THE BATTALION Page 7
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1977
E PACK’S PLASTER AND CERAMICS ^
One of the largest selections of plaster in Texas.
Art supplies, ornamental concrete and candles.
Tues., Wed., Thurs. 2 p.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday 10a.m.-5p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
FM 2223, Old Wheelock Road (off Tabor Road)
823-3965
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Mens & Womens Hair Design — Now featuring
BRENDA WILLIAMS
IN THE RAMADA INN
COLLEGE STATION
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Rapid detection and warning of tornadoes
threatening Brazos County are primarily re
sponsibilities of these three men, pictured
here in the Radar Control Room located in
the Oceanography-Meteorology Building on
the Texas A&M campus. From left, they are
Charlie Brenton, assistant tornado warning
officer for Brazos County, Dr. Vance Moyer,
professor of meteorology, and Jake
Cangelose, director of Brazos County Civil
Defense.
Battalion photo by Susan Webb
Radar—detector of a killer
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By DAVID TEWES
A killer, destructive, short lived,
little or no warning. That briefly de
scribes the most intense storm
known to man — the tornado.
In just seconds a tornado can turn
a modern city into a twisted mess of
| death and destruction. It can leave
hundreds homeless and turn dreams
into despair.
What can be done about it? Not
much currently. But the Brazos
County civil defense is trying to re
duce the potentially destructive re
sults of tornadoes here with a detec
tion and warning system.
“In order to protect the citizens,
you have to provide a warning sys
tem to reduce loss of life and in
juries,” Jake Cangelose, Brazos
County civil defense director and
chairman, said recently. “Locally,
we place our emphasis on tornado
warnings.
This is why the local civil defense
has civilian and governmental
people who watch for tornadoes,
I hail, high wind and flooding.
I “We re part of the warning sys-
Item primarily because we have the
[equipment here,” said Dr. Vance
1 Moyer, director of the radar warn
ing system. He said the radar atop
Texas A&M University’s Oceanog
raphy and Meterology Building is
the most important tool they have.
The National Weather Service
(NWS) has radar located in Galves
ton, Stephenville and Longview.
Bryan-College Station is outside
their range, so the radar here fills
the gap.
The first hint that conditions are
ripe for tornado formation comes
across the NWS teletype. The
meterology department on campus.
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) and Department of Public
Safety (DPS) each have a teletype.
People in the meterology de
partment check the teletype only
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If bad weather
is reported after 5 p.m., the FAA or
DPS calls Moyer.
Moyer then checks the radar and
if he thinks Bryan-College Station
will be affected, he sends out
weather spotters. These are the
highway patrol as well as C.B. and
ham radio operators.
The Bryan and College Station
police departments, sherifFs office,
news media, fire department and
public schools are warned via civil
defense radio. The radio operates on
155.08 megacycles and can be
bought by anyone.
A continuous, wavering whistle
from the Texas A&M steam plant is
a public warning that a tornado is
headed toward the area. The dis
tance the whistle can be heard is
limited, so police cruise the streets
with their sirens continuously on.
This system was last used in 1956
when a tornado was reported mov
ing toward College Station. It lifted
to roof-top level narrowly missing
the city, and there were no deaths
or injuries.
Bryan-Colege Station is subject to
two kinds of tornadoes. The long-
lived tornadoes usually give more
warning time and are the most in
tense. The short-lived tornadoes,
less intense, hit unexpectedly.
Moyer said the safest shelter from
a tornado is an underground storm
cellar, which is costly to build. He
said the next safest place is a home’s
bathtub. “It s the strongest part of
the house,” Moyer said.
Because most tornadoes move
only 35 to 40 m.p.h. and have a nar
row path, they can be outrun by
moving at a right angle from the
storm.
“People who live in mobile homes
should really make sure they’ve got
a good tie-down system,” Moyer
said. “It would prevent the mobile
home from being tossed around like
a match box.”
The chance of a specific area
being hit by a tornado is rare, of
being hit twice is even more rare.
But there have been many excep
tions.
nadoes in rapid succession. Okla
homa City has had 26 tornadoes
since 1892. Baldwyn, Miss., had
two in a span of 25 minutes in 1942.
From 1953 to 1969, Texas had
more tornadoes and related deaths
than any state. There were 1,758
tornadoes and 234 deaths in that
time period.
Hospitality Committee Presents
A free Christmas party for
children featuring a Christmas
movie & party following —
Thursday, Dec. 8
Rudder Auditorium
6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Party: Thursday, Dec. 8
MSC-Rms. 228-231
7:00-10:00 p.m.
Features: games
songs
refreshments
East
8/10
se of
In 1922, Austin had two tor-
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Large Selection of Colors & Styles
OPEN 9:30-6:00
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779-9484
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TAKE OFF AFTER GRADUATION
WITH PEACE CORPS AND
VISTA
ON CAMPUS
Dec. 5,6,7 ^
INTERVIEWING
SENIORS/GRADS:
Placement Office -
Rudder Tower 10th FI.
INFORMATION TABLE - Student Center
©1977 Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, Wis
Thinks college is one big time-out.
Holds school record for most games played.
Once managed to drop 7 passes and 3 courses in same day.
Cal drinks Lite Beer from Miller because it's less filling.
With his schedule he can't afford to get filled up.
Today he has to be in two places at once.
Insists on playing center and quarterback.
Spends spare time going to class.
Lite Beer from Miller.
Everything you always wanted in a beer. And less.