Severe Weather Safety Tips

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Severe Weather Safety Tips

• Ryan Mack

_at_Ryan_Mack39
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Basic Definitions

• Watch Conditions are favorable for severe
  weather. Be alert and stay tuned to local media
  stations.
• Warning Severe weather is occurring or will be
  occurring shortly. Take necessary precautions.
• Severe Thunderstorm A storm that produces one or
  more of the following Winds greater than 50
  knots (58 mph), hail ¾ inch or larger, a tornado.
• Tornado A rapidly rotating column of air that is
  in contact with the ground from a cumulonimbus
  cloud.
• Flash Flood A flood with a rapid onset,
  generally less than six hours.

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Thunderstorm Threats

• Tornadoes
• Downbursts (straight-line winds)
• Hail (up to softball size or larger)
• Heavy rain and flash flooding
• Frequent lightning

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LIGHTNING
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Lightning Safety TipsWhen Thunder Roars, Go
Indoors
Lightning is the number two (flooding is the
number one) weather related killer. According to
NWS Lightning Safety Specialist John Jensenius,
261 lightning related deaths occurred between
2006-2013.

• If outdoors
• Seek shelter as quickly as possible
• Do not stand near tall trees or metal objects
• If boating or swimming, head directly to shore
• Avoid high elevations
• If caught outdoors with no shelter near, crouch
  down and wait until the storm has passed.
• If indoors

• Refrain from running water or using electrical
  appliances as electrical charges can run through
  wires and pipes.
• Stay away from windows if possible
• Stay inside for 30 minutes after the last
  lightning strikes to ensure the storm has fully
  passed.

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Straight-line Winds
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Straight-line Wind Safety Tips

• If in a well built building
• Move to a lower-level or interior room,
  especially if you are near trees or power lines.
• If in a mobile home
• Move to a sturdier building or storm shelter
• Strong straight-line winds exceeding 70 mph have
  the potential to blow mobile homes apart.
• Driving
• Pull over to the shoulder, stop, and turn on the
  hazard lights making sure you arent near trees
  or other large objects that could fall onto your
  vehicle.
• Take extra caution if in a high profile vehicle.
  They are much more susceptible to being flipped
  by straight-line winds.
• Caught Outside
• Take cover in a well-built building
• If no building is nearby, crouch low to the
  ground
• Stay away from trees and power lines. These are
  easily blown over by straight-line winds.
• Be wary of flying debris.

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HAIL
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Hail Safety Tips

• Inside a building
• Stay away from windows. Wind-blown hail, if large
  enough, can shatter windows.
• Driving
• Pull over into a parking lot or gas station
• If caught on a major road, like a highway, pull
  over to the side of the road and turn on the
  hazard lights. Driving through hail will only
  increase the amount of damage done to your
  vehicle.
• Use whatever you have at you disposal to protect
  yourself in case the windows shatter and hail
  enters your vehicle. Cover your head and neck
  since the most lethal and serious injuries occur
  from being struck in the head and neck area.
• Outside
• Get inside a building or car.
• If there is no shelter use whatever you have at
  your disposal making it a priority to protect
  your head and neck. Even small wind-blown hail
  can cause significant injuries.

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FLOODS
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Flooding Safety Tips

• If flooding is imminent
• Immediately move to higher ground
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, and other
  low lying areas. Flash floods can occur in these
  areas without warning.
• If you must evacuate
• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves
  and disconnect electrical appliances.
• If you have time move essential items to an upper
  floor.
• If you leave your home
• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of
  moving water can sweep you away walk where water
  is not moving.
• Do not drive in flooded areas. If flood waters
  rise around your car abandon the car and move to
  higher ground. You and your car can be swept away
  easily. Remember, Turn Around, Dont Drown.
• Do not return home until authorities indicate it
  is safe.

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TORNADOES
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Tornado Myths and Misconceptions

• Tornadoes only occur in Tornado Alley
• False. They can happen anywhere and anytime as
  long as conditions are right.
• Tornadoes cannot cross water
• False. Tornadoes that form on land (and
  waterspouts) can cross a body of water onto
  another land form.
• By opening the windows you can balance the
  pressure inside and outside your home to reduce
  or eliminate the threat of damage.
• False. The force of a tornado alone can rip
  through a house. This creates a wind-tunnel
  effect by creating an opening for wind and debris
  to fly through the house.
• Highway overpasses are safe places to seek
  shelter for motorists
• False. The smaller space beneath an overpass can
  create a wind-tunnel effect. As winds are forced
  through that smaller space wind speed increases
  which can and will tear you out from under the
  overpass. Also there is no protection from flying
  debris accompanying the tornado.

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Tornado Safety Tips

• In a home
• Get into a basement and under some kind of sturdy
  protection. Cover yourself with a mattress or
  other protection to protect yourself.
• If you do not have a basement seek shelter in an
  interior room such as a bathroom. Interior rooms
  are sometimes the only rooms standing after a
  tornado.
• In a large building or store
• Follow the instructions of employees and move to
  an enclosed, windowless area of the building.
• Driving
• If you see a tornado while you are driving you
  may, in some situations, be able to get out of
  the tornados way by driving out of the path or
  simply stopping and allowing the tornado to pass.
  However, this is extremely dangerous and is not
  recommended. You should immediately find a place
  to seek shelter.
• If the tornado is heading towards you DO NOT try
  to outrun it. While tornadoes may travel at a
  slower rate than vehicles, they do not stop for
  traffic, stop lights,etc. You should immediately
  leave your vehicle and seek shelter in a low land
  area such as a ditch or ravine protecting your
  head and neck from flying debris.
• NEVER seek shelter under a highway overpass.
• Outside
• Seek shelter in a sturdy structure or storm
  shelter. If there is no shelter available get
  into a low lying area and protect your head and
  neck.

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Post-Tornado Safety

• Get out of/dont venture into damaged buildings.
• Keep your family/group together until emergency
  personal or anyone assisting in search and rescue
  arrives.
• Be cautious of live wires, gas leaks, broken
  glass, nails, etc.
• Stay out of the way of emergency vehicles. They
  need to get to injured people as soon as
  possible.

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Receiving Warnings

• NOAA Weather Radio (Highly recommended)
• NOAA weather radio is a nationwide network of
  radio stations broadcasting weather information
  24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These are very
  reliable and have literally saved lives. They may
  be a bit pricy but they are well worth the
  investment, especially if you live in a tornado
  prone area.
• Television and commercial radio
• Although this is a popular way of receiving
  information, they are only useful until the power
  goes out.
• Outdoor Warning Sirens
• Do not just rely on outdoor warning systems.
  These are intended for people who are outdoors
  and may not be heard over an approaching
  thunderstorm or tornado.

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Emergency Survival Kit

• An emergency supply kit can be vital in any
  emergency situation. Some basic items you should
  have, as recommended by the American Red Cross,
  are
• Water
• Non-perishable food items
• Flashlight
• Battery powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
• Extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Medications
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents
• Any other supplies (games and activities for
  children, baby supplies, cell phone with
  chargers, etc.)

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Summary

• Thunderstorm threats Lightning, damaging winds,
  hail, tornadoes, flooding.
• Lightning Remember, When Thunder Roars, Go
  Indoors.
• Hail Find a sturdy shelter and protect head and
  neck.
• Flash Flooding Never walk or drive through
  moving water. Turn Around, Dont Drown.
• Tornadoes/Damaging winds Seek shelter in the
  lower level or interior area of a building. NEVER
  seek shelter under an overpass.
• NOAA Weather Radio Very reliable way of
  receiving weather related information 24/7.