Gordon, Davis Discuss Tornado Technology with Local Experts

June 8, 2009, MURFREESBORO – Today, Congressman Bart Gordon, Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, and Congressman Lincoln Davis, a member of the Committee, held a roundtable discussion at the Murfreesboro City Hall with weather experts, meteorologists, and first-responders to discuss ways to improve tornado forecasting, preparedness, and response.

"Our state [Tennessee] has led the nation in tornado fatalities over the past 10 years, but we do have the weapon of technology" Congressman Gordon stated in his opening remarks. "A better understanding of why tornadoes form and better ways to detect them will increase warning times, decrease false alarms, and in turn reduce tornado injuries and deaths."

Experts at the roundtable discussed emerging technology, such as Phased Array Radar and Warn-On Forecasts, which would enable meteorologists to provide more accurate forecasts more quickly, and improve lead time and reduce false alarms.  Currently, the national warning time average for tornadoes is 14 minutes, but 73 percent of tornado warnings are false alarms.

"Our forecasters and experts in weather technology are taking great strides to help model and predict tornado activity," said Congressman Lincoln Davis.  "This work has great potential to save lives and better help Americans in affected areas prepare for severe weather.  Hearing from these experts was important – it is essential that we develop technologies that not only look good on paper, but can be put into practical use."

Another topic discussed at the roundtable was the need to improve capabilities of Weather Radios.  While the National Weather Service has improved its weather broadcast alerts to convey more localized warnings, Weather Radios are only capable of receiving full county warnings.

"It is crucial that people who might be affected by severe weather be properly alerted," said Gordon.  "But over time, false alarms can lead people to pay less attention to tornado warnings.  Technological advances and upgrades can reduce false alarms and generalized alerts, and better ensure that people take tornado warnings seriously and respond appropriately."  

Gordon and Davis convened the roundtable discussion in response to the Good Friday (April 10th) tornadoes, which swept through Middle Tennessee, injuring 42 people and causing two fatalities.  From 1985 to 2005, tornadoes killed more people in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas than in "tornado alley" states like Oklahoma and Minnesota. 

Through the House Science and Technology Committee, Gordon and Davis have been working to establish research and development programs to improve storm forecast and broadcast technology, and to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by severe weather.