COUNTDOWN TO SURVIVAL
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Year Published: 1976
Description: This 1976 tornado preparedness and safety response film titled “Countdown to Survival: Tornado” was commissioned by the U.S. Government Defense Civil Preparedness Agency . The film describes the elements of a modern tornado warning system as was developed at the Texas Tornado Warning Conferences in 1953 and included radar detection of tornadoes, a spotter network, and improved communications between the U.S. Weather Bureau, spotters, and public officials to better disseminate warnings to the public. In the 1960s TV changed the way tornado safety and preparedness information was disseminated and this film is likely a product of that development. This film opens with vignettes of people in a small town somewhere in America’s suburban midwest. It then goes on to display the moments before and after the onset of a tornado and informs the audience of appropriate safety response measures. Backyard of suburban home (0:18). People walking down the street (0:21). Close-up of two middle-aged women’s faces (0:24). Neighborhood kids playing pick-up game of baseball (0:28). Woman walking with Schwinn Speedster model bicycle in public square (0:33). Man sitting on bench reading newspaper (0:37). Middle or high school aged students in classroom (0:43). Two men working at an office (0:46). Couple doing DIY project outside mobile home (0:49). Two girls walking away wearing 501 Levis denim shorts (0:53). People walking through an outdoor mall (0:56). Man mowing his lawn (1:03). Mother and children on tricycles playing in backyard (1:07). Woman walking away from mall with puppy, shopping bags, and Chanel 2.55 Flap model purse (1:18). Two women walking home with brown-paper grocery bag (1:23). Freeze frame of man holding young son up in the air (1:30). Title text overlaid freeze framed image: “Countdown to Survival: Tornado” (1:45). Scene of hills and greenery analyzing elements that lead to tornado (2:08). Diagram of how tornado may develop - warm air incoming from Gulf of Mexico, very hot dry air from south-west America, and cold surface air from north America (2:16). Hills with low-hanging cloud formations (2:32). Diagram of squall line forming leading to tornado (2:35). Doppler radar screen (2:50). Scientists at work at the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Norman, Oklahoma (2:52). Weathermen reading synoptic weather chart (2:58). Means of collecting data: radar, weather balloons, satellites, weather station (2:59). Data coming in at weather station (3:04). Weatherman reading map of winds in lab (3:17). Return to vignettes with announcement of tornado watch: couple doing DIY project and listening to Longines Symphonette Mid 1960's Transistor Radio, woman setting down groceries, children eating in the backyard (3:26). Scan of various office and commercial buildings (3:45). Scenes from a school (3:58). Tornado spotter on the phone (4:03). Nature scene (4:52). Vignettes of people informing each other of the weather update (4:54). Danger signals in sky for oncoming tornado (5:14). Policeman driving what may be Dodge Polara police car through town announcing tornado warning (5:49). Townspeople undertake preparations: folding chairs, Radio Flyer red wagon, upside down trash cans (5:59). Scenes of the sky (6:33). Storm radar screen (7:03). Tornado (7:31). Computer screen with tornado warning issued for Des Moines, Iowa (7:55). People finding safety (8:05). School children in shelter assuming protective positions (8:45). Policeman stopping drivers on road (9:12). Vignettes of people taking cover (9:32). View of tornado (9:57). Children doing duck and cover (10:05). Tornado causing destruction (10:28). Emergency vehicles responding to fires (11:32). Firefighters putting out fire (12:00). Aerial shots of destruction (12:02). Emergency medical team holding up IV drip for patient on stretcher (12:15). Search and rescue searching through debris (12:18). Buildings and homes being inspected (12:32). School kids getting out of positions (13:00). Montage of close-up shots of destruction (13:18). Survivors being carried on stretchers (13:26). Montage damaged buildings and homes (13:32). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference." This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Key moments View all Tornado Watch 3:20 .a Tornado Warning Indicating the Actual Presence of a Tornado those in the Path of the Storm Must Take Immediate Safety Precautions in the Schools Students Are Evacuated from Unsafe Places and Move to 8:01 This Is a Tornado Warning We Repeat this Is a Tornado Warning the Tornado Is Now Three Miles Southwest of Town Moving to the Northeast at 35 Miles per Hour those in the Path of the Storm Should Seek Shelter 8:56 What To Do if You Heard a Tornado Watch a Tornado Warning or Seen an Enormous Dark Funnel Coming toward You You Should because Perhaps a Countdown to Survival May Have Already Begun for Your Town 13:56 Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript PeriscopeFilm 759K subscribers Videos About Support Us on Patreon
Complete Record: This 1976 tornado preparedness and safety response film titled “Countdown to Survival: Tornado” was commissioned by the U.S. Government Defense Civil Preparedness Agency . The film describes the elements of a modern tornado warning system as was developed at the Texas Tornado Warning Conferences in 1953 and included radar detection of tornadoes, a spotter network, and improved communications between the U.S. Weather Bureau, spotters, and public officials to better disseminate warnings to the public. In the 1960s TV changed the way tornado safety and preparedness information was disseminated and this film is likely a product of that development. This film opens with vignettes of people in a small town somewhere in America’s suburban midwest. It then goes on to display the moments before and after the onset of a tornado and informs the audience of appropriate safety response measures. Backyard of suburban home (0:18). People walking down the street (0:21). Close-up of two middle-aged women’s faces (0:24). Neighborhood kids playing pick-up game of baseball (0:28). Woman walking with Schwinn Speedster model bicycle in public square (0:33). Man sitting on bench reading newspaper (0:37). Middle or high school aged students in classroom (0:43). Two men working at an office (0:46). Couple doing DIY project outside mobile home (0:49). Two girls walking away wearing 501 Levis denim shorts (0:53). People walking through an outdoor mall (0:56). Man mowing his lawn (1:03). Mother and children on tricycles playing in backyard (1:07). Woman walking away from mall with puppy, shopping bags, and Chanel 2.55 Flap model purse (1:18). Two women walking home with brown-paper grocery bag (1:23). Freeze frame of man holding young son up in the air (1:30). Title text overlaid freeze framed image: “Countdown to Survival: Tornado” (1:45). Scene of hills and greenery analyzing elements that lead to tornado (2:08). Diagram of how tornado may develop - warm air incoming from Gulf of Mexico, very hot dry air from south-west America, and cold surface air from north America (2:16). Hills with low-hanging cloud formations (2:32). Diagram of squall line forming leading to tornado (2:35). Doppler radar screen (2:50). Scientists at work at the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Norman, Oklahoma (2:52). Weathermen reading synoptic weather chart (2:58). Means of collecting data: radar, weather balloons, satellites, weather station (2:59). Data coming in at weather station (3:04). Weatherman reading map of winds in lab (3:17). Return to vignettes with announcement of tornado watch: couple doing DIY project and listening to Longines Symphonette Mid 1960's Transistor Radio, woman setting down groceries, children eating in the backyard (3:26). Scan of various office and commercial buildings (3:45). Scenes from a school (3:58). Tornado spotter on the phone (4:03). Nature scene (4:52). Vignettes of people informing each other of the weather update (4:54). Danger signals in sky for oncoming tornado (5:14). Policeman driving what may be Dodge Polara police car through town announcing tornado warning (5:49). Townspeople undertake preparations: folding chairs, Radio Flyer red wagon, upside down trash cans (5:59). Scenes of the sky (6:33). Storm radar screen (7:03). Tornado (7:31). Computer screen with tornado warning issued for Des Moines, Iowa (7:55). People finding safety (8:05). School children in shelter assuming protective positions (8:45). Policeman stopping drivers on road (9:12). Vignettes of people taking cover (9:32). View of tornado (9:57). Children doing duck and cover (10:05). Tornado causing destruction (10:28). Emergency vehicles responding to fires (11:32). Firefighters putting out fire (12:00). Aerial shots of destruction (12:02). Emergency medical team holding up IV drip for patient on stretcher (12:15). Search and rescue searching through debris (12:18). Buildings and homes being inspected (12:32). School kids getting out of positions (13:00). Montage of close-up shots of destruction (13:18). Survivors being carried on stretchers (13:26). Montage damaged buildings and homes (13:32). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference." This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Key moments View all Tornado Watch 3:20 .a Tornado Warning Indicating the Actual Presence of a Tornado those in the Path of the Storm Must Take Immediate Safety Precautions in the Schools Students Are Evacuated from Unsafe Places and Move to 8:01 This Is a Tornado Warning We Repeat this Is a Tornado Warning the Tornado Is Now Three Miles Southwest of Town Moving to the Northeast at 35 Miles per Hour those in the Path of the Storm Should Seek Shelter 8:56 What To Do if You Heard a Tornado Watch a Tornado Warning or Seen an Enormous Dark Funnel Coming toward You You Should because Perhaps a Countdown to Survival May Have Already Begun for Your Town 13:56 Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript PeriscopeFilm 759K subscribers Videos About Support Us on Patreon
Transcription
[Music] [Music] welcome to our city we're sure glad you've decided to spend the next 15 minutes visiting with us it's early afternoon here and the town's people are either concentrating on their studies or busy at work or just plain enjoying the pleasant weather in fact it's the kind of day when it seems that nothing could ever go wrong but tragically things are not always what they seem and in exactly 10 minutes nature's most violent weather phenomenon will cut through this town leaving behind a horrifying path of death and destruction would you know what to do would you be able to survive you have exactly nine minutes and 43 seconds to decide because in that time a killer tornado will devastate this community so a tornado today here in this town how could that be just outside of town the elements which can combine to create a twister are rapidly forming [Music] a low pressure system is drawing in warm exceptionally moist surface air from the gulf of mexico with low very hot dry air from the southwest and cold surface air from the north [Music] when the dry air meets the moist gulf air a squall line forms turbulence grows when the cold front moves in as these storms move into the influence of the strong jet stream aloft they can become more intense the breeding grounds for a tornado at the national severe storms forecast center weathermen are alerted and have been analyzing data gathered by radar weather balloons satellites and weather stations it's not yet possible to predict the exact time and place of a tornado but it is possible to identify areas in which weather conditions suggest a high probability of tornado activity when this happens a tornado watch is issued the national weather service has just issued a tornado watch for this area the threat of tornadoes will exist until 9 30 pm please watch for threatening weather conditions and stay tuned for updated information during a tornado watch people know that they need not interrupt their normal routine except to look for threatening weather conditions [Music] at school activities go on as usual though the faculty has already been notified of the watch and the tornado spotter is assigned to check on local weather conditions and to monitor radio and television reports i was in a tornado once the houses were getting wrecked and the house was just falling apart glasses were breaking students in classrooms fully aware that they may soon be faced with a tornado turn their attention to these killer storms if we were to have something like a tornado or a hurricane what would be the safest place for you since 90 of tornadoes come from the southwest that corner of the building will not be used for protection glass partitions and windows must be avoided as well as rooms with unsupported roof spans like auditoriums gymnasiums and cafeterias [Music] outside the people continue to keep an eye on the weather they contact one another informally spreading a warning while constantly searching the sky for several danger signals which indicate the possible approach of a twister [Music] they look for clouds appearing to bulge down instead of up and greenish black in color they look for hail and rain which frequently precede a tornado and most important they look for the worst a funnel-shaped cloud spinning rapidly and extending downward toward the earth from the base of a thundercloud [Music] the tornado watch is still in effect and has been extended until 11 pm scattered severe thunderstorms with large hail and locally damaging winds are also forecast it is advisable for loose objects to be stored indoors the people in the town respond quickly though a tornado hasn't been spotted yet the people know that wind speeds within a twister's vortex or center have been estimated at upwards of 200 miles per hour and that unsecured objects lifted and hurled by these powerful winds can easily become lethal missiles with the winds rising and the clouds darkening civil defense and police personnel become increasingly watchful [Music] as the weather deteriorates meteorologists continue to monitor the crisis situation [Music] and then almost inevitably a tornado is spotted [Music] [Music] a tornado warning is now in effect until further notice a tornado was reported by the public and picked up on radar seven miles southwest of town and moving toward the northeast at 30 miles per hour [Music] a tornado warning indicating the actual presence of a tornado those in the path of the storm must take immediate safety precautions in the schools students are evacuated from unsafe places and move to pre-designated safety areas usually along interior walls on lower floors some windows are open to avoid a sudden decrease in air pressure which could cause the building to explode once in the shelter areas pupils assume a protective position this is a tornado warning we repeat this is a tornado warning the tornado is now three miles southwest of town moving to the northeast at 35 miles per hour those in the path of the storm should seek shelter immediately those caught in the open take cover in nearby ditches ravines or underpasses do not re-repeat do not stay in [Music] [Applause] [Music] automobiles [Music] [Music] [Applause] the warning has been given the alarm sounded there is nothing left to do but wait wait for the holocaust to pass [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] so [Applause] [Music] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] the tornado has passed it didn't last for an hour or some half it didn't cut a path of destruction a mile wide as some had this one sustained itself for only two and a half minutes but the damage packed into that short period of time is incredible buildings businesses homes whole blocks lie in ruins devastated [Music] but the danger is not yet over for the aftermath of a tornado can cause enormous problems can be almost as deadly as the storm itself there is much to do gas lines must be checked for leaks if there are any they must be reported immediately downed power lines must be carefully avoided buildings should be inspected those with damage to ceilings or walls should be evacuated falling debris must be watched for those in the schools have remained calm and followed planned procedures teachers go over attendance records to be sure all students are accounted for while the principal or custodian check out utilities you've seen the destruction it is horrible almost indescribable yet here in a town struck head-on by a killer storm casualties and death were kept to a minimum because warnings were heated because preparation was complete and taken seriously because people acted quickly and correctly a tornado can strike any time of day any time of the year any place in the country each year places that have never been struck before join the long list of tornado disaster locations would you know what to do if you heard a tornado watch a tornado warning or seen an enormous dark funnel coming toward you you should because perhaps a countdown to survival may have already begun for your town you
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