Severe Weather can Strike Anytime, Anywhere

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TJ, DasFamiliar and KY_Wildcat are not only halfops in my live chat room, they are also all Storm Spotters. With severe weather season already upon us, they put together these tips to help keep you safe. As of March 20, 2008, the Storm Prediction Center states that there have been at least 464 reports of tornadoes for this year alone. The season has only yet to begin. Many people, including geeks, never really give weather a second thought in their daily lives while going on about their business. It only takes seconds for the skies to darken and sirens to blare. Warnings are issued before many realize the world around them is about to become very dangerous. Even as connected as geeks are, even we can be also caught off guard by nature’s fury.

• Make sure you have a NOAA Weather Radio with S.A.M.E. technology. These radios are life savers, especially if you live in an area prone to severe weather at night. These radios contain loud alarms that can even wake you up in the next room. With one of these radios, you can set it to sound for only counties you want to be warned for avoiding the false alarms when severe weather is occuring in another county near by. The greatest thing about these radios is that they don’t just warn you of severe storms. They can warn you of tornadoes, hurricanes, severe storms, civil defense emergencies, earthquakes, and much more. Weather radios are cheap these days and can be found at any retail store.
• Know the difference between a watch and a warning. This is one of the most common mistakes people make during severe weather. People often tend to think that a watch is far worse than a warning… when it is not. It’s the other way around. A watch merely means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather. These are often issued about 3-4 hours ahead of the projected time the severe weather is expected to occur. This is the time when you should be using to prepare yourself/family and have your safety plan in place. BE READY TO TAKE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED!!! A warning is the time when you should take action. A warning is issued 20-25 minutes before the severe weather is expected to impact the warned area (but sometimes the severe weather may hit the area before the warning can be put out. IE: Atlanta, GA – March 15 hitting the Georgia Dome and CNN Building). A warning is decided on many factors, one being usually the storm is detected on radar reaching severe limits as determined by the National Weather Service, along with reports of confirmed severe weather events coming from storm spotters.
• Know the basic rules that could save your life. First things first, DO NOT PANIC. Having a panic attack is the worst and last thing you would ever want to do during severe weather. Once a warning is issued, sirens blare, and the tv goes off air… DO NOT ignore it. This is the time to put your safety plan into action. The safety plan should consist of an immediate safe place where you and your family can seek shelter from the storm. Now, finding this safe place is not as easy as sitting next to the TV and waiting for it to pass. Your safety spot should be in the center of your house, on the lowest level, and as far from windows as you can get. (One guideline to remember, put as many walls as possible between you and the severe weather.) The best place to be during severe weather is in an underground basement, closet, or in a bathroom. If you have time, take blankets, pillows, or even mattresses with you to protect yourself from flying debris. NEVER… I repeat.. NEVER be in a vehicle or a mobile home during a tornado warning. Most deaths from tornadoes occur in Mobile Homes. If a tornado warning is put into effect and you are on the road.. get out and take cover in a ditch if no other substantial structure is available. LEAVE YOUR MOBILE HOMES!!
• Turn around, Don’t drown! This is the slogan from the National Weather Service to let people know not to drive into flooding waters. Flooding and flash flooding is the #1 killer when it comes to severe weather. It only takes 2 feet of water to float a vehicle. It doesn’t matter if you drive a heavy, lifted truck. It only takes 6 inches of rapid moving water to sweep a person off their feet, and a foot of water to sweep a large truck off the road. When flooding is occuring, be careful on the streets. DO NOT drive around any flood barricades! Also, try to keep young ones away from creeks, rivers, and any rapid water ways.
• Lightning is the second deadliest aspect of severe weather. Lighting is very dangerous, as it can generate over 1 billion volts and carry up to 40,000 amps. This is enough electricity to stop the heart in one second. The tempature can reach up to 54,000°F. When severe weather is occuring, sometimes more than a billion lightning strikes can occur. Never be outside when it is lightning. Lightning tends to strike the tallest object and follow a path of least resistance. A good structure with grounding will protect you. Staying in a car will also protect you. NEVER stand under a tree or tall object and do not be out on the water while it is lightning. Also, being the geeks we are, protect your electronics. Turn them off and unplug them… better safe then sorry. Another informational tidbit is that in a tornadic storm, the more intense the lightning is near the tornadic rotation is a good indicator of a possible tornado in the area.
• Have your safety supplies in a waterproof container and ready for quick response. Safety supplies should be right up there with the safety plan. Remember, if you are struck by severe weather, you may be safe.. but if your house is gone, what do you have to show for it? Nothing… you have nothing with you.. nothing to help you survive. Now, as bad as this sounds… it’s has happened countless times all over the world. This is why a safety supplies bucket is extremely important. Some of these supplies should include a flashlight with extra batteries, a portable radio with spare batteries, a first aid kit (for those bumps, bruises and other emergency needs. You should also include some of those commonly used medications such as Asprin, or other things that you would find in everyone’s medicine cabinet). You should also have at least a three day supply of non-perishable foods and water. Don’t forget to bring along a manual can opener as well. Cash and emergency credit cards should also be in the supplies. You never know when you will need the emergency cash to get basic items for your family. Always pack some extra clothes. These should be loose fitting, and comfortable. Also include a pair of comfortable shoes so you can scurry thru the rubble and also help those in need. Often times, there will be no electricity after a severe storm… that means no lights. In this case, it’s a good idea to have candles and matches in your kit, as well. (WARNING: if there is even a hint of a gas smell in the air, DO NOT! DO NOT light the candle.) A great source of light to have… even as funny as it sounds… are the glo sticks. All of these supplies should be in quick responsive reach, and also should be in a spot where the entire family can get it if need be.
• After the severe weather has passed, if there is any damage, notify your insurance company as soon as possible. You will want to notify them so they can begin assessing the damage and get you into temporary housing. Also, please do not go back into the damaged area if it is an unstable structure. Let the local fire department or emergency crews handle that. So many people have actually died going back into their severely damaged house, only to have it collapse on them.

Many people think, “This can’t happen to me”. Too often, the same sad story is played out time after time and people are often left asking why? Why me? When severe weather is in the area, take it seriously. Don’t get so caught up in the moment of what you are doing that you don’t stop to take a look at what is going on with the weather. It can take years for someone to build a life for themselves, but it just takes mere seconds for mother nature to take it all away. Geek or not, don’t be caught off guard this year by severe weather. Don’t let yourself be put in a position where your asking yourself “What should I do?” as the walls of your home are torn away by the oncoming storm. Prepare now… before it happens to you. Remember, severe weather can happen at any place at any time… and it doesn’t just have to be in the United States. Severe weather can happen anywhere in the world, and at any time. Now is the time to prepare.

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