SMSU professor invents home tornado detector

Redd, professor of physics, astronomy and material science at Southwest Missouri State University, said that he was on his way home when a severe storm hit Springfield – and the information he was receiving from the radio was inaccurate.

“I thought I was in the clear because all of the radio stations were talking about the storm down south, but a storm developed on the north side and it and I met when I was on the overpass on I-44,” Redd said.

A tornado swept through the area that evening, leaving one person dead in Butterfield and wind damage across the Ozarks.

Redd realized the need for something besides the media to warn people of dangerous weather conditions. Redd has developed a device that can be used in peoples’ homes to detect tornadoes.

“It provides a short-term warning,” Redd said.

His tornado detector is to be used along with other warning systems such as the National Weather Service and local emergency management systems.

One local weather expert says Redd’s invention could save lives.

“Before a tornado hits, five minutes is enough time to get to some safe shelter,” said Bill Davis, meteorologist-in-charge for the National Weather Service in Springfield. “This would be another good system to warn people directly. It’s always nice to see devices like this. And if they work, are inexpensive, can be placed in homes and can save lives, that would be great.”

How it works

The device is designed to detect a drop in barometric pressure, one of the warning signs of a tornado. Once low pressure

is detected, the device signals with a

series of intermittent beeps, or a watch alarm, Redd said. If a tornado is close by, a warning alarm sounds with a long, steady tone.

“The watch alarm signals us to get ready to seek shelter. The warning alarm tells us to seek shelter immediately,” Redd said. “In a tornado, there’s no way to save property; we want to save lives.”

Perfected design

Redd’s device first began as something the size of a washing machine. Now, it is a little smaller than a tissue box. “Right now what is limiting me from making it smaller is the size of the batteries,” Redd said. “I need to have two or four D-cells to keep it running for a year or so.”

Redd now has the detector in the final form for consumer use. However, it still needs to be Beta tested so that issues such as the false alarm rate, its probability of detection, and how good it actually is can be determined.

“I have about 130 circuit boards manufactured that just need to be put into boxes, batteries attached, and put out into the field for a year or two,” Redd said.

Redd is trying to keep the cost relatively low for homeowners. “I think it is important for the price to quickly get below $100,” Redd said.

The detector also will be easy to install, he added.

“If your house is not real air-tight, all you do is pop the batteries in, make sure the operating light is flashing and set it on an end table or hang it on the wall. If your house is air-tight you may need to mount it on a ceiling, or underneath a vented attic with a tube going up into the attic that would be supplied with the unit.”

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