Your National Weather Service Severe Weather Preparedness Washington County Department of Public Safety February 25, 2013 BE A FORCE OF NATURE Ready.gov/severe-weather

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS Presentation Topics Our slogan Be a Force of Nature, exemplifies our goal to empower people across the country to be role models for their families and friends by being prepared and then getting them to act, modeling the behavior and then sharing with others by texting, tweeting, or posting a Facebook status update.

KNOW YOUR RISK Of the estimated 100,000 thunderstorms that occur each year in the United States, about 10 percent are classified as severe. This map depicts the average number of days with thunderstorms each year. Florida has more days with thunderstorms than any other state. FACT: All thunderstorms are dangerous due to lightning and strong winds.

KNOW YOUR RISK The National Weather Service considers a thunderstorm “severe” if it produces hail at least one inch in diameter, winds of 58 mph or stronger, or a tornado. Depiction of a severe thunderstorm Greg Lunden

5 KNOW YOUR RISK FACT: Tornadoes can move in any direction and can travel at speeds up to 70 mph. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a cumuliform cloud, such as a thunderstorm, to the ground. Joshua Jans This map shows the average number of tornadoes per year in each state. Roger Edwards

6 KNOW YOUR RISK This chart shows that tornadoes can occur in the U.S. during any time of year. Tornadoes have a low probability of occurring, even in warning areas, but the impacts can be devastating. Who’s most at-risk from tornadoes? People who are in mobile homes or outdoors. FEMA/Leif Skoogfors

KNOW YOUR RISK This chart shows tornadoes can occur at any time of day…or night. Violent tornadoes with wind speeds greater than 166 mph (EF4 or EF5 damage) cause roughly 70 percent of all tornado deaths. FACT: The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more than 200 mph!

KNOW YOUR RISK This chart shows there is no increase in the number of strong to violent tornadoes each year in the U.S. Tornadoes producing damage due to wind speeds greater than 135 mph (EF3). Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes when they move onto land. FACT: Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over open water. They are just as dangerous! U.S. Navy/Jacqui Barker

KNOW YOUR RISK Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere or between the atmosphere and the ground. This map depicts the average number of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes per square mile each year. FACT: Lightning can reach 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit and the rapid expansion of heated air causes the sound of thunder! David Selby

KNOW YOUR RISK The majority of lightning victims were heading indoors but waited too long before being struck. FACT: Rubber soles of shoes or rubber tires offer NO protection from lightning. FACT: There is no safe place outdoors when a thunderstorm is nearby. FACT: It does not have to be raining for you to be struck by lightning – lightning can occur up to 10 miles away from the thunderstorm! Jim LaDue U.S. Navy/Heidi J. Giacalone

KNOW YOUR RISK Lightning kills an average of 30 to 50 people each year in the U.S. and injures several hundred more. FACT: More than 80% of lightning fatality victims are male, typically between the ages of 15 and 40. FACT: If you are outdoors and can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning.

KNOW YOUR RISK Hail is formed when updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops upward until they freeze. The stronger the updraft the larger the hailstone can grow. FACT: Hail is possible within most thunderstorms – it usually melts before reaching the ground. Hail falls when the thunderstorm's updraft can no longer support the weight of the ice. FEMA/Win Henderson Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

KNOW YOUR RISK Straight-line thunderstorm winds cause more damage, and are more frequent than tornadoes. FACT: Downed trees are the number one cause of the fatalities associated with straight-line thunderstorm winds. FACT: Straight-line thunderstorm wind speeds can exceed 100 mph and produce a damage path extending for hundreds of miles. In the southwestern states, thunderstorms winds can result in dust storms reducing visibility to near zero.

KNOW YOUR RISK Flash Floods occur within a few hours of heavy or excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or the sudden release by an ice jam. FACT: Flash floods and floods are the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms, more than 90 fatalities each year. FACT: More than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. FACT: Flash floods are very strong -- they can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges. USGS

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS Presentation Topics Our slogan Be a Force of Nature, exemplifies our goal to empower people across the country to be role models for their families and friends by being prepared and then getting them to act, modeling the behavior and then sharing with others by texting, tweeting, or posting a Facebook status update.

1. 1.Pledge to develop an emergency plan 2. 2.Practice your plan 3. 3.Build a kit 4. 4.Mitigate against severe weather 5. 5.Understand the weather warning system TAKE ACTION

1. Ready.gov/severe-weather 1.Pledge to develop an emergency plan - Ready.gov/severe-weather Then create your emergency plan - Ready.gov/severe-weather Ready.gov/severe-weather TAKE ACTION FEMA

Tornado Safety Rules The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or safe room. The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or safe room. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative. Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately. Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately. In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Stay away from windows. In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Stay away from windows. If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter: If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter: – Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. – If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort: Stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible. Stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands. – Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances TAKE ACTION

Flash Flood Safety Rules Avoid flood waters. Move to higher ground. Avoid flood waters. Move to higher ground. Keep children away from flood areas. Keep children away from flood areas. Do not camp or park along streams. Do not camp or park along streams. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Never drive through a flooded roadway. TAKE ACTION TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN!!!

Avoid the Lightning Threat Have a lightning safety plan. Postpone activities. Monitor the weather. There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. Keep away from electrical equipment, wiring and water pipes. TAKE ACTION When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Family Communication Tips Identify a trusted out-of-state contact. Train your family on the plan. Program "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. Teach family members how to use text messaging. TAKE ACTION Monterey Park, CA Police Department American Red Cross

2. 2.Practice your plan. TAKE ACTION Wichita Falls, TX Fire Department CDC FEMA

3. 3.Build a kit. TAKE ACTION American Red Cross ReadyForsyth Chatham Emergency Management Agency

4. 4.Mitigate against severe weather. TAKE ACTION FEMA Insurance Institute for Business & Home SafetyFEMA

5. 5.Understand the weather warning system. TAKE ACTION FEMA

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS Presentation Topics Our slogan Be a Force of Nature, exemplifies our goal to empower people across the country to be role models for their families and friends by being prepared and then getting them to act, modeling the behavior and then sharing with others by texting, tweeting, or posting a Facebook status update.

 Be a force of nature  Be a force of nature by knowing your risk.  Be a force of nature Ready.gov/severe-weather  Be a force of nature by taking the pledge to prepare at Ready.gov/severe-weather. Ready.gov/severe-weather Be a force of nature Be a force of nature by taking action to prepare for severe weather. Be a force of nature Be a force of nature by being an example. BE A FORCE OF NATURE Roger Edwards

 Be a force of nature  Be a force of nature by: sending life-saving text messages to friends in harm’s way. telling your social network on Facebook that your emergency kit is stocked and ready for severe weather season. sending out a tweet from your safe room, letting others know you’re safely sheltered and they should be, too. taking part in a national movement for preparedness.  Be a force of nature PSA  Be a force of nature PSA Be a force of nature PSA Be a force of nature PSA BE A FORCE OF NATURE

Your National Weather Service Severe Weather Preparedness Washington County Department of Public Safety BE A FORCE OF NATURE Ready.gov/severe-weather

1. 1.KNOW YOUR RISK National Weather Service - National Weather Service - Storm Prediction Center - Storm Prediction Center Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety NOAA Lightning Safety - NOAA Lightning Safety - Weather Safety Publications - Weather Safety Publications TAKE ACTION FEMA Create Your Emergency Plan - FEMA Create Your Emergency Plan - American Red Cross - American Red Cross - Federal Alliance for Safe Homes - Federal Alliance for Safe Homes - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psaemergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa 3. 3.BE A FORCE OF NATURE! HELPFUL INFO ON THE WEB