This year has been a bad one for tornadoes, and the season has just begun.

Chart from NOAA storm prediction center

If you look at the chart, you will see a dramatic increase in the tornadoes, and their killing potential.

While I don't buy into Al Gore's degree of GW alarmism, something IS changing in our weather. Is it natural - probably. The Big question is what do we do as a people to protect ourselves better in this changing environment where houses are compleatly blown off the face of the earth?

For me and my family we are debating digging an underground shelter, most houses in this area are ranch style homes built on slabs so there is no getting in the basement.

While most don't condone AL Gore's alarmism,one thing in his favour, he made us more aware, about the State of our World.
We have, here in Sydney, had the wettest Summer,since records have been kept.
Climates are indeed changing.
I have an idea to keep Houses from Tornado Damage.

Except for a couple of times in other years it does appear that there is a rise in the frequency and number of tornadoes. They really seem to be tearing up the Midwest. I think we've had more watches and warnings here in Ohio than usual, esp. for May. Our weather had been kind of off this month too. It's rained more than it's been clear and warm. I sure hope this trend lets up before long.

I believe there is evidence that these events may relate to Climate Change, but not to what Al Gore claims - anthropogenic climate change i.e. man caused Global Warming.

His promotion of this really does nothing to help people prepare for climate change since it misdirects efforts as has been stated before. I wonder, for example, how many people are preparing for global cooling, a problem what will be far worse than the minor global warming scare that he is touting?

They were discussing the rise in the number of tornadoes on the local evening news just last night. There has been a definite increase in tornadoe activity from previous years though they made no mention of a possible cause. Neither Global Warming or Cooling was mentioned. They do,however, think that there's a very good possibility that tornado activity could increase for the state of Ohio. We've had several more sitings than usual for this time of year and it's still early in the season. Hopefully they're wrong but I may just be digging a shelter too.

Tornadoes seem to be shifting out of the traditional "tornado alley", to just a little east of where it used to be.

Along with a predicted increase in tornadoes, there is also a prediction that hurricanes may not be more frequent, but they will be stronger than normal this year.
Even if not hit by a tornado directly, they can certainly cause widespread flooding, interruptions in electricity and downed trees; in addition to having a "safe place" to stay, having extra water and food seems prudent for anyone living in such areas.
Z

We have quite a few tornadoes in the UK. Most of them would not disturb a pile of leaves.

There was one about a mile from where I live. It managed to flip a car, and it also knocked a few tiles of a couple of roofs.