The National Weather Service and the Texas Division of Emergency Management have designated February 26th through March 4th, 2006 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas. This is the perfect time to remind Texans of what they can do to protect themselves from the hazards of severe weather.
Every year, Texans are killed as a result of severe weather events. These deaths can occur as a result of floods, lightning, and tornadoes. It is extremely important that an annual public safety campaign be conducted to address these issues before the severe weather season begins. Below, you will find links to additional information about severe weather awareness. Additionally, you will find links to multimedia presentations that elaborate on these themes.
If you would like more information regarding any of these subjects, contact Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jesus Haro at Jesus.Haro@noaa.gov.
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...GOVERNOR RICK PERRY HAS PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF February 26th THROUGH March 4th...2006...AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN TEXAS...
IN HIS MESSAGE TO TEXANS...GOVERNOR PERRY NOTED THAT SPRING AND SUMMER ARE PERIODS WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO STRIKE. HE EMPHASIZED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TRAIN THE PUBLIC ON PROPERY SAFETY STEPS IN PREPARATION FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN.
ECHOING THE GOVERNORS CONCERN...JACK COLLEY...STATE COORDINATOR OF THE GOVERNOR’S DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...URGED THAT EVERYONE WORK TOGETHER TO DELIVER MESSAGES ON SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WILL HELP WHETHER WE ARE DEALING WITH TORNADOES OR HURRICANES...CHEMICAL SPILLS... INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS OR EVEN INCIDENTS INVOLVING HOMELAND SECURITY.
DURING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...IN COORDINATION WITH THE GOVERNOR’S DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS...WILL HIGHLIGHT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SEVERE WEATHER AND THEIR SAFETY RULES. SPECIAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED EACH DAY AS INDICATED BY THE FOLLOWING LIST. NEWSPAPERS AND SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS CAN HELP PROMOTE AWARENESS BY PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTING SAFETY RULES. THE BROADCAST MEDIA CAN HELP TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MAKING SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK A SUCCESS.
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A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OR A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN WHEN ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER TO DEVELOP. SPECIFICALLY...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR AREAS WHERE 3/4 INCH HAIL OR LARGER AND/OR DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE EXPECTED AND ARE THE PRIMARY CONCERN.
A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED... INCLUDING THE LIKELIHOOD OF LARGE OR MULTIPLE TORNADOES.
THE TYPICAL SIZE OF A WATCH AREA IS 25000 SQUARE MILES...IT USUALLY TAKES THE SHAPE OF A 4 SIDED POLYGON AND LASTS FOR THREE TO SIX HOURS. THE TORNADO WATCH OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA. DURING THE WATCH... BE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND MAKE PLANS FOR ACTION IF SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPS. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES WHEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOES ARE IMMINENT...EITHER INDICATED BY DOPPLER RADAR OR REPORTED BY RELIABLE SOURCES SUCH AS SKYWARN SPOTTERS. A WARNING USUALLY COVERS ONE COUNTY OR A PORTION OF A COUNTY AND GENERALLY LASTS FOR AN HOUR OR LESS. LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE WARNING. DETAILS SUCH AS WHAT LOCATIONS ARE AT RISK AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO TAKE ARE ALWAYS MENTIONED.
REMEMBER...IN A WATCH...WATCH THE SKY. IN A WARNING...TAKE ACTION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER TERMINOLOGY...CALL YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE...OR VISIT THEM ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV.
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...NOAA
WEATHER RADIO...YOUR PERSONAL ALL HAZARDS WARNING SYSTEM...
NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. WHETHER
YOU ARE ON THE ROAD...OR IN YOUR HOME...SCHOOL OR PLACE OF WORK...THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE BROADCASTS A CONTINUOUS CYCLE OF VALUABLE WEATHER INFORMATION
TO YOU...24 HOURS A DAY...SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS
A WORLD CLASS TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WHO PRODUCE AND DELIVER QUALITY FORECASTS
YOU CAN TRUST WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST.
NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS AN ALL HAZARDS
PUBLIC WARNING SYSTEM INCLUDING...
1. THE VERY LATEST WEATHER STATEMENTS...WATCHES...AND WARNINGS
2. LOCATION...MOVEMENT AND IMPACTS OF THREATENING WEATHER
3. CURRENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LOCAL FORECASTS
4. COASTAL MARINE FORECASTS FOR BOAT AND BEACH INTERESTS
5. CLIMATE DATA
6. ALL HAZARDS INFORMATION SUCH AS CIVIL EMEGENCY MESSAGES...AMBER ALERTS AND
IMPORTANT HOMELAND SECURITY ALERTS
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORKS FOR YOU! WHEN SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES...WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITHIN THE LISTENING AREA ARE TONE ALERTED. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY HAS LED TO SPECIAL TONE ALERT FEATURES ALLOWING YOU TO PROGRAM SPECIFIC LOCATIONS INTO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO THAT WILL TRIGGER AN ALARM WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THIS SPECIFIC AREA MESSAGE ENCODER /S.A.M.E./ FUNCTION ALLOWS YOU TO PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER IMPACTING YOUR SPECIFIC LOCATION...VERSUS LOCATIONS NOT IN YOUR GENERAL AREA OF INTEREST.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INFORMATION AGE
HAVE LED TO AN INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER. IF YOU ARE AWAY
FROM YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO WHEN SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES...CRITICAL WEATHER
INFORMATION CAN EASILY BE RECEIVED THROUGH THE USE OF CELL PHONES...PAGERS...PDA/S
AND LAPTOP COMPUTERS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HIGHLY RECOMMENDS EVERYONE HAVE A NOAA WEATHER
RADIO IN THEIR HOME...SCHOOL...AND BUSINESS. THESE LIFE-SAVING BROADCASTS CAN
BE RECEIVED ON SEVEN FREQUENCIES BETWEEN 162.400 AND 162.550 MHZ UP TO 40 MILES
FROM A TRANSMITTER SITE. NOAA WEATHER RADIOS ARE INEXPENSIVE AND CAN BE PURCHASED
AT LOCAL ELECTRONIC STORES...DEPARTMENT STORES...AND EVEN ON THE INTERNET. NOAA
WEATHER RADIO MODELS WITH BATTERY BACKUP CAPABILITIES ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE
EVENT OF A POWER OUTAGE. TAKE ONE WITH YOU ON YOUR NEXT TRIP.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE...OR VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/NWR ON THE INTERNET.
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THE STATE OF TEXAS IS AFFECTED BY THOUSANDS OF THUNDERSTORMS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. OFTENTIMES IN THE SPRING AND FALL...ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE SUCH THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY CAN PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES. A THUNDERSTORM IS DEFINED AS SEVERE WHEN IT PRODUCES WINDS OF AT LEAST 58 MPH... HAIL 3/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR LARGER...OR A TORNADO.
AN IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THUNDERSTORM WINDS IS THAT NOT ALL DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE TORNADIC. THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EQUALLY DESTRUCTIVE AND LIFE-THREATENING THUNDERSTORM WINDS...COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. IN GENERAL TERMS...STRAIGHT LINE WINDS REFER TO WINDS THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ROTATING WINDS IN A TORNADO. INSTEAD... THEY MOVE FORWARD ALONG THE GROUND IN UNIDIRECTIONAL FASHION. LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ACROSS TEXAS CAN PRODUCE STRAIGHT LINE WIND SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH.
ANOTHER TYPE OF STRAIGHT LINE WIND...THE DOWNBURST...IS A STRONG DOWNDRAFT OF AIR IN A SINGLE THUNDERSTORM THAT ACCELERATES DOWNWARD AND PRODUCES AN OUT-RUSH OF DAMAGING WIND ON OR NEAR THE GROUND. TWO TYPES OF DOWNBURSTS EXIST... MICROBURSTS AND MACROBURSTS. THE MICROBURST...IS SHORT-LIVED AND OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE AVIATION COMMUNITY. IT PRODUCES STRONG WINDS IN AN AREA LESS THAN 2.5 MILES IN DIAMETER. IN CONTRAST...MACROBURSTS ARE LONGER-LIVED AND ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTENSIVE WIND DAMAGE ACROSS AREAS LARGER THAN 2.5 MILES IN DIAMETER.
STRAIGHT LINE THUNDERSTORM WINDS OCCASIONALLY CAN REACH SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH. THESE TYPES OF WINDS ARE INTENSE ENOUGH TO UPROOT TREES AND PRODUCE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE...IF NOT COMPLETE DESTRUCTION...TO BUILDINGS. IF THESE WINDS OCCUR IN CONJUNCTION WITH LARGE HAIL...EVEN MORE EXTREME DAMAGE CAN OCCUR...SUCH AS CAUSING HOLES IN THE SIDES AND ROOFS OF HOUSES, OR DESTROYING CROPS AND OTHER VEGETATION.
HAIL THAT IS PENNY SIZE (3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER) OR LARGER IS CONSIDERED SEVERE. HAIL IS DEFINED AS PRECIPITATION IN THE FORM OF LUMPS OR CHUNKS OF ICE THAT DEVELOPS IN SOME THUNDERSTORMS. HAIL CAN RANGE IN SIZE FROM PEA SIZE (1/4 INCH) TO GREATER THAN SOFTBALL SIZE (4.5 INCHES). HAILSTONES ARE USUALLY OVAL SHAPED OR ROUND... BUT CAN BE SPIKY IN APPEARANCE. THE LARGEST HAILSTONE ON RECORD FELL AT AURORA NEBREASKA...ON JUNE 22 2003. THE MASSIVE STONE MEASURED 18.75 INCHES IN CIRCUMFERENCE AND OVER 7 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
HAIL FALLS TO EARTH AT SPEEDS APPROACHING 100 MPH AND AS A RESULT...CAN PRODUCE IMMENSE DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS...AUTOMOBILES AND VEGETATION. ANNUALLY...HAIL STORMS CAUSE MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. THE COSTLIEST SUCH STORM OCCURRED IN THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX IN MAY 1995. IT CAUSED NEARLY TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND INJURED DOZENS OF PEOPLE. NO PART OF TEXAS IS IMMUNE TO THE DANGERS OF LARGE HAIL AND ALTHOUGH IT IS RARELY FATAL...IT INJURES SEVERAL DOZENS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PROPERTY FROM THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND HAIL. KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS TO AVOID BEING CAUGHT IN A SEVERE STORM. MONITORING WEATHER RADIO FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS WELL AS TELEVISION...RADIO...AND INTERNET INFORMATION WILL ALSO HELP KEEP YOU INFORMED OF MANY OF THE APPROACHING STRAIGHT LINE WIND OR HAIL EVENTS IN YOUR AREA.
TREAT STRAIGHT LINE WIND EVENTS THE SAME AS YOU WOULD AN APPROACHING TORNADO. SEEK SHELTER IN A REINFORCED SHELTER...ON THE LOWEST FLOOR IN AN INTERIOR BATHROOM OR CLOSET...AWAY FROM ALL WINDOWS. ALWAYS COVER YOUR HEAD TO PROTECT AGAINST THE IMPACT OF FLYING DEBRIS THAT CAN INJURE. IF YOU ENCOUNTER HAIL WHILE DRIVING...TURN AROUND. YOU MAY BE DRIVING INTO THE CORE OF A THUNDERSTORM WHERE TORNADOES FORM. REPORT IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO AND SEEK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.
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TEXAS TYPICALLY LEADS THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED TORNADOES EACH YEAR. THIS IS DUE TO THE SIZE OF OUR STATE...AND TO OUR LOCATION IN THE SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS AREA OF THE COUNTRY. WHILE ANY TORNADO CAN BE SIGNIFICANT...TEXAS HAS EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE DEADLIEST TORNADOES IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY. BELOW IS A LIST OF THE FIVE MOST LETHAL TORNADOES TO STRIKE OUR STATE:
1...WACO, MAY 11, 1953. 114 DEATHS, 597 INJURIES. THE TORNADO DEVELOPED NEAR LORENA SHORTLY AFTER 4 PM...SLICED THROUGH DOWNTOWN WACO...AND DISSIPATED NEAR BELLMEAD. IT WAS NEARLY 1/3 OF A MILE WIDE AND DESTROYED OR DAMAGED OVER 1000 BUILDINGS.
2...GOLIAD, MAY 18, 1902. 114 DEATHS, 250 INJURIES. THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST BEFORE 4 PM SOUTHWEST OF GOLIAD...CROSSED THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER...AND MOVED THROUGH THE CITY. THE MAJORITY OF THE DEATHS AND DAMAGE OCCURRED IN THE WESTERN PART OF GOLIAD.
3...ROCKSPRINGS, APRIL 12, 1927. 74 DEATHS, 205 INJURIES. A LESS-COMMON SOUTHEASTWARD-MOVING TORNADO...THE TORNADO WAS NEARLY 1 MILE WIDE WHEN IT STRUCK THE TOWN. THE TORNADO DESTROYED 235 OF THE 247 BUILDINGS IN TOWN. THE TORNADO CONTINUED SOUTHEAST FOR AT LEAST 30 MORE MILES.
4...GLAZIER/HIGGINS, APRIL 9, 1947. 68 DEATHS, 272 INJURIES. PART OF A LONG-TRACK TORNADO...OR SERIES OF TORNADOES...FROM THE TEXAS TO SOUTHERN KANSAS. REPORTED TO BE BETWEEN 1 AND 2 MILES WIDE... THE TORNADO KILLED 51 PEOPLE IN HIGGINS...AND 17 IN GLAZIER.
5...WICHITA FALLS, APRIL 10, 1979. 42 DEATHS, 1700 INJURIES. ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES IN TEXAS HISTORY. THE TORNADO WAS OVER 1 MILE WIDE AS IT MOVED THROUGH SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CITY. OVER 3,000 HOMES AND APARTMENTS WERE DESTROYED LEAVING NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE HOMELESS.
OTHER MAJOR TORNADOES HAVE BROUGHT CASUALTIES AND DESTRUCTION TO OUR STATE. THESE INCLUDE THE FROST AND KARNES/DEWITT TORNADOES OF 1930 /41 AND 36 DEATHS/...THE ZEPHYR TORNADO OF 1909 /34 DEATHS/ ...THE LUBBOCK TORNADO OF 1970 /28 DEATHS/...AND THE JARRELL TORNADO OF 1997 /27 DEATHS/.
MOST OF THE DEADLIEST TORNADOES IN OUR HISTORY OCCURRED DURING OR BEFORE THE 1950/S. SINCE THAT TIME...IMPROVEMENTS IN TORNADO FORECAST AND DETECTION...WARNING DISSEMINATION...AND PREPAREDNESS PLANNING HAVE HELPED LOWER THE HUMAN TOLL. HOWEVER...WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THESE CAPABILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THIS TREND CONTINUES.
6) Tornado Safety at Home, Work, or School
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PLANNING AHEAD AND KNOWING THE SAFETY RULES IS ESSENTIAL IN BEING PREPARED FOR WHEN A TORNADO STRIKES. ONCE A TORNADO HAS FORMED... THE TIME FOR PLANNING HAS PASSED AND ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT LIFE. EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST KNOW WHAT TO DO DEPENDANT ON WHERE THEY ARE...WHETHER AT HOME...WORK... OR SCHOOL.
FOR EACH PLACE THERE SHOULD BE BASIC PREPAREDNESS PLANS IN PLACE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER.
1. SELECT AND DESIGNATE SHELTER AREAS. BASEMENTS BELOW GROUND LEVEL OFFER THE GREATEST PROTECTION. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AWAY FROM WINDOWS OFFER SOME PROTECTION. PUT AS MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM STRUCTURES WITH HIGH WIDE SPAN ROOFS SUCH AS SHOPPING CENTERS OR AUDITORIUMS AND GYMNASIUMS AT SCHOOLS.
2. HAVE RELIABLE AND REDUNDANT METHODS TO RECEIVE WEATHER INFORMATION. NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS A RELIABLE SOURCE TO RECEIVE CURRENT SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. HOWEVER...LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS…THE INTERNET…AND PAGERS CAN OFFER OTHER WAYS OF RECEIVING WARNING INFORMATION IN CASE OTHER AVENUES FAIL.
3. EACH MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY…STAFF OR FACULTY SHOULD KNOW THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED OR THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. YOU MAY ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS TO REACT AND FIND SHELTER. IMMEDIATE ACTION COULD SAVE LIVES. KNOW WHAT TO DO!
4. CONDUCT DRILLS TO TEST AND PRACTICE YOUR PLAN ON A REGULAR BASIS. PRACTICING TORNADO SAFETY PLANS…SIMILAR TO FIRE SAFETY DRILLS...WILL ENABLE YOU TO ENACT YOUR PLAN WHENEVER A TORNADO THREATENS YOUR AREA.
KNOW THE SAFETY RULES FOR SURVIVING A TORNADO. IN HOMES AND SMALL BUILDINGS…GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET...BATHROOM...OR AN INTERIOR HALL ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH THICK BLANKETS…SLEEPING BAGS OR MATTRESSES.
AT SCHOOLS...AS WELL AS HOSPITALS...FACTORIES
AND SHOPPING MALLS... GO TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREAS…USUALLY AN INTERIOR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR WITHOUT WINDOWS. KNEEL ON THE FLOOR AGAINST THE
WALL AND PLACE HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD TO PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR YOUR HEAD.
FOR MOBILE HOMES...PORTABLE CLASSROOMS...OR VEHICLES…LEAVE THEM AND GO
TO A STRONG BUILDING FOR SHELTER. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY... GET INTO
THE NEAREST DITCH OR DEPRESSION. LIE FLAT WITH YOUR HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD.
STAY AWARE OF THE LATEST FORECASTS. IF THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER EXISTS...BE PREPARED TO ACT BY REVIEWING THE SAFETY PLANS. WHEN SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOKS OR WATCHES ARE ISSUED…BE READY TO ENACT YOUR SAFETY PLANS. WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED OR SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS...ACT IMMEDIATELY TO REACH THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA.
PLANNING AHEAD MAY BE THE KEY TO YOUR SURVIVAL DURING A TORNADO.
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THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 25 MILLION CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING FLASHES EACH YEAR. WHILE LIGHTNING CAN BE FASCINATING TO WATCH...IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DURING THE PAST 30 YEARS...LIGHTNING HAS KILLED AN AVERAGE OF 73 AMERICANS AND INJURED ANOTHER 300. THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS KILLED BY LIGHTNING TYPICALLY EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF DEATHS RESULTING FROM BOTH TORNADOES AND HURRICANES.
MOST LIGHTNING-CAUSED DEATHS OCCUR DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE FREQUENCY OF THUNDERSTORMS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PEAK. DURING THE PAST 40 YEARS...TEXAS RANKED SECOND IN THE COUNTRY BEHIND FLORIDA IN TOTAL NUMBER OF LIGHTNING FATALITIES.
BY DEFINITION...ALL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING AND DURING A THUNDERSTORM EACH FLASH OF CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS A POTENTIAL KILLER. ALTHOUGH SOME VICTIMS ARE STRUCK DIRECTLY BY THE MAIN VISIBLE LIGHTNING STROKE...MOST ARE AFFECTED BY NEARBY STRIKES AS THE CURRENT MOVES IN AND ALONG THE GROUND. BECAUSE OF THESE INDIRECT STRIKES...6 OUT OF 10 VICTIMS SURVIVE...THOUGH OFTEN WITH LIFELONG PAINFUL EFFECTS. WHILE VIRTUALLY ALL PEOPLE TAKE SOME PROTECTIVE ACTION DURING A THUNDERSTORM...MANY UNKNOWINGLY LEAVE THEMSELVES VULNERABLE.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AS FAR AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA IN A THUNDERSTORM...WHICH IS ABOUT THE DISTANCE FROM A STORM THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR THE THUNDER THEN YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THAT STORM. ALSO...WHEN YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR THUNDER IN AN URBAN SETTING ABOVE THE CITY NOISE...IT IS TIME TO ABANDON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.
FOLLOW THE 30/30 LIGHTNING SAFETY RULE WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN YOUR AREA. GO INDOORS IF AFTER SEEING LIGHTNING YOU CANNOT COUNT 30 SECONDS BEFORE HEARING THUNDER. THIS METHOD MAY BE DIFFICULT IF LIGHTNING FROM AN APPROACHING STORM IS VERY FREQUENT AND THUNDER IS NEARLY CONSTANT. JUST HEAD INDOORS. THEN STAY INDOORS FOR 30 MINUTES AFTER HEARING THE LAST CLAP OF THUNDER. DO NOT PREMATURELY RESUME OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AS THE STORM MOVES AWAY. FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO YOUR SAFETY FROM THE DEADLY BEAUTY OF LIGHTNING.
8) Weather Safety For Mariners
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AS THE SUN RISES HIGH IN THE SKY... THE TROPICAL WATERS AND THE ATMOSPHERE BECOME ACTIVE BY ABSORBING MORE HEAT ENERGY. THIS STARTS THE RECIPE FOR THUNDERSTORM AND HURRICANE PRODUCTION. KNOWING WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR AND WHERE TO FIND MARINE WEATHER ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS COULD MAKE YOUR TIME SPENT ON THE WATER MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.
WHEN SPRING AND SUMMER COMES AROUND...OUTSIDE BOATING ACTIVITIES INCREASE. THE FREQUENCY OF THUNDERSTORMS AND TROPICAL CYCLONES INCREASE AS WELL. BOATERS ARE CAUGHT OFF GUARD TOO FREQUENTLY WHEN STORMS ROLL OVER THE HORIZON. USUALLY WHEN YOU OBSERVE DARK FAST MOVING CLOUDS HEADED YOUR WAY... IT IS TOO LATE TO HEAD FOR A SAFE LOCATION IF YOU ARE OUT IN THE OPEN WATER. HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LARGER WEATHER PICTURE AND KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WHEN THESE SUDDEN STORMS APPEAR COULD HELP YOU ENJOY A SAFER AND MORE PLEASANT JOURNEY.
FORTUNATELY...THOSE BOATS EQUIPPED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIOS WILL BE ABLE TO TUNE INTO THE SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS AND MARINE WEATHER STATEMENTS BEING ISSUED BY THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. THESE STATEMENTS WILL GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE THE STORMS ARE HEADING AND HOW SEVERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE. IF YOUR VESSEL IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIOS… GET MARINE WEATHER INFORMATION FROM YOUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND TRUSTED WEB SITES ON THE INTERNET.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE TYPE OF STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:
• SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY: TO ALERT BOATERS OF OBSERVED OR FORECAST SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 33 KNOTS AND OR SEAS 7 FEET OR HIGHER.
• GALE WARNING: FORECAST WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS.
• STORM WARNING: FORECAST WINDS OF 48 KNOTS OR GREATER.
• HURRICANE WARNING: FORECAST WINDS OF 64 KNOTS OR HIGHER ASSOCIATED WITH A HURRICANE.
• HURRICANE WATCH: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A WARNING... RATHER IT INDICATES THAT THE HURRICANE IS FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL WITHIN 36 HOURS.
• SPECIAL MARINE WARNING: ISSUED WHENEVER A SEVERE LOCAL STORM OR STRONG WIND OF BRIEF DURATION IS IMMINENT AND IS NOT COVERED BY EXISTING WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES. BOATERS WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE SPECIAL WARNINGS BY KEEPING TUNED TO A NOAA WEATHER STATION OR TO COAST GUARD AND COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS THAT TRANSMIT MARINE WEATHER INFORMATION.
• MARINE WEATHER STATEMENTS: ISSUED AS A FOLLOW UP TO A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON NON-SEVERE INFORMATION SUCH AS FOG.
KNOWING THE LARGER WEATHER PICTURE BEFORE VENTURING OUT INTO THE OPEN WATERS COULD SAVE NOT ONLY AGGRAVATION... BUT YOUR LIFE AS WELL. GET TO KNOW THE MARINE WEATHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO YOU IN YOUR AREA AND CHART A COURSE TOWARD BOATING SAFETY.
9) Turn Around...Don't Drown (Videos courtesy of KVEO-TV, Brownsville)
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LAST YEAR IN TEXAS 13 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIFE AS THEY TRIED TO DRIVE INTO FLOODED AREAS.
FLASH FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE STORM RELATED KILLER IN THE UNITED STATES AND TEXAS. WHY? MOST PEOPLE FAIL TO REALIZE THE POWER OF WATER...THEY WANT TO GET HOME...AND THEY THINK THEY CAN MAKE IT.
OF THESE DROWNINGS…MANY ARE PREVENTABLE SIMPLY BY NOT DRIVING OR WALKING ONTO FLOODED ROADS. MOST VEHICLES LOSE CONTROL IN SIX INCHES OF WATER AND CAN BE SWEPT AWAY IN 18-24 INCHES OF WATER. REMEMBER...WHEN APPROACHING A FLOODED ROADWAY...TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN.
THE NATIONAL 30 YEAR AVERAGE FOR FLOOD DEATHS IS 127. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DATA ALSO SHOWS: NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLASH FLOOD FATALITIES ARE VEHICLE-RELATED...THE MAJORITY OF VICTIMS ARE MALES...AND FLOOD DEATHS AFFECT ALL AGE GROUPS.
FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RULES...
MONITOR THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE FOR VITAL WEATHER RELATED INFORMATION.
IF FLOODING OCCURS…GET TO HIGHER GROUND. GET OUT OF AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING. THIS INCLUDES DIPS...LOW SPOTS...CANYONS...WASHES ETC.
AVOID AREAS ALREADY FLOODED...ESPECIALLY IF THE WATER IS FLOWING FAST. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOWING STREAMS.
TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
ROAD BEDS MAY BE WASHED OUT UNDER FLOOD WATERS. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
DO NOT CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE ALONG STREAMS AND WASHES... PARTICULARLY DURING THREATENING CONDITIONS.
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE FLOOD DANGERS. IF YOU ARE UNSURE THAT THE ROAD IS CLEAR...
TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
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EARLIER TODAY...AN IMPORTANT FLASH FLOOD SAFETY TECHNIQUE WAS DESCRIBED – TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN. AS PART OF SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WANTS YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER KILLER - FLASH FLOODING.
FEW PEOPLE REALIZE THE TRUE POWER OF WATER. FAST-MOVING FLOOD WATERS ONLY SIX INCHES DEEP CAN KNOCK AN ADULT OFF THEIR FEET. TWO FEET OF WATER CAN LIFT APPROXIMATELY 3000 POUNDS - THE WEIGHT OF AN AVERAGE SIZE VEHICLE. VEHICLES CROSSING A FLOODED ROADWAY CAN LOOSE TRACTION WITH THE ROAD...ACTUALLY FLOATING IN SOME CASES... AND BECOME PART OF A DANGEROUS FLOOD. FLASH FLOOD STATISTICS INDICATE THAT HALF OF THE ANNUAL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE VEHICLE RELATED. AGAIN...TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN.
A FLASH FLOOD IS A RAPID RISE OF WATER ALONG A STREAM OR LOW-LYING URBAN AREA. SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS...THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVE REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME AREA...AND HEAVY RAINS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES ARE THE WEATHER MAKERS THAT PRODUCE FLASH FLOODS. THESE FLOODS CAN DEVELOP WITHIN MINUTES...DEPENDING ON THE INTENSITY AND DURATION OF THE RAIN...THE TOPOGRAPHY...THE SOIL CONDITIONS...AND GROUND COVER.
FLASH FLOODS CAN ROLL BOULDERS...TEAR DOWN TREES...DESTROY BUILDINGS...AND SCOUR OUT NEW CHANNELS. RAPIDLY RISING WATER CAN REACH HEIGHTS OF 30 FEET OR MORE. WATER CAN ERODE EARTH BELOW A ROAD...LEADING TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. UNDERPASSES CAN FILL RAPIDLY WITH WATER...WHILE ADJACENT ROADWAYS REMAIN CLEAR. IN URBAN AREAS...STORM DRAINS CAN BECOME OVERWHELMED AND FLOOD ROADS AND BUILDINGS. LOW SPOTS SUCH AS UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGES AND BASEMENTS CAN QUICKLY FLOOD. IN RURAL AREAS...PEOPLE WHO ENJOY HUNTING...CAMPING...AND FISHING NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM STREAMS IF THUNDERSTORMS HAVE OCCURRED. WATER CAN RISE OVER TEN FEET IN LESS THAN AN HOUR WITH A HEAVY RAINFALL.
SO HOW CAN WE STAY SAFE FROM THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH FLASH FLOODING?
MONITOR WEATHER RADIO AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLASH FLOODING. AVOID LOW LYING AREAS THAT ARE PRONE TO FLOODING. DON'T CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE ALONG STREAMS AND WASHES. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS SUDDENLY CAUGHT IN RISING WATER...LEAVE IT IMMEDIATELY AND MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. LASTLY...NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. REMEMBER THE FIRST SAFETY RULE OF FLASH FLOODING... TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN.
THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. TOMORROW...WE WILL DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF AMATEUR RADIO AND STORM SPOTTERS, AND HOW TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
11) Amateur Radio and Storm Spotters
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YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE USES A VARIETY OF TOOLS AND METHODS TO HELP US PREDICT AND TRACK SEVERE STORMS. BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY...WE STILL RELY ON HUMAN EYES AND EARS TO HELP US KNOW WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING.
STORM SPOTTERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. MANY WORK WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES TO GATHER WEATHER INFORMATION TO HELP EMERGENCY MANAGERS MAKE CRITICAL LOCAL WARNING DECISIONS. IN MANY AREAS...STORM SPOTTERS ARE VOLUNTEERS...INTERESTED IN HELPING PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY FROM DEADLY STORMS. IN OTHER PLACES...THE SPOTTER GROUP IS MADE UP OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS FROM THE FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES…DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY...AND OTHER CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS HAVE HISTORICALLY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE’S STORM SPOTTER PROGRAM. SOMETIMES KNOWN AS HAMS...THESE PUBLIC SERVICE-MINDED MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME...EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY WHEN STORMS THREATEN. ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STORM SPOTTING AND AMATEUR RADIO A NATURAL FIT IS THE COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES THEY POSSESS. AMATEUR RADIO STORM SPOTTERS ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH A CONTROL STATION WHO COLLECTS REPORTS AND DISSEMINATES WEATHER UPDATES. IN SOME LOCATIONS...HAMS CAN TALK DIRECTLY TO OTHER HAMS AT THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
STORM SPOTTERS GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO HELP THEM SAFELY OBSERVE AND REPORT SEVERE STORMS BY ATTENDING ANNUAL STORM SPOTTER TRAINING SESSIONS... USUALLY CONDUCTED AS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN LOCAL EMERGENCY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STORM SPOTTING AND HOW YOU MIGHT GET INVOLVED...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEAREST YOU.
12) Phone Numbers and Web Sites
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IS INTERESTED IN YOUR SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS. LET US KNOW ANYTIME YOU SEE TORNADOES…FLASH FLOODING…LARGE HAIL...OR ANY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF SEVERE STORMS.
THIRTEEN NWS OFFICES COVER TEXAS...SO CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITES AND SEE WHICH OFFICE COVERS YOUR COUNTY. PLEASE USE LOWER-CASE WHEN TYPING IN THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE ALSO LISTS THE BEST PHONE NUMBER TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
| AMARILLO | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/AMA 806-335-1421 |
| BROWNSVILLE | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/BRO 800-303-3822 |
| AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/EWX 830-606-3617 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/CRP 361-289-0959 |
| EL PASO | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/ELP 505-589-4088 |
| FORT WORTH | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/FWD 800-792-2257 |
| HOUSTON/GALVESTON | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/HGX 281-337-5074 EXT 229 |
| LAKE CHARLES | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LCH 800-721-5739 |
| LUBBOCK | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LUB 800-697-6326 |
| MIDLAND/ODESSA | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/MAF 800-597-3220 |
| NORMAN | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/OUN 405-360-5928 |
| SAN ANGELO | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/SJT 325-944-9445 |
| SHREVEPORT | WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/SHV 318-631-3669 |
REMEMBER...ANY TIME YOU SEE SEVERE WEATHER...YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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