Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-06-23
D JUNE %, 1889.
PROTECTION FROM cY
CLONES.

C1O1lco do ndfC N1OuSIV oCoCAA oiho
destruction over a large section of
our Northwest during the past few
days is a problem that may well
command the attention of the en-
tire country. Usually there is
little warning given by the ele-
ments, so that even refuge in Gel
lars specially constructed for the
purpose in some places is not al
ways practicable.
Discussing the awful disaster in
Wisconsin, Prof. E. B. Garriott
Of the weather bureau says that
when people see a funnel-shaped
cloud coming they should throw
open every door and window in
their houses, and then wait for the
storm to pass over.
Your furniture will probably
be damaged by the heavy rain that
usually accompanies a tornado
he says, 'but your house will not
be carried into the next county,
nor torn to pieces by the fury of
the winds. The velocity Of the
wind causes a vacuum in the at
mosphere. When the cloud
reaches a house with all it's doors
and windows shut the four walls Of
the building must give way in that
vacuum, or the house is lifted from
its foundation and is carried with
the wind. When the destructive
cyclone visited st. Louis a few
years ago many large and sub
stantial houses we're blown down.
In the path Of the storm were
many frail houses and sheds.
These places escaped without the
loss of single. The numerous
openings permitted the air to es-
cape freely. On the other hand,
where the buildings were large
and securely closed the confined
air caused destruction. There
was a similar incident just outside
Chicago a few years ago. There
a storm wrecked a large barn,
Within a few feet of the demol-
ished structure was a workshop
and corncrib which escaped with
out damage.
cit is difficult to forecast tor
nadoes-or, rather, to predict
where one will strike. It is like
attempting to foretell where light.
ming will hit. The only thing tc
be done when a tornado visits
your neighborhood is to throw
open your doors and pray that the
storm center will not strike in
your neighborhood. The chances
of escape are about equal those o.
destruction. The storm may hi
or miss you. It is purely a matter
of chance.
"The northwest has Jared a:
we'll this year as any other section
in the matter of destructiv.
storms continued DR.. Garriott
"That section has been a favorit,
stamping ground for tornadoes
These centers are caused by tn,
contact of warm air and. cold air
which generally meet in Mime
sofa, southern Wisconsin, Illinois
and Michigan. The reports 0
storms, as may be expected, in
crease yearly as the population il
the northwest becomes NOR
dense. Heretofore the storm
have swept over the section fc
years and years, and nothing wa
heard Of their severity while the
force was spent upon trees an
plains. Now, as cities and town
are being built every few mile
the path Of the storms is Of
structed by houses, which canne
be destroyed without the readin
public learning Of it.
"Tornadoes travel from west
east and are more frequent in til
northwest and middle west, whel
there are miles of prairie. In IL
winter the storms form on the P,
ciic coast and in the gulf state
The summer tornadoes come o,