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tornado
TORNADO
INFORMATION AND SAFETY RULES
Tornadoes can and do develop
in the Inland Northwest. The majority of tornadoes are small in size, F0 to
F1 and capable of producing significant damage. July and August are the more
common months to see a tornado, although they have been reported in almost every
month of the year and in every county in eastern Washington and north Idaho.
The Inland Northwest sees about 1-2 tornadoes each year. The last big severe
weather outbreak was May 31, 1997 when 4 tornadoes occurred in on day!
Tornado spotted near Fairchild AFB near Airway Heights 5/21/04.
When conditions for tornadoes
become favorable, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center issues
a Tornado Watch covering a large area for the next 4-6 hours. This is when you
need to prepare for the possibility of a tornado. It may be too late to develop
a plan after a warning goes into effect. Stay tuned to commercial radio, NOAA
Weather Radio, local TV or cable TV for details.
When tornadoes are imminent
or detected by radar or trained spotters, a Tornado Warning is issued by the
National Weather Service. If the Tornado Warning is for your area, remember
the following safety tips:
IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS:
Go to the basement (if available) or to an interior room on the lowest floor,
such as a closet or bathroom. Upper floors are unsafe. If there is no time to
descend, go to a closet, a small room with strong walls, or an inside hallway.
Wrap yourself in overcoats or blankets to protect yourself from flying debris.
IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, FACTORIES,
OR SHOPPING CENTERS: Go to interior rooms and halls on the lowest floor. Stay
away from glass enclosed places or areas with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums
and warehouses. Crouch down and cover your head. Don't take shelter in halls
that open to the south or the west. Centrally-located stairwells are good shelter.
IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS:
Go to interior small rooms or halls. Stay away from exterior walls or areas
containing glass.
IN CARS OR MOBILE HOMES:
Abandon them immediately! Most deaths occur in care and mobile homes. If you
are in either of those locations, leave them and go to a substantial structure
or designated tornado shelter.
IF NO SUITABLE STRUCTURE
IS NEARBY: Lie flat in the nearest ditch or depression and use your hands to
cover your head. Be alert for flash floods.
DURING A TORNADO: Absolutely
avoid buildings with large free-span roofs. Stay away from west and south walls.
Remember, find the lowest level, smallest room, or center part of a building
of home. No matter where you are, do som advance planning if possible. Identify
protective areas you can get to in a hurry. Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio that
will provide an alarm if a Tornado Watch or Warning is in affect for your community
or county. Tornadoes may even develop without a Tornado Warning in effect.
Here are a few tips to help
you, survivors of tornadoes have often stated hearing a loud roaring sound with
torandoes. Also, if you are receiving golfball hail or larger, you are near
the most dangerous part of the storm which could be followed by a tornado. If
you see rotating debris even without the existence of a funnel cloud, it could
be a dangerous twister.
TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED OR WHEN YOU SPOT A TORNADO. REMEMBER, THE ACTIONS YOU
TAKE DURING A TORNADO EVENT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF YOUR FAMILY.
For more information on
tornado safety and information, visit the National Weather Service Severe
Weather Awareness web page.
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