Tornado safety summit next week

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – About 1,000 emergency managers, insurance company representatives and city leaders from across the country are expected at the National Tornado Summit in Oklahoma City.

The fourth annual event is Tuesday and Wednesday and also includes meteorologists and media members to plan ways to lessen natural disasters before they strike and how to quickly and efficiently respond after they do occur.

Organizers say Oklahoma’s location in the heart of Tornado Alley and experience of responding when the violent storms touch down make the state the most logical place for the summit.

Oklahoma was largely spared major tornado damage last year. The year before, powerful twisters raked the Oklahoma City suburbs of Moore and El Reno during a two-week period, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds more.