Edmonton Tornado

Infobox tornado single|name=Edmonton Tornado of 1987
date=July 31, 1987
image location=Edmonton_tornado.jpg


time=3:25 p.m. MDT (2125 UTC)
fujitascale=F4
total damages (USD)=$616 million (2007 CAD) [ [http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi The Inflation Calculator ] ]
total fatalities=27
injured=100+
area affected= Edmonton, Strathcona County, Sherwood Park The Edmonton Tornado was a powerful and devastating tornado that ripped through the eastern part of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and parts of neighbouring Strathcona County on the afternoon of Friday, July 31, 1987 (also known as "Black Friday" to Edmontonians).

The tornado remained on the ground for an hour, cutting a path of destruction 40 kilometres (25 miles) long and up to a kilometre (0.6 miles, or 3000 feet) wide in places, and peaking at F4cite web | title = Fact Sheet - Summer Severe Weather Warnings | publisher = Environment Canada | date = 2005-05-24 | url = http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/severe-weather/summerwx_factsheet_e.html | accessdate = 2007-07-30 ] on the Fujita scale, but may have briefly become an F5 [ http://www.eps.mcgill.ca/~courses/c186-250/Lectures/tornadoes.ppt] . The tornado killed 27 people, injured more than 300 people, destroyed more than 300 homes, and caused more than $330 million in property damage at four major disaster sites. The loss of life, injuries and destruction of property made it the worst natural disaster in Alberta's recent history and one of the worst in Canada's history.

Weather forecasts issued during the morning and early afternoon of July 31, 1987 for Edmonton revealed a recognition by Environment Canada of a high potential for unusually severe thunderstorms that afternoon. Environment Canada responded swiftly upon receipt of the first report of a tornado touchdown from a resident of Leduc County which is immediately adjacent to Edmonton's southern boundary.

This tornado has been under scrutiny by Environment Canada during the last couple of years, as to whether or not it could be considered for an F5 rating. If done this would make it the earliest such tornado since records have been kept, next to the Elie, Manitoba tornado.

Chronology of events on July 31st, 1987

* 1:40 pm Severe thunderstorm watch issued for the City of Edmonton, Counties of Leduc, Parkland and Strathcona
* 2:45 pm Severe thunderstorm warning issued for same area
* 2:52 pm Weatheradio Canada emergency tone activated for Edmonton transmitter
* 2:59 pm Tornado sighting reported to weather office by a citizen near Leduc, 25 km south of Edmonton
* 3:04 pm Tornado warning issued over Weatheradio
* 3:25 pm F2 - F3 Tornado strikes the southeast area of Mill Woods
* 3:30 pm F4 Tornado plows through Refinery Row killing 12 people and injuring many more
* 4:25 pm F3 - F2 Tornado dissipates after extensively damaging Evergreen Trailer Park causing injuries and 15 deaths

Post-disaster response

While municipal emergency agencies, Fire Departments, Ambulance and Police were responding, the Department of National Defence (Canada) placed helicopters and ambulances on standby at the Canadian Forces Base, Edmonton, and provided reconnaissance flights for the City of Edmonton and the deputy prime minister.

At the onset of the storm Emergency Preparedness Canada established contact with the Alberta Government Emergency Response Centre. EPC established a liaison office at the response centre at approximately 1800 hours that same day.

As Emergency personnel responded to the industrial area, potential threats from dangerous goods came to light. Alberta's [http://www.trans.gov.ab.ca/Content/doctype277/production/dgc001.htm Compliance Information Centre] dispatched its dangerous goods inspectors and the provincial [http://environment.gov.ab.ca/ environmental response] team to the area.

The emergent post-disaster response period lasted for approximately three weeks including immediate disaster assistance for victims. At the end of August 1987 details of the overall damage costs were gathered and the Government of Alberta announced an extensive disaster recovery program with the assistance of the Government of Canada.

The Emergency Public Warning System was developed as a result of the 1987 Tornado Disaster. The Warning system breaks into private and public broadcasts on radio, television and cable systems. It alerts the public for all disaster hazards that threaten to strike with little or no warning. The Warning system is also used for issuing Amber alerts.

See also

* List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
** List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
** List of Canadian tornadoes
* Tornado myths

References

External links

* [http://datalib.library.ualberta.ca/tornado/ Univ of Alberta Library]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-70-1713-11760/disasters_tragedies/tornadoes/clip8 CBC Broadcast Archive]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/1999/05/07/twister990507.html#canada Tornadoes in Canada, CBC.ca]
* [http://www.iassistdata.org/tornado/t87.html The 1987 Edmonton Tornado Atlas]
* [http://www.ontariostorms.com/1987/jul31/index.html Photos of the Edmonton Tornado]
* [http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/air/summersevere/ae00s23.en.html city map of Edmonton showing the path of the tornado] - Environment Canada
* [http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~rob/tornado87.htm Edmonton tornado photos] - University of Alberta