The impact of the Little Sioux Scout Ranch tornado of 11 June 2008

On the evening of 11 June 2008, a tornado rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale hit the Little Sioux Boy Scout Ranch near Little Sioux, Iowa. Four scouts were killed, and approximately 48 were injured. This tragic event was unique in that it impacted a rather vulnerable gathering of people, and consequently resulted in the Boy Scouts of America reconsidering policies associated with severe weather.

This presentation will briefly discuss the meteorological setting for the event, but will focus more on:

• the details of the tornado warning

• how the warning information was received by the Scouts

• how the Scouts responded to the warning

• how the event has changed some of the people who were involved in the event

• policy changes as a result of the event