Severe Weather Safety

Severe weather can strike during any season here in mid Missouri, so Audrain County Joint Communications is providing these safety tips to the citizens and visitors of Audrain County to inform them of the dangers of severe weather.

TORNADO SAFETY

Download NWS’s Tornado Safety Fact Sheet

Tornado Watch: This means that conditions are favorable for tornado development. This is the time to prepare. Keep alert by listing to NOAA Weather Radio, or the commercial media for the latest weather information.

Tornado Warning: This means a tornado has been sighted or the NWS is seeing signs on radar that indicate a thunderstorm may be capable of producing a tornado at any minute. People in the path of the storm should take immediate life saving action.

In homes, the basement offers the greatest safety. Seek shelter under sturdy furniture if possible. In homes without basements, take cover in the center part of the house, on the lowest floor, in a small room such as a closet or bathroom, or under sturdy furniture. Keep away from windows.

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable and should be abandoned in favor of a more substantial structure if threatened by a tornado. When severe weather is approaching, move to a different location for a couple of hours and wait until the storms have passed. Mobile homes are not built to withstand the strong wind gusts that come from severe thunderstorms or tornadoes.

In public places (schools, hospitals, factories, shopping centers, offices), move to designated shelter areas. Interior hallways on the lowest level are best. Stay away from windows and out of auditoriums, gymnasiums, or structures with large free span roofs.

In vehicles, do not try to outrun a tornado. A tornado does not have to slow down for traffic, stop signs, or curves on the road. Quickly assess your situation. If necessary, seek shelter in a nearby substantial building. If you have no alternative, abandon your vehicle and hide in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head. Most deaths occur because of the flying debris and head injuries.

In open country, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine.

THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING

Download NWS’s Severe Thunderstorm Safety Fact Sheet

Thunderstorms are dangerous because they include lightning, high winds, and heavy rain that can cause flash floods. Remember, it is a severe thunderstorm that produces a tornado. By definition, a thunderstorm is a rain shower that contains lightning. A typical storm is usually 15 miles in diameter lasting an average of 30 to 60 minutes. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which usually kills more people each year than tornadoes.

A severe thunderstorm is a thunderstorm that contains large hail (1 inch in diameter or larger), damaging straight-line winds of 58 mph or greater (50 nautical mph), and/or a tornado. Rain cooled air (straight-line wind) descending from severe thunderstorms can move at speeds in excess of 100 mph. A downburst is a sudden out-rush of this wind, and can produce extensive damage which is often similar to damage produced by a small tornado. A downburst can easily overturn a mobile home, tear roofs off houses, and topple trees.

Thunderstorm Safety

Avoid traveling in a severe thunderstorm—either pull over or delay your travel plans. When a severe thunderstorm threatens, follow the same safety rules you do if a tornado threatens. Go to a basement if available. If not, go to the lowest level of the building and move to a small interior room or hallway. Stay away from doors and windows. If time permits move your vehicles into garages or carports to help prevent hail damage.

Lightning Safety

Outdoors—Remember, lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the rain area. Go quickly inside a completely enclosed building before the storm arrives. A hard topped all metal-vehicle provides good protection.

If no shelter is available, do not take shelter under a tree. If only isolated trees are nearby, crouch down on the balls of your feet in the open, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.

Get out of the water, off the beach, and out of small boats or canoes. Avoid standing in puddles of water even if wearing rubber boots.

Do not use metal objects such as golf clubs, metal bats, fishing rods, or metal tools.

Get off of heavy metal equipment such as tractors or construction equipment.

Indoors—Stay inside! The best protection from lightning is a house or other substantial building. However, stay away from windows, doors, and metal pipes.

Do not use electric appliances during the storm. Turn off sensitive equipment such as televisions, VCR’s, and computers.

Telephone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States. Do not make a call unless it is an emergency.

FLASH FLOODS

Download NWS’s Flood Safety Fact Sheet

When you receive a flood warning:

• Store drinking water in clean bathtubs and in various containers. Water service may be interrupted.
• If forced to leave your home, and time permits, move essential items to safe ground; fill fuel tanks to keep them from floating away; grease immovable machinery.
• Move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water.

During the flood:

• Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding.
• Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream where water is more than ankle deep. Fast moving water can easily sweep a person off their feet.
• Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road–you can be stranded or trapped. The depth of water is not always obvious. Water only one foot deep can displace 1500 lbs and two feet of water can easily carry most automobiles.
• Do not allow children to play around streams, drainage ditches or viaducts, storm drains, or other flooded areas.

After the flood:

• Do not use fresh food that has come in contact with flood waters. Boil drinking water before using. Wells should be pumped out and the water tested for purity before drinking.
• Seek necessary medical care at the nearest hospital. Food, clothing, shelter, and first aid are available at Red Cross shelters.
• Do not visit disaster areas; your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations.
• Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas; electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service.
• Use flashlights, not lanterns or torches, to examine buildings. Flammables may be inside.
• Report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities.

Severe Weather Safety information provided courtesy of the National Weather Service, Saint Louis Weather Forecast Office.