Re: Severe Weather Warnings- TORNADOs- U.S.
Four tips to stay safe during severe weather
Gazettextra, 14 April, 2012
JANESVILLE — Local emergency government officials want residents next week to think about and prepare for tornado season.
Wisconsin last year had 38 tornadoes, well above the annual average of 23.
More than 100 homes and businesses were damaged by the tornado that hit the south side of La Crosse on May 22, and one person was killed by an Aug. 19 tornado that hit Wausaukee in Marinette County, according to the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management.
A statewide tornado drill is planned Thursday, April 19, as part of Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week. In Rock County, a mock tornado watch will start at 1 p.m., said Shirley Connors, Rock County Emergency Management coordinator.
At 1:45 p.m., the National Weather Service will issue a mock tornado warning, she said.
The drill will be postponed if actual severe weather threatens the area.
Connors offered four tips to stay safe during severe weather:
1. Have a severe weather safety plan.
Planning should include:
-- Collecting important telephone numbers on a card and giving a copy to each family member.
-- Identifying a safe place—a basement or an interior room—to gather during severe weather and sharing that information with your family, friends, babysitters and caregivers.
-- Getting ideas online at readywisconsin.wi.gov.
2. Stay informed with a weather radio.
Weather radios deliver forecasts, warnings and emergency information 24 hours a day. They can be set to quietly monitor broadcasts and alert users when important messages are issued for the area.
Radios can be bought at local retailers, from catalogues or on the Internet.
Many television stations also offer free weather alerts for cell phones, pagers and websites.
3. Know the difference between severe weather watches and warnings.
A watch is when it looks like a storm could be coming.
A warning is a signal to immediately take cover.
If you hear sirens, do not call the 911 communication center. Instead, get to a safe place indoors and turn on your local radio or TV station or check the Internet for severe weather alerts.
4. Assemble a disaster supplies kit in a plastic tote or backpack.
A kit should include:
-- A three-day supply of water and nonperishable food for each family member and pet.
-- Portable radio and flashlights with extra batteries.
-- Important documents including prescriptions, a form of identification, insurance policies and your doctor and insurance agent contact information.
-- A change of clothing.
-- Cash and a credit card.
-- A whistle.
-- A first aid kit.
An easy way to know what to grab in an emergency is to remember the four P's: prescriptions, purse, portable phone and pets.
TORNADO FACTS
According to the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management:
-- Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes a year, but in the last few years the state has had as many as 62 and as few as 13.
-- The peak tornado season in Wisconsin is April to August but tornadoes can occur any time of the year and are most frequent between 4 and 9 p.m.
-- About 80 percent of tornadoes that hit Wisconsin are relatively weak, with winds less than 110 mph. Only 1 percent are violent with winds over 170 mph.
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