“Tornado” projectile sets speed record of 264 mph

Traveling at a blazing 264 mph, a Canon Sure Shot camera became the fastest projectile to be fired from the tornado debris canon at Texas Tech University’s Debris Impact Facility(DIF). The test was initiated by Texas filmmaker and storm chaser Martin Lisius to demonstrate the danger of flying debris in a tornado. “Normally, the guys at Texas Tech use their pneumatic canon to fire two-by-fours at building materials for survivability testing,” said Lisius. “I wanted to try common objects we have in our homes, something we don’t normally think of as potential tornado projectiles. My goal is to show people that practically anything can be picked up by a tornado and become dangerous.” Lisius filmed the test for an upcoming documentary he is producing about storms.

Watch the video from this test.

ABOUT

Martin Lisius is a Texas-based filmmaker and storm chaser. He is chairman of the Texas Severe Storms Association (TESSA), a non-profit dedicated to severe weather education, and author of “The Ultimate Severe Weather Safety Guide.” He is founder and CEO of Tempest Tours Storm Chasing Expeditions and StormStock, a severe weather footage collection utilized by TV and film producers worldwide.

Contact: Kim George, kimgeorge@prairiepictures.com

Texas Tech University’s Debris Impact Facility is part of the National Wind Institute (NWI), located in Lubbock, Texas. Its purpose is to promote public safety by helping to prevent deaths and lower property losses incurred due to extreme weather events and their effects. The Debris Impact Test Facility is a twenty year internationally acclaimed and American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) accredited test laboratory for its debris impact testing of storm shelters, residential/commercial doors and shelter/blast components.

Contact: The National Wind Institute Debris Impact Facility, nwi@ttu.edu

Learn more about tornado safety at https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado

View a video about tornado safe rooms.