“Twisters” is punching in late for work this summer. Almost 30 years after its cinematic debut, the 1996 Hollywood blockbuster hit, “Twister,” is returning to the box office for another storm season. The newly reimagined psychological weather horror story, “Twisters,” follows a similar titillating plot premise as the franchise’s flagship with a few modern upgrades to appeal to younger audiences. Like the original movie, “Twisters” follows the harrowing escapades of tornado chasers traipsing the Midwest for death-defying storm footage. Instead of seasoned storm veterans, “Twisters” focuses on cherub-faced millennials clamoring for social media clout, live streaming chaotic up-close tornado footage. Timing likely factored into Hollywood’s decision to revisit the cult classic. Tornado Alley is widening, and almost everyone has experienced nerve-fraying tornado warnings.
America’s Morbid Fascination With Tornadoes
Everyone enjoys a good scary movie that leaves them sitting on the edge of their seats, craving one more shrill-seeking moment that throws them into the warm embrace of their partners. Horror movies show measured chaos and despair without getting too close to the action. Severe weather psychological thrillers add an extra flirtation with danger as our chances of living through a traumatic weather event are far greater than facing off an actual life-wielding assailant. One in three American adults has been personally affected by extreme weather during the last two years. Imagine if those numbers were on par with run-ins with crooks and lunatic murders; we’d probably never leave our homes!
“Twisters” Reminder of an Expanding Tornado Alley
While “Twisters” will satisfy our vicarious quest for skin-prickling drama, it’s an eerie reminder of our delicate disposition in a dangerous world at the mercy of Mother Nature—more than 1,200 tornadoes touchdown annually nationwide. No one is immune from the effects of chaotic weather. While double and triple-checking your locked doors might ease the tension of a late-night scary movie, tornadoes don’t need a key to open your home to their killer prowess. Most Americans have nowhere to go during tornadoes. Seeking cover in a bathroom or basement increases your survival odds but is no guarantee of emerging unscathed from the ruins. The numbers are worse for those stranded at work during tornadoes. Most tornadoes strike during the early afternoon when workers return to lunch, putting them directly in harm’s way. In 2021, an EF3 tornado barreled through an Illinois Amazon warehouse, killing six people.
Protecting Workers from Mother Nature’s Worse
On average, tornadoes cause more than $400 million in damages nationwide while killing 71 people. Industry and construction bear the brunt of excessive storm damage. Destructive tornadoes can reduce sprawling warehouses and construction sites into warzones, as towering scaffolding and machinery place workers in a collapsing house of cards with nowhere to go. Few companies invest in storm-rated protection despite the mounting tornado fatalities at jobsites. Why would they? OSHA doesn’t require tornado shelters for workers, and CEOs aren’t clamoring to add another budget line item. But protecting your workers from Mother Nature’s worst should be every business’s priority. Investing in steel-rated tornado protection can improve company morale while improving your reputation in the community you serve. And who couldn’t stand a bit of good PR these days?
Our community storm shelters can be rapidly deployed in any industry without disrupting the jobsite. Constructed from solid quarter-inch steel paneling, our Tornado Safe shelters can safeguard workforces of any size and customizable to fit your needs. Our shelters are certified by the Wind Institute at Texas Tech University, the nation’s leading clearinghouse for storm-rated protection. While residential community shelters only protect smaller populations, our community safe rooms are ideal for factories, warehouses, schools, malls, theme parks, and more. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation.