What Actually Kills People in Tornadoes?

Most people imagine that being swept up into the sky is how tornadoes kill. The reality is both more mundane and more preventable. Understanding exactly what causes tornado fatalities is one of the most important things you can learn before storm season arrives.

The #1 Killer| Flying and Falling Debris

The vast majority of tornado deaths and injuries are caused by debris. When a tornado's winds reach EF2 strength and above (111 mph or higher), ordinary objects become lethal projectiles. Two-by-fours travel at highway speeds. Shards of glass and metal move at velocities that make them indistinguishable from bullets in terms of the damage they cause to the human body. Cars are rolled and crushed. Roofs are peeled back and shattered into fragments.

Debris can penetrate walls, shatter windows, and reach people who believe they're sheltered. This is why tornado safety guidance emphasizes getting away from windows, protecting your head and neck, and ideally getting underground, because the deeper you are, the less exposure you have to the debris field that surrounds even the outer edges of a storm.

2| Structural Collapse