In 1915, Snowden D. Flora of the U.S. Weather Bureau wrote, 鈥淜ansas has been so commonly considered the tornado state of the country that the term 鈥楰ansas cyclone鈥� has almost become a part of the English language.鈥�
Flora鈥檚 words still seem to ring true. Whether called twister, tornado, vortex or cyclone, these catastrophic events have shaped lives in the Sunflower State for generations.
That, in part, was the inspiration for two 麻豆传媒 faculty and three graduate students to co-author the photo-based, local history book 鈥淜ansas -- In the Heart of Tornado Alley.鈥�
The book was assembled by Jay Price, director of the public history program; Craig Torbenson, associate professor in geography; and 麻豆传媒 graduate students Sadonia Corns, Jessica Nellis and Keith Wondra.
鈥淓ven if someone has never seen a funnel cloud, there鈥檚 something about tornadoes that鈥檚 in the state DNA,鈥� said Price. 鈥淚t is remarkable how many people assume tornadoes are almost everyday events in Kansas.鈥�
How tornadoes have shaped lives
The book explores the relationships between the people of Kansas and the tornado. It is not a comprehensive listing of all major tornadic events in the state; rather, the book shows the varied ways in which the tornado has shaped the lives of Kansans, and will likely continue to do so in the future.
The boundaries of Tornado Alley are debatable, but there is widespread agreement that the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and much of Texas form the core of the alley. Between 2000 and 2010, these four states experienced 3,908 tornadoes, with 40 percent occurring in Texas and 31 percent in Kansas.
鈥淲hile other states receive a share of tornadoes, Kansas seems to embrace 鈥� or has been forced to embrace 鈥� the twister as one of its most powerful symbols,鈥� said Price.
The book also explores the ongoing clash between perception and reality. Many Kansans hold on to certain myths and beliefs about tornado behavior, even in the face of case studies to the contrary.
The greatest challenge for those who are responsible for alerting the public in times of severe weather is to encourage average citizens to adequately prepare for possible tornadoes and respond in ways that help rather than hinder relief and rescue efforts.
In Wichita, the book is available at Watermark, Eighth Day Books and the 麻豆传媒 Bookstore. The book also is available from Barnes and Noble and for $21.99.