Joplin tornado

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/2011-joplin-tornado

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the disaster preparedness innovation?Inspired the creation of the FEMA 'Waffle House Index' for disaster assessment
2. What happened during the Joplin tornado?The tornado flattened neighborhoods, destroyed over 4,000 homes, damaged a hospital, and caused huge damage to many buildings in Joplin.
3. How long did the Joplin tornado last?It tracked through the city for 38 minutes, covering a path of about 21.62 miles.

Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale): A scale used by meteorologists to rate tornado intensity based on wind speed estimates derived from observed damage.
Atmospheric Instability: A condition in the atmosphere where air parcels tend to rise rapidly when lifted, fueling the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Community Resilience: The ability of a community to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adverse events, such as natural disasters.
Super Outbreak: A term used to describe a period of widespread and intense tornado activity, often involving multiple significant tornadoes.