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Birmingham Tornado - Moseley and Kings Heath

Local Councillor Martin Mullaney has some photos on his website. The City Council used its new Emergency Management routines. I saw some of the swirling in the wind which was reported to hit 130 mph. I have never seen winds as strong. Climate Change is arguably part of this.

It is easy to find pictures of trees falling onto houses.

And houses that used to have chimneys.

Or a school with no roof at all.

or lots of missing slates which must have been flying all over the place.

Firemen had to break into some places.

What was surprising was how only a small distance from the tornado no damage was done at all.

Top floor rooms in flats suffered as well.

I suppose it is surprising that there is any glass left in this greenhouse.

It will be interesting to review how well the new approach to emergencies has been in the city. Some people have not been able to stay in their properties. The local North Moseley Mosque opened up space for temporary sleep as did the Kings Heath Community Centre.

The next issue will be to try to sort out the issue of whether or not it is covered by insurance or should be covered by a declaration of disaster or something like that(if localised).

I heard tales of children being swept into the air from Balsall Heath Park and will be surprised if there has not been any fatalities. We will be lucky if that is the case.

The Tornado itself, however, only lasted about 3 minutes in any one location.

Comments

John Hemming said…
There is the immediate short term and then longer term issues which include the complications of relatively poor people who own their own properties, but probably have no insurance.

People like Moseley and District Churches HA have had 20 households to rehouse.

The general picture will take longer to see and handle particularly as we already have a housing crisis.

I do depend upon complaints being referred to me or my colleagues. Cllr Cox has not had any complaints as yet.

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