Preparedness is critical to surviving severe storms         

[March 07, 2007]  Severe storms and tornadoes struck central and eastern Illinois with a vengeance last year, including two strong tornadoes that ripped through the state capital of Springfield during the evening of March 12. The city of more than 100,000 residents suffered more than $100 million in damage to homes and businesses, but there were no fatalities and only 19 injuries. Plenty of time to respond to the approaching storm and knowing what to do when severe weather threatened were the key to the low casualty total.

Last year was a record-setting year for tornadoes in the state of Illinois, with 124 reported -- many of which occurred in March and April. Despite advance warning for nearly all of these tornadoes, there were still 49 injuries and one fatality.

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 and the American Red Cross, declared March 4-10 Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the state of Illinois.

A statewide "tornado drill" was conducted on Tuesday at 10 a.m., with a test tornado warning issued for all 102 counties in the state of Illinois. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitters, along with many commercial radio and TV stations, participated by relaying the test warning. Outdoor warning sirens were also tested in many locations.

"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 NWS in Lincoln. "In light of what recently occurred when tornadoes struck central Florida, 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 best way to do this is to monitor a weather alert radio. They are inexpensive, as important as a smoke alarm and can be your personal storm siren."

During 2006, 34 people were injured by tornadoes and severe thunderstorm winds in central Illinois; 28 occurred when it was dark.

The state of Illinois experiences more than 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 if 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.

• (Safety plans continued)

  • 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.

  • 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, and 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. Most weather radios can be easily programmed so you receive only the watches and warnings for your county or 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.

For more information about being adequately prepared for severe weather, visit the NWS Lincoln "Severe Weather Preparedness" Web page at www.weather.gov/Lincoln/?n=svr-prep.

[Text from news release received from the National Weather Service, Lincoln office; Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist]