America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers
Tornado Activity Shifts East — Heightening Risks in the South
Last year was one of the nation’s most active tornado seasons on record, with approximately 1,559 tornadoes — 27% higher than the 30-year average from 1991–2020, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The number of tornadoes not only grew but shifted eastward during that period: tornado activity decreased in the west by 25% and increased in the east by 12%. This shift is especially concerning because tornadoes are now increasingly affecting southern states with a large concentration of mobile home communities.
To help identify where these communities are located and who may be most vulnerable to tornadoes, communities can turn to Census Bureau data.
The American Community Survey (ACS) publishes data that enable communities to gauge risk to residents. The ACS contains variables on community vulnerability, including housing characteristics. This provides a national framework to identify tornado risk and prepare people for disaster.
The Community Resilience Estimates (CRE), built with ACS data and small area modeling techniques, also help identify populations that may have difficulty with disaster recovery.
Community leaders, emergency managers and everyday citizens can use Census Bureau data, like the ACS and the CRE, to better understand the disaster vulnerability of any neighborhood in the nation.
Continue reading for more about how Census Bureau data can help communities at risk of tornadoes.
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