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Storm Chasing
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I grew up on a
farm in rural Chatham County and that is where my
interest of severe storms began. My father would always
gather everyone when a storm approached and take us
across the road to the poultry houses. We always sat in
the vehicle and watched but I was never sure
if this was to keep us away from the large Oak trees in
our yard or if it was to get a better view of the storm.
I do know that in the excitement of everyone getting
into the truck and running across the road sparked a
love for thunderstorms that I will have from now on.
I think the anticipation of the coming storm is one of
the most exciting parts of chasing and what I enjoy the
most. Chasing in Central North Carolina is unique due to
the terrain and limited line of sight in most areas.
Storms here are also somewhat unpredictable due to the
mountains dissipating most storms. These storms then
gain strength and make planning a chase more luck
oriented than scientific.
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| Year |
Tornadoes |
Deaths |
Injuries |
Cost
Adjusted |
| 1950 |
9 |
0 |
8 |
$
741,363 |
| 1951 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
$
243,252 |
| 1952 |
7 |
0 |
9 |
$
835,318 |
| 1953 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
$
118,496 |
| 1954 |
9 |
0 |
5 |
$
2,063,120 |
| 1955 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
$
831,867 |
| 1956 |
10 |
0 |
2 |
$
831,259 |
| 1957 |
8 |
4 |
110 |
$
2,368,891 |
| 1958 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
$
65,653 |
| 1959 |
11 |
0 |
1 |
$
548,779 |
| 1960 |
10 |
0 |
9 |
$
913,427 |
| 1961 |
8 |
0 |
3 |
$
1,274,957 |
| 1962 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
$
581,146 |
| 1963 |
11 |
0 |
4 |
$
1,818,824 |
| 1964 |
12 |
0 |
19 |
$
3,269,893 |
| 1965 |
9 |
3 |
90 |
$
5,827,604 |
| 1966 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
$
1,078,491 |
| 1967 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
$
1,136,147 |
| 1968 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
$
1,090,439 |
| 1969 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
$
1,469,122 |
| 1970 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
$
81,502 |
| 1971 |
4 |
2 |
60 |
$
5,075,250 |
| 1972 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
$
3,820,442 |
| 1973 |
38 |
1 |
20 |
$
5,028,294 |
| 1974 |
21 |
7 |
52 |
$
5,458,604 |
| 1975 |
35 |
0 |
32 |
$
1,655,491 |
| 1976 |
23 |
3 |
17 |
$
5,488,121 |
| 1977 |
27 |
0 |
12 |
$
2,695,758 |
| 1978 |
15 |
1 |
11 |
$
1,515,902 |
| 1979 |
12 |
0 |
15 |
$
980,283 |
| 1980 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
$
635,717 |
| 1981 |
11 |
2 |
4 |
$
4,887,779 |
| 1982 |
12 |
1 |
4 |
$
445,684 |
| 1983 |
15 |
0 |
18 |
$
4,351,454 |
| 1984 |
24 |
42 |
805 |
$
84,369,264 |
| 1985 |
8 |
0 |
7 |
$
1,797,144 |
| 1986 |
16 |
3 |
15 |
$
653,517 |
| 1987 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
$
1,684,131 |
| 1988 |
19 |
4 |
165 |
$
138,000,000 |
| 1989 |
24 |
5 |
119 |
$
59,598,560 |
| 1990 |
17 |
0 |
4 |
$
800,851 |
| 1991 |
27 |
0 |
41 |
$
4,115,361 |
| 1992 |
29 |
2 |
88 |
$
1,855,100 |
| 1993 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
$
1,568,004 |
| 1994 |
24 |
0 |
2 |
$
1,988,688 |
| 1995 |
26 |
1 |
174 |
$
12,336,882 |
| Total |
618 |
82 |
1952 |
$
377,554,944 |
| Avg/year |
13 |
2 |
42 |
$
8,207,716 |
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Compared with other States, North
Carolina ranks number 22 for frequency of Tornadoes, 20 for number
of deaths, 17 for injuries and 21 for cost of damages. When we
compare these statistics to other States by the frequency per square
mile, North Carolina ranks, number 26 for the frequency of
tornadoes, number 19 for fatalities, number 16 for injuries per area
and number 20 for costs per area. Based on data from 1950 - 1995.
North Carolina in 1970 had a population of 5,084,411 and between
1950 and 1995 had 618 tornadoes. This ranks the State number 22 in
tornadoes by State. The population in 1970 divided by the number of
tornadoes equals 8,227 This ranks North Carolina number 26 in the
ratio of tornadoes to population. North Carolina had 82 fatalities
between 1950 and 1995. Compared to other states it ranked 20 The
risk of death in any one year is 1 in 2,790,226 This ranks North
Carolina as number 24 for the risk of death by tornado . Between
1950 and 1995 the state had 1,952 injuries involving tornadoes. This
ranks the state number 17 among the States for injury. The risk of
injury in any one year is one in 117,212 When we divide the
population by the number of injuries, the State ranks number 24 The
total cost of tornadoes between 1950 and 1995 was $377,554,944.00
This ranks the state number 21 The cost per person for tornadoes, in
the state per year, is $ 1.65 This ranks the State number 24 In
costs for tornadoes per person
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