The small community of Saragosa, Texas, was devastated by a violent multiple-vortex tornado on Friday, May 22, 1987. Despite the extensive warning dissemination efforts, which are documented in this book, the overall warning system in Saragosa failed to reach most of the residents in time for them to take effective safety measures.


The primary purpose of this book is to combine the information provided by the respondents to a postdisaster survey with the facts surrounding the tornado in order to understand and evaluate the severe weather warning procedures used in Reeves County, Texas, where Saragosa is located.


The evaluation of this survey is intended to determine ways of adjusting existing warning systems and better prepare the citizens, public officials, and news media in Reeves County, as well as in every city, county, and township where severe weather threatens lives and property.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 The Tornado and Its Effects
2 Tornado Preparedness Activities
3 Tornado Warning Activities
4 Tornado Warning Dissemination
5 Observations, Recommendations, and Conclusions
References
Appendix A Summary of Deaths in the Saragosa Tornado
Appendix B Eyewitness Accounts
Appendix C Preparedness Activities Related to Reeves County, Texas,
by NWS Midland
Appendix D Meteorological Information on the Saragosa Tornado
Appendix E Chronology of Releases on West Texas Weather Wire
Appendix F Palestine, Texas, Tornado, November 15, 1987
Photo: The Saragosa, Texas, Tornado