2011 now deadliest year for tornadoes since 1950

[Viking 1]

The death toll from the monster tornado last week in Joplin, Missouri has risen by seven to at least 139, city spokeswoman Lynn Onstot said Saturday. That makes this the deadliest year for tornadoes since 1950, based on an assessment of figures from the National Weather Service.

The tornado death toll for 2011 is now 520. Until now, the highest recorded death toll in a single year was 519 in 1953. There were deadlier storms before 1950, but those counts were based on estimates and not on precise figures.

Missouri says the number of people still unaccounted for since the Joplin tornado is now at 105. State Department of Public Safety deputy director Andrea Spillars said Saturday that within that number, nine people have been reported dead by their families, but state officials are working to confirm. She said that the temporary morgue has 142 human remains, but that includes partial remains. "Some of those remains may be the same person," she said, adding that officials are trying to use scientific means rather than relying on relatives giving visual identifications.

The state has been working to pare down the list of people missing and unaccounted for in the wake of the deadliest single U.S. twister in more than six decades.

http://www.salon.com/news/natural_disasters/index.html?story=/news/feature/2011/05/28/us_tornado_deaths


Just remember: None of this has anything to do with global warming!!!

:sarcasm:

[NutmegYankee]

1. What Global Warming? We had over 7 feet of snow this winter!

:sarcasm:

Sadly, my teabagger neighbor actually said that. :crazy:

[GKirk]

2. Some might think that since...

...it was as bad in 1950 then this is just a repeat of that. But if we had the same warning systems in place now as we did in 1950 I bet there would be many more deaths this year.

[msongs]

3. or it could just be a function of increased population = more deaths/tornados seen nt

[madrchsod]

4. climate change is being accelerated by the amount of people on the earth. ..

she`ll decide what her tipping point will be then she`ll thin the herd. we are due for another little ice age.

[underseasurveyor]

5. So sad and so many heartwrenching stories

My heart goes out to the many affected by these storms.

I do find it odd that the death tolls are so high given the technology we have now that can give advanced warnings of severe weather approaching. Granted these were monster storms but with advance notice there was enough time to seek shelter, preferably underground.