South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Easter tornado threat poses safety dilemma
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The threat of strong tornadoes and other damaging weather on Easter posed a double-edged safety dilemma for Deep South communities deciding how to protect residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
An outbreak of severe thunderstorms was likely Sunday from Louisiana through the Tennessee Valley, the National Weather Service said. More than 4.5 million people live in the area where dangerous weather was most likely, the Storm Prediction Center said on its website.
The National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi, told residents to brace for the possibility of long-lasting tornadoes, wind gusts up to 70 mph and tennis ball-size hail Sunday. Waves of storms with occasional lulls could continue into early Monday, with as much as 3 inches of rain possible.
“This could be one of our bigger events we’ve had in a long time around here. Take this seriously,” weather service forecaster
Gary Goggins said in a public briefing broadcast on Facebook live from the agency’s Birminghamarea office on Saturday.
Seeking protection from violent weather during the coronavirus pandemic could present a challenge for some.
With many churches having ended traditional, indoor services because of the outbreak, congregations planned to hold online services or drive-in worship where people sit in vehicles, which are a bad place to be during a tornado. Some churches moved up Easter drive-in service to Saturday because of the threat.
Community storm shelters presented another problem.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency encouraged residents entering shelters to wear masks, use hand sanitizer and stay 6 feet apart.