Addressing Interconnections Between the Built and Natural Environments Through Post-event Damage Surveys

EF-4 Tornado

Project Description

The Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment-Southeast (VORTEX-SE) is a research program to understand how environmental factors characteristic of the southeastern United States affect the formation, intensity, structure, and path of tornadoes in this region. VORTEX-SE will also determine the best methods for communicating forecast uncertainty related to these events to the public, and evaluate public response.

As one of several supported research projects associated with VORTEX-SE, this study seeks to characterize the interconnected nature of debris and damage propagation within communities by carefully examining both the built and natural environment through detailed damage surveys following tornadoes. A better understanding of these interconnections should help to identify ways to mitigate risk from tornadoes.

Project Updates

Project Personnel

  • Dr. Christopher Godfrey, University of North Carolina at Asheville
  • Dr. Frank Lombardo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Dr. Chris Peterson, University of Georgia
  • Samantha Carr, University of North Carolina at Asheville (student)
  • G. Alex Flynt, University of North Carolina at Asheville (student)
  • Chase Graham, University of North Carolina at Asheville (student)
  • Samuel O'Donnell, University of North Carolina at Asheville (student)
  • Tyler Moore, University of North Carolina at Asheville (student)
  • Ethan Wright, University of North Carolina at Asheville (student)
*These environmental data and related items of information have not been formally disseminated by NOAA and do not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination, view, or policy.
North Carolina's Public Liberal Arts University