When atmospheric conditions become "ripe" on specific days, severe weather is usually a result and happens anywhere and at any time. A thunderstorm is capable of turning strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts, large hail, frequent lightning strikes, and even tornadoes. All of these hazards pose a danger to us and result in injuries and even fatalities. By understanding what to do before and during these severe events, you’ll be putting yourself in an extremely advantageous position by preventing the worst-case scenario against nature’s wrath.
First, lets look at the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING. These are issues by the National Weather Service, but they get delivered in many ways; EAS alerts on your phones, weather app notifications, social media posts and tweets, radio broadcasts, and even on TV either from your local news station or a scroll bar at the bottom of the channel. Here is an easy breakdown, using the "cupcake" analogy as seen in the graphic below.
So, there is a good chance you have a severe weather outbreak on the way for your area. What do you do about it? How can you prepare?. Here is a checklist of things you need to do in order to keep you and your business or family safe.
Whether or not you have experienced flooding where you live; if it can rain, it can flood. All 50 states in the US have a risk to flood. Whether it's poor drainage flooding or flash flooding of streams and creeks, all flooding produces the same impacts. Not only is flooding deadly, it is one of the most costliest forms of natural diesters in the United States. They lead to an average of $10 billion dollars in damage per year.
Ever hear of the slogan, “Bolts from the blue”? Well, lightning can actually strike far from a storm, sometimes as far as 10 - 15 miles away! You may think that just because skies are blue and the storm is nowhere near you that you're safe. Even if it's not actively raining, you're always at risk of being struck when a thunderstorm is nearby. Lightning can hit just about any object in a blink of an eye.
Like we mentioned, the skies overhead can even be clear before a strike occurs. It’s so important to immediately take shelter indoors or inside a vehicle, once you hear the sound of thunder or see the sky darkening ahead of you: all signs of a nearby storm. We have a great blog discussing all about how lightening develops and the steps to take Here.
Image Courtesy of The National Weather Service : Lightning Safety Awareness
One of the most prevalent and most talked about hazards in a thunderstorm has to be wind. Whether it's straight line wind gusts, a microburst, or an organized tornado, these can br dangerous from the fact that they can bring down trees and loft debris into the air. So what can you do to protect yourself? Here are some steps you can take.
In the case of an imminent tornado on the ground, you have to prioritize one thing: Getting to the lowest location of your house or building and putting as many walls between you and the outside. Those with cellars and basements have the best chance to get low, but interior rooms with no windows (like a bathroom) are your next best place to shelter.
If you are not inside a building...lets say in your car or outdoors: find the nearest ditch or lowspot in a field. Getting low to the ground is important as it helps to keep yourself flat and protect yourself from the tornado. It's necessarily not the tornado itself, but the debris being hurrled 80 - 100 mph+ in the air that can be deadily.
Image Courtesy of National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida via Twitter
Image Courtesy Of Jonathan Erdman on Twitter
Hail comes in all shapes and sizes: From as small as a pea to as large as a softball. Because these ice stones are falling at fast speeds through the air, they can absolutely be dangerous. Windshields are most susceptible to damage from larger hailstones, as well as other types of outdoor property. Farms are most at risk of substantial damage, since many crops like wheat and corn are very sensitive to hailstones.
Hail can also bring physical harm to the body if they are big enough. Taking into account how fast they are falling, a large hailstone can lead to serious head injuries without proper protection. In this case, it's best to just immediately take shelter if it starts to hail outside. If you're driving a vehicle during a hailstorm, either pull over or drive to the nearest structure with shelter and wait it out.
Comparisons of hailstones to objects, and general damage that can occur to property
These are just some quick tips to keep in the back of your heard during any severe weather event. By following these procedures in the case of any hazard, you're lessening the risk quite substantially of physical injury and harm. If you know where your emergency kit is, have a backup emergency plan and become proactive during threatening weather situations. Don't be afraid to be over cautious in any severe weather setup; since it only takes one to cause problems. Stay safe out there everyone.
