The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "tornados" ...
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Silent Sirens: Are you safe if a tornado comes?
This investigation by WSYX-TV revealed that dozens of Franklin County, Ohio tornado sirens were in disrepair due to human error. The investigation alerted area residents that the majority of the county's tornado sirens were not fully functional, some not working at all.
Tags: tornado; safety; alarms; natural disaster; city government; county
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$46 Billion Gamble
This investigation found that "21 B2 Stealth bombers are susceptible to serious damage from Mother Nature, and some military officials warn that they could be rendered obsolete if destructive weather strikes the hangers."
Tags: aviation; Stealth bombers; plane damage; nature; tornadoes; military; B2
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The Next Disaster: Are We Ready?
Reader's Digest rated "10 large cities on their level of preparedness for disasters," both natural and manmade. The cities were chosen based on their high level of vulnerability to disasters "from terror attacks to hurricanes." They scored each city based on "first responders, crisis communications and medical capacity." In the study, Miami, New York City and Washington, D.C. were at the top, while Detroit "was at the bottom."
Tags: Disasters; disaster preparedness; hurricanes; earthquakes; terror attacks; tornados; weather-rleated disasters
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Cause For Alarm
Nearly 200,000 people, and many schools and parks, in a nine-county area Indiana cannot be warned about tornadoes because their homes are not within the range of the tornado sirens. The WTHR team found that the sirens failed to activate thousands of times, many are broken beyond repair, and those in charge of maintaining the sirens are avoiding the repairs.
Tags: tornado; siren; warning system; natural disaster; twister
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Peoria Selected Storm Ready
Okeson looked at how adequately Peoria County, Ill., was covered by tornado sirens. She found that the sirens covered census blocks for all but about 5,400 people in the country, or about three percent of Peoria County residents.
Tags: tornadoes; natural disasters; Peoria County; ArcGIS
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Tornado Sirens Go Unheard in Many Parts
Ian Demsky of the Tennessean performs an analysis of tornado warning sirens in the metropolis area. What he found was that, despite the risks, many parts of nearby Davidson County are unable to hear the warnings. Some emergency officials were quoted as saying that the warning sirens are only meant to warn those outside, not those within their homes.
Tags: tornado safety
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Forecast: Hazy
Discover reports on the difficulties that modern meteorologists still face in predicting the weather. The story points to several examples of deadly storms in the recent decade, which have not been predicted until few minutes before they hit. The article reveals that weather service boasts with using "numerical weather modeling," said to be the best scientific achievement of the 20th century, but doesn't event track the accuracy of three-day forecasts.
Tags: tornados; winds; precipitation; storms; snow; blizzards; atmospheric conditions; National Weather Service Storm Prediction; National Hurricane Center; National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration; National Severe Storm Laboratory
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Neediest slighted on storm loans
When tornadoes struck Fort Worth and destroyed many properties, President Clinton issued a disaster declaration. Fort Worth Star Telegram reporters find out who got the promised federal assistance and how much they received.
Tags: Storm loans; disaster; tornadoes
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A night of fury
An outbreak of seven killer tornadoes struck the Orlando area in February, 1998, killing 42 people. The disaster led to a Sentinel investigation into mobile home and portable classroom safety. An examination found that thousands of these box-like structures are not properly anchored to the ground, leaving them vulnerable to high winds.