University of Nebraska Lincoln graphic
Nature's Fury:
Grand Island Tornado 1980


Image Analysis:

1. When and where was this image captured?

2.  What is happening in this image?

3. What specific people/objects do you see? 

4. What do you notice about the object's condition or the people's expressions or appearance?

5. Why would the person choose this particular scene to capture?
6. What information do the words accompanying the image provide?

7. What is missing from the image?

8. What problems for people are suggested by the images?

9.  What is interesting or surprising about this image?

10. What additional information about the event did you learn from  this image?


Personal Account Analysis:

1. When and where did this interview take place?

2. What encounter with nature is described in this personal account?

3. How long after the event occurred was this inteview made?

4. What words or phrases best create a visual image of the event?

5. What attitude towards this event does the person seem to have?

6. Who or what at does this person seem to believe is responsible for this event occurring?

7. What problems or effects does the event seem to have had on people's lives?

8.  What lesson does this person seem to have learned from this event?

9. Is there anything interesting or surprising to you about this person's reaction to the situation?

10. What new insights into the natural event does this interview provide you?
 



Lyrics Analysis:
 

1. If there is a cover to this piece of sheet music, examine it carefully.  What message does the cover give you about the event?

2. What natural event is this song about?

3. Read through the lyrics. Write a  summary describing the main idea of the song.

4. List any words in the song with which you are not familiar. Find their meanings in a dictionary.

5. Choose one or two phrases of the song that are interesting to you. Explain why they caught your attention.

6. Who or what does the song writer feel is responsible for the event?

7. What problems or effects of the event are mentioned in the song?

8. What new insights does this song give you about the event described?

9. What surprises you about the song?

10. What questions do you have?
 



Additional Resources:
 

  1. What additional information
  about the event did the other sources provide? 
 


Photo: NOAA

The tornado continues developing Dust and debris have been carried almost half-way to cloud base Photo #2 of a series of classic photographs of this tornado 

Source



Personal Account:

Read accounts of what the tornado was like by clicking here.
 
 

Source document.




Lyrics:
 
 

TORNADO SONG

Big dark clouds turning green and gray 
another storms' heading our way 
there goes the roof off my neighbors shack 
sound of sirens, I'm gonna crack

I'm giving you warning 
I'm letting you know 
that I did my best to not let it show 
Hold on honey 'cause it's gonna blow 
Off the deep end I'm gonna go

Nobody here has got any power 
weakened by weather and lack of clean water 
rest of the world's enjoying the show 
as they're nestled down tightly, watching from home

I'm giving you warning 
I'm letting you know 
that I did my best to not let it show
Hold on honey 'cause it's gonna blow 
Off the deep end I'm gonna go

I won't be waiting for what happens next 
twisters and earthquakes they make me a wreck 
you bailed on me once God, I should've known 
when that funnel cloud touched down and wrecked my home

I'm giving you warning 
I'm letting you know 
that I did my best to not let it show 
Hold on honey 'cause it's gonna blow 
Off the deep end I'm gonna go

words & music by Andy Scheinman
copyright 1999 Red Rudy Too Tunes / BMI

Source

Note: Although not written to describe this particular tornado, this song reflects the feelings of the composer to a similar event.




Other Resources:

Newspaper description of the Grand Island tornado
Tornado Safety



Back to Nature's Fury Part 2

Nature's Fury web pages published and maintained by P. Solfest & K. Wardean
E-mail comments welcome at:
psolfest@altoona.k12.wi.us
kwardean@altoona.k12.wi.us