Readiness the key to severe weather safety      

[MARCH 6, 2006]  Just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 6, 2005, a strong tornado ripped through parts of Evansville, Ind. The results were devastating. Twenty-four people lost their lives, and more than 230 were injured. Damages exceeded $80 million. Many people were caught off guard, despite watches and warnings for the storms, mainly because of the time of the day and the time of the year. Being prepared for the dangers of severe weather, monitoring hazardous weather conditions and acting upon official warnings are all critical to staying safe from tornadoes and severe storms.

To help the citizens of Illinois become more aware of the dangers of severe weather, the National Weather Service, in cooperation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, has declared the week of March 5-11 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the state of Illinois.

"Nearly one-third of all tornadoes and more than 40 percent of severe thunderstorms strike at night in Illinois," said Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln. "It is imperative that someone in each home and business monitor weather conditions at night, particularly when severe weather watches and warnings are in effect."

The state of Illinois experiences nearly 40 tornadoes, 200 reports of large hail and more than 300 reports of severe wind or wind damage each year. The following information will help you stay safe from these inevitable forces of nature:

• Develop a severe weather safety plan for use at home, in the workplace, at schools, in your vehicle and for outdoor activities.

• In a home with a basement, take shelter under a sturdy table or workbench.

• In homes without a basement, go to the lowest floor possible and seek shelter in an interior hallway, closet or bathroom without windows.

• In mobile homes, seek shelter before the storm approaches. Go to a sturdy building. Do not try to ride out the storm in a trailer.

• In the workplace, go to the designated storm shelters on the lowest floor possible. If your employer has not assigned storm shelters or you are not sure where they are, ask your company's safety manager.

• In schools, the safest place to go is in an interior hallway on the lowest floor, away from windows and doors.

• In your vehicle, if a tornado is bearing down on you, take shelter in a sturdy building. If no building is nearby, then lie flat in a ditch or ravine and cover your head. Do not seek shelter under a bridge or highway overpass.

• Outdoors, try to get into a sturdy building. If there is no building nearby, then lie flat in a ditch or low spot and cover your head.

• Know the terms related to tornadoes and severe storms.

• A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of the thunderstorm cloud to the ground.

• A severe thunderstorm can produce large hail, three-fourths inch in diameter or larger, or wind gusts around 60 mph or higher that can result in damage to trees, structures or power lines. Severe thunderstorm winds can be stronger and produce more damage than 70 percent of the tornadoes that affect Illinois.

• A watch means that tornadoes or severe thunderstorms are possible and you need to watch the weather closely.

• A warning means that a tornado or severe thunderstorm has been detected by radar or has been reported by a trained storm spotter. Seek safe shelter immediately if your location is in the path of the storm.

• Have multiple sources at hand to monitor threatening weather conditions. It is critical to monitor watches, warnings and other storm information. A tone-alert weather radio is the most efficient way to do this. Weather radios are considered to be the "smoke alarm" for severe weather. These inexpensive devices can be purchased at electronics, home improvement and most department stores -- as well as from many vendors on the Internet. Most weather radios can be easily programmed, so you can receive the watches and warnings for your county only or for any other nearby counties you choose.

• Monitoring local television and radio stations that are participating members of the Emergency Alert System is another good way to keep abreast of approaching storms.

• Don't just rely on outdoor warning sirens. They may not be heard indoors and may not wake you up. If you hear an outdoor warning siren, turn on your weather radio or other radio or TV station for more information.

• A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, a test tornado warning will be issued for all 102 counties in the state of Illinois. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitters, along with many commercial radio and TV stations will participate by relaying the test warning. Outdoor warning sirens will also be tested in many locations.

For more information about being adequately prepared for severe weather, visit the National Weather Service-Lincoln "Severe Weather Safety" Web page at www.weather.gov/Lincoln/severe/svr-prep.php.

[National Weather Service-Lincoln news release]

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