[rgreen4]

While this may normally fall under News Discussion it has nothing to do with computing, and I just wanted to point out a few of my thoughts on the news item that has been in the paper and on TV lately. It hit real close to home for me, and even starting this sets me back a little. Most of you know that I am involved as a Scout Leader, but what you didn't know is that from the time I turned 8 in July, 1951, I have been continually registered, first as a Cub Scout, then Boy Scout, then Explorer and from July, 1961 as an adult leader. I have run youth training programs very similar to that being conducted this week at Little Sioux Scout Ranch, although the current program was heavily revised about 4 years ago.
When I first heard the news flash, my thought was that the Tornado hit camp during Summer Camp, but there should have been a lot more Scouts unless it was the very first week when they develop and train the Staff that runs the next 4-6 weeks of Summer Camp. I serve on the Southern Region, Area 4 Camp Inspection team, and in fact will conduct an inspection of a local camp next week. We look at staff certifications, training, dinning hall cleanliness, first aid arrangements, and other health and safety issues including Emergency Procedures for Severe Weather. Even at week long training sessions, the Emergency Procedures are reviewed with Staff and Participants alike.
Then I found out that the session was a one week Leadership Training for Troop Leaders and those who aspire to it. When we use the term Troop Leaders, we are taking about the youth (contrary to TV terminology, these are not children). They range in age from 13 to 17, for once they turn 18 then and stay in the program they are then called Adult Leaders. The program is a regimented standard course taught throughout the Nation, and is called NYLT for National Youth Leader Training. It is an intense program to teach the future leaders of the Troops (which are run by the youth, not the adults) the fundamentals of leadership, program planing and how to train those newer and younger members of their Troops.
While certainly a tragedy for all involved, especially for the four families, who have lost in some cases an only child, and in others their only son. If you have seen what was left of the building they had taken shelter in, it is amazing that only 4 fatalities were recorded. It was after the tornado passed over that their training kicked in, and although the USA Today article today called them Heroes, they probably would only say they were doing their duty. One boy, who was under a table next to one who did not make it, commented that he was fortunate that he was not severely injured, he took a moment to collect his thoughts about losing a friend, and then went to help the injured as he could no longer help his friend. The boy is 13! Another boy, who was injured, ignored his injuries, working to help pull others out until he could no longer stand on his injured leg. He then relented and allowed his injuries to be treated.
Those who have served in the Military are familiar with this thinking for it comes of our training. No matter how badly you may be injured, your first thought is to assist those injured worse than you are. Only when they are taken care of, do you take your turn at treatment. The fact that these thoughts are expressed under duress by 13-15 year old teenagers gives us pause and hope. For those of us who at times wonder about the irresponsibility of members of our next generation can take heed in those who act thusly. But, they are not unique, as they are prevalent across the nation taking part in programs such as this. They are the quiet ones whom you don't see or hear about because they don't make the news, unless thrust into the limelight in a case like this.
Some may wonder whether, and it has even been a discussion among Adult Leaders here, or not the campers would be better of in their tents or in a building. A direct hit on a building is rare, and if a pickup truck had not been picked up by the tornado and slammed into the fireplace, there may well have been a lot fewer fatalities. News footage showed scenes of the campsites with every tent flattened. Nylon tents with fiberglass poles are not flattened by wind, but by flying debris and everyone in a tent would have been injured to some extent.
Those of us in the Scouting Community will look back on this incident with sorrow, but also with pride, for our future leaders are in fact out there.

[AuroraDizon]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and further information of what happened. It is unfortunate when something like this occurs unfortunately it happens a lot more then anyone would like. We can't control the world, but we can do what we can while we can do it. The scouts that showed bravery intelligence and a sense of duty after/during the tornado the full extent we will never know, but can always respect.

[smax013]

rgreen4 said:

Some may wonder whether, and it has even been a discussion among Adult Leaders here, or not the campers would be better of in their tents or in a building. A direct hit on a building is rare, and if a pickup truck had not been picked up by the tornado and slammed into the fireplace, there may well have been a lot fewer fatalities. News footage showed scenes of the campsites with every tent flattened. Nylon tents with fiberglass poles are not flattened by wind, but by flying debris and everyone in a tent would have been injured to some extent.

As a structural engineer, I can tell you that there is not much that you can do if a tornado directly hits a structure. ANY typical residential home will not likely survive a direct hit by an F3 or greater tornado (and maybe even not a F2 or even F1). Only extremely well designed (which most lay people or construction people would call over designed) structure can realistically survive a direct hit of a major tornado...and even then it will likely have severe damage (even a well designed reinforced concrete structure will suffer damage in an F5 tornado).



Now, that is NOT to say that buildings are not safe. The point is that the odds of a home getting hit directly by a tornado are so small that society does not consider to make economic sense to build all homes to resist such loads. But, in reality, being in a structures is generally MUCH better than being out in the open. If you are in a structure, then your primary danger is only a direct hit (just getting "nicked" by a tornado's peripheral winds will be MUCH less dangerous if you are inside). If you are outside, there are a LOT more things that can harm you.



The point is that if you are directly hit by a tornado, it matters rather little where you are. But considering only a small portion of those effected will get directly hit, you are MUCH better off being in decent structure in a tornado that being outside where realistically a piece of straw propelled by the tornado could kill you (let alone more substantial debris such as bricks or cars or trees or roofs)...there are cases of pieces of straw pushed almost all the way through telephone poles by tornado winds.



I feel for those families that lost loved ones and feel for those who were injured and lost friends, but I have ZERO doubt that they made the right choice in seeking shelter in the building. If not for what sounds like very unlucky circumstances (the tornado having a fairly direct hit and tossing a truck into the structure), they likely would have been much better off. The ONLY way to say it was a bad choice was if someone can see the future and KNOW that the tornado would have had that direct of a hit. Since that cannot be known, the probabilities are that you will be much safer in a decent structure than outside.

[techie4fun]

Sioux City Iowa, you are almost to a place where I call home: I have a home in Omaha which is probably 30 minutes from Council Bluffs, but I don't recall having too many tornado's spotted when I was there in 2001-2003. Most of them have been hitting Iowa/Kansas.

[coastie65]

Hey rg, That was well written and brought back memories of my time as a scout. I too started as a Cub, and then moved up to the Boy Scouts, and then Explorer. I was a Post Explorer but we also had a group of Sea Explorers as well in the area. That was tragic what happened in Iowa. We had a similar incident here in Va. at Ft. Lee during a State Jamboree several years ago. I was somewhat amazed at how those guys reacted in the face of what happened. coastie

[rgreen4]

Many people underestimate the force of wind and what it can do to small harmless objects like straw and grass. When I lived in Lynchburg, Va, my mechanic had a daughter who has lost the sight in one eye, because a piece of grass coming out of the lawn mowers discharge chute penetrated her eye. He had to live with that, as he was mowing the yard with her around, never realizing the danger.

In the photos of the camp almost every tent was smashed. The tents usually used today are all dome based with nylon material and fiberglass poles. They are almost impervious to wind because of their shape. The will whip and move, but will withstand the force of the wind. Flying objects are far different, and if the Scouts had been in those tents, it is likely that the injuries and even fatalities would have been higher.

Just make sure to tell your loved ones on a regular basis your true feelings, for you never know when it may be too late.