Bad Weather | Graphic by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
Ohio residents all know that the weather here is crazy; however, in the past few months, Ohio has had a more noticeable weather problem. Storms have rolled in, producing tornadoes that have ripped through communities all over the Miami Valley.
What is causing the weather?
There can be many environmental factors that have affected the weather in Ohio. Tornado season in Ohio is normally from April to June, but this year, Ohio began to experience tornadoes as soon as February. Lindsay Starr, an Environmental Sciences adjunct instructor, attributes the change in weather to several factors, including human-induced climate change and the natural changes of the Earth.
“There could be a lot of things that cause early or unpredictable weather,” Starr explained. “Climate change is a big one. We have really messed up how our planet operates with pollution, but another big one is just the change in Earth’s natural weather patterns.”
According to Starr, our planet already adapts yearly and slightly changes in weather patterns; this can be made worse with climate change, however.
“Climate change definitely exacerbates the issue for sure,” Starr said.
Regardless of how it happens, weather change has affected several communities in the Miami Valley.
How has the weather affected communities?
Some communities were left in ruins following the recent tornadoes. For example, several families were affected following the tornadoes that hit the London and Harmony areas in Ohio. Many were left without power for several days, while others completely lost their homes. Many school children were affected by this and left scared and seeking sanctuary at school.
“We took our kids to a hotel once we lost power,” Harmony Estates Resident Doug Evans stated. “When it was happening, I threw my kids in the bathtub with mattresses, but the only thing I was thinking about was that we lived in a trailer, and it wasn’t going to stand a chance. But it did, and I’m thankful every day we did.”
Other communities, like Indian Lake, were not so lucky. The village was all but wiped out following its tornado. Now, residents are trying to pick up the pieces as Governor Mike DeWine has been trying to send aid.
“My home was destroyed, but even I was lucky. I have friends and families that just don’t have homes anymore,” resident Giana Crouch said. “This is definitely a horrible time for our community.”
In the wake of these storms and the possibility of more to come, citizens must take preventative safety measures and make action plans.
What can we do?
These storms can come and go quickly, so it is important to be prepared. There are several different things that people can do to prepare for tornadoes and large storms.
According to the National Weather Service, it is important to know where your emergency weather area is. Where will you be the most safe in your home? It is recommended that this place be a basement or storm shelter. If that is unavailable, it can be in the innermost room of your house with no windows. Good examples are a closet or bathroom.
Next, you will want to have emergency supplies. Extra food and water are big things that should be at the ready. Other essentials are a battery-powered radio, candles and matches, flashlights and something to get someone’s attention if you are buried and need help.
Community outreach is also important in these times. According to Crouch, it has helped the community of Indian Lake greatly.
“Hundreds of people came in with food, water and other things we needed. Search teams came to help find people who were stuck. It really made my heart warm to know that we had that,” Crouch said.
Ohio weather is unpredictable, but it is up to us to be prepared for these storms and help out the communities that need it.
