A storm chaser said Canada’s tornado warning system lags dangerously behind the United States.
Greg Johnson, team lead with TornadoHunter.com, is calling on Environment Canada to send tweets, text messages and interrupt broadcasts when tornado warnings get issued.
"In the United States, they're basically pushing the information out the public. Environment Canada only posts this information on their website and the public at large is required to go and get that information," said Johnson.
He said the reason environment Canada doesn't release more information is bureaucracy, and it shouldn't get in the way of safety.
In 2007, a powerful twister touched down in Elie Manitoba leveling buildings. No one was injured, but Johnson said the situation could've been different
"Let’s just say I got off a night shift and I wasn't watching TV or listening to the radio, how would I be informed that a potentially deadly tornado was heading towards me?" he asked.
Johnson said the costs to implement a text and Twitter alert system would be minimal.
The tornado chaser is also calling on communities to invest in siren systems to better alert people in tornado-prone areas.
Environment Canada testing social media
In a statement to CTV News, Environment Canada said it's currently testing social media tools to determine their utility as an enhanced warning service.
Environment Canada said it is committed to providing Canadians with accurate and timely weather information.
"Severe weather warnings are issued simultaneously in both official languages over various communications channels including Weatheradio, broadcast media, via numerous news wire services, Environment Canada’s media weather web site, Environment Canada’s public weather web site, and recorded messages on our automated telephone answering systems," Environment Canada told CTV News.
"Weather warnings are also distributed over the national public alerting system which enables broadcasters to automatically air the most severe warnings through broadcast-interrupt technology. Use of this system is currently voluntary for broadcasters but Environment Canada has actively encouraged its adoption."
About 10 tornados touch down in Manitoba every year.
Johnson said some Canadians think tornados do not pose as a significant risk in Canada, compared to the United States. He said that’s because our season is shorter, but that doesn’t mean when tornadoes come north of the border, they are any less dangerous.
“If you ask the people of Elie, Manitoba or Edmonton, Alberta or Goodrich, Ontario or Angus, Ontario, last week, and the list goes on and on and on, they will tell you it’s just as bad up here when it happens”, he said.
“The reality is this time of year when you hear a tornado warning in Canada it can be equally as deadly, equally as dangerous and just as much financial effect as it would anywhere in the States.”
