SEVERE WEATHER TORNADOS, FLOODS AND HURRICANES

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Marvin Harrell
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SEVERE B E P R E P A R E D F O R WEATHER TORNADOS, FLOODS AND HURRICANES How prepared are you, your family or your

Do you have a plan to keep your family safe when the National Weather Service upgrades a flash flood watch to a flash flood

This guide focuses on the answers to these questions.

1 SEVERE B E P R E P A R E D F O R WEATHER TORNADOS, FLOODS AND HURRICANES How prepared are you, your family or your colleagues in the workplace when suddenly a tornado blows out of nowhere? Do you have a plan to keep your family safe when the National Weather Service upgrades a flash flood watch to a flash flood warning? Does your company have a prominently posted evacuation route and a published emergency response plan? This guide focuses on the answers to these questions. It is a summary of the best advice from disaster recovery professionals at FEMA, the National Weather Service, the Red Cross and other agencies. In three parts, we cover the basics of what to do before, during and after: 1) tornados, 2) floods, and 3) hurricanes.

2 PART 1 TORNADOS According to ready.gov, about 1,200 tornados strike the United States each year. Most tornados concentrate in the central and southern plains, the Gulf Coast and Florida. However, every state is at risk. Nature s most violent storms with whirling winds reaching 300 miles per hour, tornados develop from severe thunderstorms, which produce hail 1 inch in diameter or wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. A tornado watch means that tornados are possible. Watch the sky and stay tuned to television, radio or internet announcements. A tornado warning means that local weather radar has detected a funnel cloud is in sight. Take shelter immediately. BEFORE A TORNADO On the job Tornados can be a mile wide and scour out a 50-mile trail of devastation. Has your employer published severe weather plans and protocols for shelter, evacuation and other emergencies? If so, read them and be ready. If not, ask your employer about emergency response plans evacuation routes, etc. Managers and business leaders have a special responsibility to keep everyone safe. At home Take the precautions and preparations described in PART 3 HURRICANES. DURING THE TORNADO If you are inside a structure (your place of work, a hospital, school, nursing home, shopping center, etc.), follow directions and go to the pre-designated shelter area. If there is no safe room, basement or storm cellar, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest accessible level. Stay away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. Hide under a sturdy table and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands. Do not open windows. If in a vehicle, trailer or mobile home, get out immediately. Head for the nearest building or storm shelter. If outside with no shelter, lie flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your arms and hands. Do not seek shelter under a highway overpass. It may be tempting to seek refuge under a concrete overhead, but hiding in a narrow tunnel-like structure is a bad idea. Tornado winds will press under an overpass and speed up and create a wind tunnel. Also, you cannot outrun a tornado in a congested urban area with traffic. Leave the vehicle and get to safe shelter. Look out for flying debris, the cause of most injuries and fatalities from tornados. AFTER THE TORNADO Follow the instructions described in PART 3 HURRICANES. Also, if you are trapped, do not move around. Tap on a wall or a pipe to help rescuers find you. Do not panic. Remember that rescuers are highly trained and motivated to find trapped victims. 2 TORNADOS, FLOODS, HURRICANES

3 PART 2 FLOODS The most common natural disaster in the United States, flooding can happen anywhere in any season. Coastal areas are more prone to flooding, especially during hurricane season (June through November). In the Midwest, springtime heavy rains have caused rivers to leave their banks and surge downstream over levee banks. Likewise, spring snow melt from high mountain regions can quickly overcome the ability of rivers to contain the flow. A flood/flash flood watch means be aware. Flooding can result from conditions in your area. A flood/flash flood warning means that flooding is either happening or will happen shortly; take action. In the case of a flash flood warning, you should seek high ground immediately. BEFORE THE FLOOD Follow the evacuation advice in PART 3 HURRICANES. To reduce the risk of flood damage, FEMA suggests elevating critical utilities, heating and air conditioning, electrical panels, switches and wiring. In areas with repetitive flooding, FEMA suggests property owners consider elevating the entire structure. Also, time permitting, take the following measures to protect your property: Move valuable items to a higher floor; Learn how to turn off your gas, water and electricity; and Place sandbags around the property. DURING THE FLOOD Flood-related injuries frequently result when people are trapped in floodwaters. The best way to remain safe is to leave the area. If flooding danger is significant and imminent, local authorities will issue an evacuation notice, which, depending on the state, could be either voluntary or mandatory. If floodwater is present on FLOODING the road, bridges or ground, IS THE MOST do not attempt to cross. COMMON Water depth may not be NATURAL obvious, and the roadbed DISASTER IN THE UNITED may be undermined beneath STATES the water. Just 6 inches of moving water can sweep you off your feet; a foot of water can sweep an SUV off the road. Also, floodwater can contain debris and sewage. If trapped in a building, get to the highest level, but stay out of closed attics. Go to the roof only if necessary. If trapped in a vehicle in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle and take refuge on the roof if the water begins to rise. AFTER THE FLOOD Be careful when entering a flood-damaged building. Turn off the electricity at the main breaker or fuse box. Beware of concentrations of toxic mold, asbestos and lead paint. Do not restore utilities until you contact your local power company. TORNADOS, FLOODS, HURRICANES 3

PART 3 HURRICANES According to the National Weather Service, 458 Americans died from severe weather during 2016. Fortunately, that number was down from the 10-year average of 541.

Also, the nearly 1,300 injuries increased the strain on our public emergency responders and health care providers. All U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal areas are vulnerable to hurricanes.

Your warning will begin with a hurricane/ tropical storm watch with about a 36-hour lead time. Stay tuned to the television, radio or internet for updates.

The warnings will include what you need to know about the specific threats, such as high winds, tornados and flash floods. BEFORE THE HURRICANE If you can stay at home (e.g., your home is structurally sound and outside a designated evacuation route), take these precautions: 1.

4 PART 3 HURRICANES According to the National Weather Service, 458 Americans died from severe weather during Fortunately, that number was down from the 10-year average of 541. Each of those numbers, however, represents a life ended, loved ones shattered and a total of over $18.2 billion in property damage. Also, the nearly 1,300 injuries increased the strain on our public emergency responders and health care providers. All U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastal areas are vulnerable to hurricanes. Capable of causing catastrophic damage to coastlines and reaching several hundred miles inland, hurricane-force winds can surpass 155 miles per hour. Your warning will begin with a hurricane/ tropical storm watch with about a 36-hour lead time. Stay tuned to the television, radio or internet for updates. When the meteorologists issue a hurricane/tropical storm warning, you will have about 24 hours to react. The warnings will include what you need to know about the specific threats, such as high winds, tornados and flash floods. BEFORE THE HURRICANE If you can stay at home (e.g., your home is structurally sound and outside a designated evacuation route), take these precautions: 1. Prepare a safe room. Your home may be built to be hurricane resistant, but it may not be able to withstand the high winds. If your roof begins peeling away and internal walls begin collapsing, you will need to be in a safe room. You can locate and prepare a safe room in: Your basement On a concrete slab on your home s foundation or the garage floor A first-floor interior room A below-ground safe room gives the greatest protection, provided: m The room is adequately anchored to resist uplift and overturning; m Its walls, ceiling and doors can m m withstand wind pressure and resist penetration by falling debris and wind-borne objects; Its connections between all its parts are strong enough to resist the wind; and It is constructed so that damage to the residence will not cause damage to the safe room. (Source: Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House, FEMA-320.) 2. Gather emergency supplies and a tools cache. Assemble a hurricane survival kit consisting of the following: non-perishable food (with a can opener) and bottled water pet supplies (food, water, $ toys) a complete first aid kit a fire extinguisher flashlights with extra batteries a portable radio blankets, clothes, heavy shoes cash (ATMs may not be working, or some stores/gas stations may be unable to process credit cards) medications, contact lens and spare 4 TORNADOS, FLOODS, HURRICANES

5 eyeglasses adjustable tools to turn off gas or water in case of pipe ruptures an alternate cooking source stay alert to carbon monoxide dangers from indoor barbecues a fully charged cellphone absolutely necessary, do not drive. Rescuers need a clear path to distressed areas. If it is necessary to leave the home, leave a message informing family and friends of the new location. WHEN EVACUATING THE HURRICANE AREA RIDING OUT THE HURRICANE Howling winds, pelting rain and the real threat of tornados make riding out a hurricane a scary experience. Take these precautions: Take shelter in an interior safe room, a closet or bathroom on the lower level of the home. Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors. If flooding is a threat, turn off the electricity at the main breaker. If the power goes out, turn off major appliances to prevent electrical surge when the power is restored. Stay inside until you are sure the storm has passed. AFTER THE HURRICANE Be careful when going outside to survey damage. Watch for downed power lines, weakened roads, unstable trees, or a porch or chimney that could collapse unexpectedly. If the phone service is working, it may be overloaded. Stay off the line except to report hazardous situations to rescuers. Also, unless TAKE SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR SAFE ROOM, A CLOSET OR BATHROOM ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE HOME. If you decide to evacuate the storm area, have a plan. Your best alternative is to make arrangements in advance with family or friends away from the storm area. Public shelters are for those who have nowhere else to go. If you must go to a shelter, consider the following: Specialneeds shelters are not equipped for extensive medical care, only medical monitoring. Except for service animals, shelters that allow pets are limited. Bring food and snacks. Don t forget pet food if the shelter allows pets. Feeding facilities may not be available during the first 24 hours. Bring sleeping gear. Blankets and pillows may not be provided or may be in limited supply. Bring reading material, playing cards, etc., to pass the time. Bring a battery-operated radio and a flashlight along with extra batteries. Obey directions safety officials give for your comfort and safety. Do not go outside until the official all clear. TORNADOS, FLOODS, HURRICANES 5

6 This guide is sponsored by Nexis Response, a Mead Group Company. Look for a downloadable copy on our website at nexisprep.com and meadgroup.com. A NOTE ABOUT THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING No discussion on tornados and floods would be complete without acknowledging their principal causes: thunderstorms. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, and lightning causes more deaths each year than hurricanes or tornados. LIGHTNING CAUSES MORE DEATHS EACH YEAR THAN HURRICANES OR TORNADOS. For additional Red Cross thunderstorm safety tips, go to how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-ofemergencies/thunderstorm#about. Read about how to stay safe from lightning during a thunderstorm at noaa.gov/safety-overview.shtml. SUMMARY Charles Dudley Warner, a good friend of Mark Twain, once observed, Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. For 19th-century meteorologists, that tonguein-cheek observation was mostly accurate. Today, however, we have early warning technology, the wisdom of experience, and the ability to get to safety. You can take steps to be prepared, to survive and recover. Talk with your employer and take responsibility for keeping yourself and your family safe. This guide is sponsored by Nexis Response, a Mead Group Company. Look for a downloadable copy on nexisprep.com and meadgroup.com. Sources: Listed in the text. Also, information on flooding is from: TORNADOS, FLOODS, HURRICANES

IN VEHICLES: Do not try to outrun a tornado. Abandon your vehicle and hide in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head.

IN VEHICLES: Do not try to outrun a tornado. Abandon your vehicle and hide in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head. TORNADO SAFETY TORNADO! The very word strikes fear in many people. While a tornado is perhaps nature's most destructive storm, deaths and injuries can be prevented. By following Tornado Safety Rules, lives