poll: Do you think the federal government should be in-charge-of tornado tracking?
- Short Answer: What has the federal government done to aid the relief effort in Tennessee?
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Featured Image Credit: Rob Hart
