Tornado Vulnerability in Texas

Abstract

ornado vulnerability depends on the incidence of and societal exposure to tornadoes for a particular location. This study assesses the vulnerability of Texas counties to tornadoes using tornado incidence and societal exposure composite scores. Three different assessment methods are used to quantify tornado vulnerability and a geographical information system is used for visualization. Using multiple assessment methods facilitates different ways of viewing tornado vulnerability. Even though the three tornado vulnerability maps produced in this study are spatially diverse, some counties were repeatedly identified as highly vulnerable. The most highly vulnerable counties were located within the northern and northeastern portions of the state, specifically in the northeastern corner within the Shreveport, Louisiana, county warning area.