tornado preparedness

8/2/2019 Tornado Preparedness

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Tornado Preparedness

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tornadoes are

natures most violent storms. Originating from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause

fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with swirling winds that can reach

300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. In

North Carolina, tornadoes can occur with little or no warning throughout the year. The peak

season, however, is March through May.

Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others.

Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of

debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally

occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies

behind a tornado.

The following are facts about tornadoes:

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning. They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms

in the funnel.

The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known tomove in any direction.

The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70MPH.

The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more than 200 mph. Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

Tornado Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a tornado hazard:

Tornado Watch

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have determined that tornadoes are possible in

your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. Know if your location is in the watch area by

listening to NOAA Weather Radio, visiting www.weather.gov or by tuning into your favorite

radio or television weather information broadcast stations.


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Tornado Warning

NWS meteorologists have determined that a tornado is occurring, or likely to occur within

minutes, in the specified area. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Take

immediate shelter.

What to do Before a Tornado

Be alert to changing weather conditions.

Develop an emergency plan for you and your family for home, work, school and whenoutdoors.

Practice frequent drills. Know the county in which you live, and keep a highway map nearby to follow storm

movement from weather bulletins.

Have a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and batteryback-up to receive warnings.

Listen to your favorite commercial radio or television newscasts for the latestinformation.

In 2005 Pitt County introduced the ALERTsystem. The ALERTsystem allows PittCounty Emergency Management to alert citizens when emergency needs arise. The

system uses established telephone numbers linked to local addresses to call affected

areas. However, many people are switching from traditional telephones to cell phones or

internet (IP) phones. Currently, these telephone numbers are not linked to a local address.

With the AlertMe system, citizens can submit their alternate phone numbers so they can

receive these important messages. To register your phone number in the Pitt County

AlertMe system, use the following internet link:

http://www.pittcountync.gov/apps/emergserv/alertreg/.

If planning a trip outdoors, listen to the latest forecasts and take necessary action ifthreatening weather is possible.

Look for approaching storms. Look for the following danger signs:

o Dark, often greenish skyo Large hailo A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)o Loud roar, similar to a freight train.

If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter

immediately.


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What to Do During a Tornado

If your area is under a TORNADO WARNING, take shelter immediately!

If you are in: Then:

A structure (e.g. residence,

small building, school,

nursing home, hospital,

factory, shopping center,high-rise building)

Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room,

basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is

no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest

level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows,doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible

between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use

your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not openwindows.

A trailer, or mobile home Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy,nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied

down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

A vehicleGet out of automobiles. Do not try to outrun a tornado in yourcar; instead, leave it immediately.

The outside with no shelter

Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head

with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low,flat location.

Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in acar or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe

shelter.

Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes

causes most fatalities and injuries

Family Disaster Plan

Families should be prepared for all hazards that affect their area. NOAAs National Weather

Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, and

Greenville Fire/Rescue urge families to develop a family disaster plan.

Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere at work, at school,

or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disasters


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may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do

if basic services water, gas, electricity or telephone were cut off?

Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan...

I. Gather information about hazards.Contact the local National Weather Service office, Pitt County Emergency Management,

the American Red Cross chapter, or Greenville Fire/Rescue. Find out what type of

disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community's warning

signals and evacuation plans.

Greenville and Pitt County have a high risk for tornadoes, and moderate risks ofhurricanes, noreasters, and flooding.

Pitt County Emergency Management and the American Red Cross are responsible foropening and managing shelters.

II. Meet with your family to create a plan.Discuss the information you have gathered. Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your familymay not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact

one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an

emergency. Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate.

Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediateneighborhood. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency,such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can't return home.

Choose an out-of-state friend as your "family check-in contact" for everyone to call ifthe family gets separated. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than tocall across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to

communicate among separated family members.

You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your familyspends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to

help create one.

Determine in advance where you will take shelter in case of a tornado warning.III. Implement your plan

(1) Post emergency telephone numbers by phones; (2) Install safety features in your

house, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers; (3) Inspect your home for potential

hazards (such as items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them; (4)

Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire

extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home; (5)

Teach children how and when to call 911 and Pitt County 9-1-1 Communications for

emergencies; (6) Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three

days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit with items you may need in case of an evacuation.


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Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags.

Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller disaster

supplies kit in the trunk of your car.

A BASIC DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT SHOULD INCLUDE:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinkingand sanitation

Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to

shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) Local maps Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger An extra set of car keys and a credit card or cash Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.

IV. Practice and maintain your plan.Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and

safety rules. Conduct drills. Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries

at least once a year. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to

manufacturer's instructions. Replace stored water and food every six months.

References:

FEMA. Tornadoes. From: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. tornadoesNature's most violentstorms. From: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html

North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.Local hazards by county. From:

http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/Index2.cfm?a=000003,000010,001623,000177,000891,000912

Pitt County Emergency Management. The Alert Me system. From:

http://www.pittcountync.gov/apps/news/article.asp?PageID=146&DeptID=26


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U. S. Department of Homeland Security. Tornadoes. From:

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/tornadoes.html

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