Sometimes Mother Nature gets in a bad mood and the weather turns ugly! What do you do? Find out how to prepare and take care of yourself before, during, and after one of Nature’s summer time temper tantrums. Remember… the sun always shines again.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are generally spawned by thunderstorms, though they have been known to occur without the presence of lightning. The stronger tornadoes attain an awe-inspiring intensity, with wind speeds that exceed 200 mph and in extreme cases may approach 300 mph.
One of the most alarming aspects of these phenomena is their randomness, almost as if they had vindictive personalities.
They'll appear suddenly and take out one house here, but leave its neighbors and the houses across the street untouched."
Beyond the mistakenly-held belief that tornadoes occur only in "Tornado Alley," the corridor that runs north from Texas to Nebraska and on east to Indiana, there are many misconceptions about these storms. Consider the following tornado myths:
True or False?
Tornadoes are always visible from a great distance.
False! They can be hidden in heavy rainfall.
Tornadoes cause houses to explode from changes in air pressure.
False! Homes are damaged by strong winds, not air pressure changes.
By opening the windows, you can balance the pressure inside and outside your home so a tornado will not do damage.
False! The force of a tornado can rip through a structure, whether the windows are open or not. One should not open the windows when a tornado threatens - this could actually make the situation worse.
The best place to be during a tornado is generally in the southwest corner of the basement.
False! This used to be a safety rule based on the idea that debris would usually not be deposited there, but this has now been rethought. The current best advice is to move to a protected interior room on the lowest floor of the building, as far as possible from exterior walls and windows.
Tornadoes cannot cross water.
False! A waterspout is a type of tornado that actually forms on water, and tornadoes that form on land can cross bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. Tornadoes, especially the more violent ones, can also travel up and down hillsides. Therefore, a belief that your location is protected by a river or ridge could prove to be a dangerously invalid one.
A tornado is always accompanied or preceded by a funnel cloud.
False! Especially in the early stages, a tornado can be causing damage on the ground even though a visible funnel cloud is not present. Likewise, if you see a funnel cloud but it does not appear to be "touching down," a tornadic circulation may nonetheless be in contact with the ground.
Downward-bulging clouds mean tornadoes are on the way.
Not necessarily! This may be the case, especially with those which show evidence of a rotating motion, but many of these clouds are not associated with tornadoes and may be completely harmless.
The United States has the highest incidence of tornadoes worldwide, with about 1,000 occurring every year. This is due to the unique geography that brings together polar air from Canada, tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico, and dry air from the Southwest to clash in the middle of the country, producing thunderstorms and the tornadoes they spawn.
Tornadoes can come one at a time, or in clusters, and they can vary greatly in length, width, direction of travel, and speed. They can leave a path 50 yards wide or over a mile wide. They may touch down for only a matter of seconds, or remain in contact with the ground for over an hour.
Tornado Watch – means conditions are right for a tornado to form. Watch the sky!
Tornado Warning – means a tornado has been sighted in your area. TAKE SHELETER IMMEDIATELY in a basement or interior ground floor room. Stay away from windows or large open areas like cafeterias and school gymnasium.
A Warning Is Issued What
To Do?
When a tornado warning has been issued, you may have very little time to
prepare.
How you respond now is critical. OBEY ADVISORIES PROMPTLY!
In A Frame Home
Carefully evaluate the situation before bringing in outdoor items.
Make sure you have a portable radio for information.
Seek shelter in the lowest level of your home (basement or storm cellar). If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway, a smaller inner room, or a closet. Keep away from all windows.
You can cushion yourself with a mattress, but do not use one to cover yourself. Do cover your head and eyes with a blanket or jacket to protect against flying debris and broken glass. Don't waste time moving mattresses around.
Keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier.
Multiple tornadoes can emerge from the same storm.
Do not go out until officials say it is safe.
In A Mobile Home
Leave your mobile home immediately and take shelter elsewhere.
Outside
Try to get inside and seek out a small protected space with no windows.
Avoid large-span roof areas such as school gymnasiums, arenas, or shopping malls.
If you cannot get inside, crouch for protection beside a strong structure, or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area and cover your head and neck with your arms or a piece of clothing.
In A Car
Ideally, you should avoid driving when tornadoes or other kinds of dangerous
weather threaten, as a vehicle is a very unsafe place to be. If, however, this
is not possible, stay as calm as possible, and assess the situation.
Your best option might be to get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area that is of sufficient depth to provide protection from the wind.
If you do so, beware of water runoff from heavy rain that could pose a hazard, get as far away from the vehicle as possible, and shield your head from flying debris.
Or, more optimally, if possible take shelter immediately in a nearby building.
Do not leave a building to attempt to "escape" a tornado.
If you are already in a sturdy building, do not get in a vehicle to try to outrun a tornado
Lightening
One of the most magnificent natural phenomena, lightning is often believed to be an infrequent occurrence.
In actuality, lightning hits the earth an estimated 100 times per second on average, or 8.6 million times a day.
It is estimated that the U.S. alone receives as many as 20 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes per year from perhaps 100,000 thunderstorms.
Lightning kills or injures hundreds of people every year, mainly because the victims are not aware of the danger they face. Most, if not all, deaths from lightning could be prevented. The single most important thing to remember is to seek shelter indoors during a lightning storm.
True Or False?
Lightning always strikes the tallest object.
False! Lightning strikes the best conductor on the ground, not necessarily the tallest object. In some cases, the best conductor might be a human being.
A car's rubber tires give protection from lightning.
False! Actually, the car itself is very well insulated and offers more protection than being outside in the storm. Of course, the exception to this is the convertible, which provides virtually no protection.
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
False! Tell that one to the Empire State Building, which is struck by lightning many times every year.
Lightning is a spark that can reach over 5 miles in length, attain a temperature of approximately 50,000°F, and contain over 100 million electrical volts.
Cloud-to-ground lightning is usually caused when a negative charge at the base of a cloud is attracted to the positive charge at the earth's surface; a powerful surge of electricity descends to the ground carrying a current made up of millions of electrons. This is answered by a return stroke, which appears to us as the bright flash of cloud-to-ground lightning.
Anticipating Lightning
Lightning always accompanies thunderstorms, so your first line of defense is to
keep an eye and ear to the sky.
· Equate thunder with lightning, even if lightning is not visible where you are. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
· Even if you can't hear thunder, you might nonetheless be at risk. The first bolts from a towering cloud overhead can catch you by surprise, and so-called "bolts from the blue" can extend way out from the edge of a thunderstorm and strike a point well away from where most of the thunder and lightning is occurring.
How Close Is The
Lightning?
You can do a rough calculation this way: When you see the flash, begin to count
the seconds until you hear the thunder. Divide this number by 5. The number you
get is the approximate distance of the lightning in miles.
For example, if you count nine seconds between the flash and the thunder, the lightning struck just under two miles away.
How Will You Be
Warned?
There are no watches or warnings issued for lightning per se.
· Though severe thunderstorms can certainly contain a lot of lightning, not all of them do, and many thunderstorms laden with lightning occur without being designated "severe" and without any watches or warnings in effect.
Severe thunderstorms are defined as those which produce hail 3/4" in diameter or larger, wind gusts 58 mph or greater, and/or tornadoes.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch conditions are conducive to the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning a severe thunderstorm has actually been observed by spotters or indicated on radar, and is occurring or imminent in the warning area.
A Warning Is Issued What
To Do?
You observe and/or
hear lightning and thunder, or thunderstorms are in the forecast.
At Home
If you are at home, protect yourself and your family following the safety tips
below:
· Follow weather reports. Make sure a battery-powered radio is nearby.
· Do not turn on the television.
· Lightning can cause power surges. Unplug all appliances before the storm hits.
· Avoid using the phone. Telephone lines can conduct electricity.
· Metal pipes also conduct electricity. Stay away from faucets, sinks, and bathtubs.
· Close the blinds and shades of your window, then keep away from them.
· Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier.
Away From Home
There are times when storms come up suddenly.
If you are away from home, protect yourself and your family by taking cover in the best shelter you can find.
· If you are in or near the water, go to land immediately and find shelter.
· If choosing between a building or a car, choose the building.
· If choosing between a hard-top and a convertible, choose the hard-top.
· If you're in a car, keep the windows closed.
· If there is no shelter, find a low-lying, open place that is a safe distance from trees, poles, or metal objects that can conduct electricity. Make sure it is not likely to flood.
· Assume a tucked position: Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with your head tucked between them. Try to touch as little of your body to the ground as possible.
· Do not lie flat on the ground, as your fully-extended body will provide a larger surface to conduct electricity. Stay in a tuck position well after the storm passes.
· Watch for local flooding you may have to move if water begins to accumulate.
· If you feel your hair stand on end in a storm, drop into the tuck position immediately. This sensation means electric charges are already rushing up your body from the ground toward an electrically charged cloud. Minimize your contact with the ground to minimize your injury.
After The Storm
After lightning has struck, there is nothing more important than seeing to the
safety and needs of your loved ones. But sometimes people are afraid to touch a
lightning victim.
Once lightning has struck a person or even an object, however, the person or object does not carry a charge and cannot harm you. Although lightning is electrical, it is not like a house current.
How To Help Injured Others
· Administer First Aid immediately and call 911.
· Check for breathing and for a pulse. If there is none, begin to administer CPR.
· A lightning victim often suffers severe burns in two places on the body: where the bolt entered and where it exited. Expect to find more than one injury.
During recent years, floods and flash floods have caused billions of dollars in damage each year. They are among the most common and widespread of all natural hazards.
Even more importantly, they're the number one weather-related killer. A flood can happen anywhere along the Mississippi, in New England, even in the desert.
Flooding poses tremendous danger to both people and property. Since 1900, floods have taken more than 10,000 lives in the United States alone.
Why are there so many fatalities? Floods can be very deceptive. It's difficult to judge the depth, speed, and power of floodwaters; in an instant, you can be swept into a drainage system or your car floated off a road or bridge.
Most people are unaware that:
· 80% of flood deaths occur in vehicles, and most happen when drivers make a single, fatal mistake trying to navigate through flood waters.
· Just 6 inches of rapidly moving flood water can knock a person down.
· A mere 2 feet of water can float a large vehicle even a bus.
· One-third of flooded roads and bridges are so damaged by water that any vehicle trying to cross stands only a 50% chance of making it to the other side.
A Flood (commonly called River Flood) is a high flow or overflow of water from a river or similar body of water, occurring over a period of time too long to be considered a flash flood.
Flooding is caused in a variety of ways. Winter or spring rains, coupled with melting snows, can fill river basins too quickly.
Flash Floods are quick-rising floods usually occurring as the result of heavy rains over a short period of time, often only several hours or even less.
They can also be caused by ice jams on rivers in conjunction with a winter or spring thaw, or occasionally even a dam break. The constant influx of water finally causes a treacherous overflow to begin, powerful enough to sweep vehicles away, roll boulders into roadways, uproot trees, level buildings, and drag bridges off their piers. Most frightening is the rapidity with which the water rises.
Flooding Indicators
· Unusually hard rain over several hours or steady substantial rain over several days
· Rains in conjunction with a spring thaw
Flash Flooding Indicator
· Water rising rapidly in streams and rivers
Any of these signs should prompt you to get an up-to-the-minute report on flood conditions.
How Will You Be
Warned?
Four key alerts relate specifically to flood conditions:
· Flood Watch high flow or overflow of water from a river is possible in the given time period. It can also apply to heavy runoff or drainage of water into low-lying areas. These watches are generally issued for flooding that is expected to occur at least 6 hours after heavy rains have ended.
· Flood Warning flooding conditions are actually occurring or are imminent in the warning area.
· Flash Flood Watch flash flooding is possible in or close to the watch area. Flash Flood Watches are generally issued for flooding that is expected to occur within 6 hours after heavy rains have ended.
· Flash Flood Warning flash flooding is actually occurring or imminent in the warning area. It can be issued as a result of torrential rains, a dam failure, or ice jam.
A Warning Is Issued What To Do?
The decisions you make now are critical!
Surviving A Flash
Flood
There many be no time for a warning to be issued.
You may have only seconds to escape.
It could be a life-and-death decision for you and your family.
· If you suspect a flash flood is about to happen immediately climb to higher ground.
· Remember, it does not have to be raining for a flash flood to occur. Some of the most dangerous floods originate many miles away.
Surviving A Flood
· If on foot, do not attempt to walk through flood waters. Instead, turn around and go directly to higher ground.
· Make sure to keep children and pets away from flood waters, storm drains, and sewers.
· If your are in a car, drive away from flooded areas never try to take a shortcut through them.
· If your car stalls, immediately abandon it and climb to higher ground.
If No Evacuation Has Been Ordered
· Call a emergency contact person to report your plans.
· Keep children and pets indoors.
· Make sure you have cash and your car has a full tank of gas in case you must evacuate.
· Make sure battery-powered radio is nearby.
If Evacuation Is Advised
· Turn off all utilities (water and electric).
· Lock the windows and doors of your home before leaving.
· Tune your car radio to a news station to hear updates on evacuation routes.
· Be sure to follow the recommended evacuation routes. Your favorite shortcuts may already be blocked by flood waters.
Extreme Heat
Heat wave. It's a term that immediately evokes southern climates: the aridity of Phoenix or Palm Springs, the subtropical humidity of Houston or Miami. Yet, extreme heat is a weather emergency that affects all of us, even past our northern borders.
Case in point: in 1995, extreme heat contributed to the deaths of almost 500 people in Chicago. And that same year, it killed more people in the United States than all other natural disasters combined.
Extreme heat occurs when the temperature reaches excessively high levels, or when the combination of heat and humidity causes the air to become oppressive and stifling.
Extreme heat's manifestations:
· A spell of sweltering humidity, which reaches levels commonly associated with moist tropical regions. The stress on the body can be exacerbated when atmospheric conditions cause pollutants to be trapped near the ground.
· An excessively dry condition, in which strong winds and blowing dust can worsen the situation.
· A rise in the heat index: the body's perception of the "apparent" temperature based on both the air's real temperature and the amount of moisture present in the air. Humidity and mugginess makes the temperature seem higher than it is. In high humidity, an 85 degree day may be perceived as 95 degrees.
Extreme heat is more than an issue of discomfort. It forces the body into overdrive as it tries to stay cool through perspiration and evaporation.
People in urban areas are at greater risk because the stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in the air, which, when breathed can trigger respiratory problems for many people.
The effects of extreme heat can undermine your physical well-being so slowly and subtly that the dangers aren't apparent until it's too late.
In regions of low humidity, the most common human response to extreme heat is dehydration. Exposed to direct sunlight and temperatures in excess of 90°F, a human can lose as much as half a gallon of water every ten minutes, and this dehydration can seriously interfere with one's internal thermostat.
Heat-Related Illnesses
No matter where you live, it is important to recognize the real dangers of
extreme heat and take action to offset its impact at its earliest stages.
The gradual nature of extreme heat's effects on the body make it important that you be aware of the following heat-related illnesses:
· Severe Sunburn - so much more than a dermatologic issue, sunburn reduces the skin's ability to release excess heat, making the body more susceptible to heat-related illness.
· Heat Cramps - muscle pains and spasms caused by heavy exertion, which triggers loss of water through heavy perspiration. These usually involve the muscles of the abdomen or legs.
· Heat Exhaustion - a mild form of shock marked by heavy sweating, weakness, cold, clammy skin, a weak pulse, fainting and vomiting. This usually occurs when people have been exercising heavily or working in a warm humid place. The blood flow to the skin increases - in an attempt to cool the body - causing the blood flow to the vital organs to decrease.
If not treated, the victim's condition will worsen; the body temperature will keep rising, possibly leading to heat stroke.
Note: simple overexposure to extreme heat can precipitate this condition in very young children and the elderly.
· Heat Stroke (also called Sunstroke) - a truly life-threatening condition in which the body's internal thermostat has ceased to work. Your ability to sweat stops, and the temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may occur in less than ten minutes unless medical help is immediate.
·
How Will You Be Warned?
If you are in the peak summer months, and the temperature and/or humidity has
been unusually high for several days, anticipate an extreme heat emergency
situation.
Although the threshold criteria may vary depending on the location, two kinds of alerts are generally issued.
· Heat Advisory - issued when the heat, or combination of heat and humidity, is expected to become an inconvenience for much of the population, and a problem for some.
· Excessive Heat Warning - issued when the heat, or combination of heat and humidity, is expected to be dangerous for a large portion of the population.
A Warning Is Issued What To Do?
Before Exposure
· Stay indoors and avoid extreme temperature changes.
· If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.
· Keep your electric fans running.
· Drink fluids - particularly water or juice - often, even if you do not feel thirsty, to help your body's thermostat stay cool. Avoid alcoholic beverages (including beer), which dehydrate the body.
· Eat small, frequent meals. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.
· Keep pets indoors and refill their water bowls frequently.
During Exposure
· If you must go out, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect the sun's energy.
· Slow down, avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must engage in strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, between 4 am and 7 am.
· Cover all exposed skin with a high SPF sun screen, and wear a wide brimmed hat to protect your face and head.
· Drink plenty of fluids.
After Exposure
· Continue drinking plenty of water and juice.
· Never take a cool shower immediately after becoming overheated. You may cool too quickly and become ill, nauseous, or dizzy.
In The Event Of An
Extreme Heat Health Emergency
If a health emergency arises due to extreme heat, identify the symptoms and take
the following steps.
Heat Cramps
· Symptoms muscle pains and spasms caused by heavy exertion, which trigger loss of water through heavy perspiration.
· Treatment to relieve, press on cramping muscles or use gentle massage. Take sips of water unless nausea occurs.
Heat Exhaustion
· Symptoms a mild form of shock marked by heavy sweating, weakness, cold and clammy skin, a weak pulse, fainting, and vomiting.
· If not treated, the victim's condition will worsen; the body temperature will keep rising, possibly leading to heat stroke.
· Treatment rest in a cool place. Loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloths. Continue taking sips of water unless nausea occurs. If vomiting occurs, seek medical attention.
· Note brief exposure to extreme heat can precipitate this condition in very young children and the elderly.
Heat Stroke (Sunstroke)
· Symptoms the ability to sweat stops, and body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may occur in less than ten minutes unless medical help is immediate.
· Treatment call 911 immediately for emergency medical services. Remove clothing, and use a cool sponge bath or fan to attempt to lower body temperature. DO NOT GIVE FLUIDS!
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