Be Prepared for Severe Weather

…TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA OVERNIGHT AND INTO MONDAY MORNING…

A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES TO CENTRAL ALABAMA. NOW IS THE TIME TO
PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER. REVIEW THE SAFETY
RULES AND PUT YOUR PRE DETERMINED SAFETY PLAN INTO ACTION.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADO
DEVELOPMENT. PEOPLE LOCATED IN AND AROUND THE WATCH AREA…SHOULD
KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY…AND LISTEN TO THEIR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL
HAZARDS…OR TUNE TO LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA FOR FURTHER WEATHER
INFORMATION. THE WATCH IS INTENDED TO GIVE YOU TIME TO PREPARE…
TIME TO REVIEW SAFETY RULES.

A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN A DEVELOPING TORNADO HAS BEEN
DETECTED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR…OR A RELIABLE
REPORT OF A TORNADO HAS BEEN RECEIVED. A TORNADO WARNING IS USUALLY
ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF ONE OR TWO COUNTIES…FOR AN HOUR OR LESS.
THE STORM COULD ALSO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT
LINE WINDS. IF THE TORNADO WARNING INCLUDES YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR
WORK PLACE…YOU SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

…TORNADO SAFETY RULES…

IN GENERAL…GET AS LOW AS YOU CAN. A BASEMENT BELOW GROUND LEVEL OR
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING OFFERS THE GREATEST SAFETY. PUT AS
MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. AVOID
WINDOWS AT ALL COST. TORNADOES COULD BE OBSCURED BY RAINFALL OR COME
AT NIGHTTIME. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO…IT MAY
BE TOO LATE.

DO NOT WASTE TIME OPENING OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND DOORS. IT WILL NOT
PROTECT THE STRUCTURE. YOU WILL ONLY WASTE TIME AND PUT YOURSELF AND
OTHERS IN GREATER RISK. USE THOSE VALUABLE SECONDS TO FIND A PLACE
OF SAFETY.

IN HOMES OR PUBLIC BUILDINGS…GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM…SUCH AS A CLOSET…BATHROOM OR AN INTERIOR HALL ON
THE LOWEST LEVEL. CLOSE ALL DOORS TO THE HALLWAY FOR GREATER
PROTECTION. IF POSSIBLE…GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY LIKE A HEAVY
TABLE. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH PILLOWS…HEAVY
COATS…BLANKETS…OR QUILTS. USE BICYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS TO
PROTECT YOUR HEAD.

IN MOBILE HOMES…LEAVE WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE APPROACHING SEVERE
WEATHER AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY…
GET INTO THE NEAREST DITCH…LOW SPOT…OR UNDERGROUND CULVERT. LIE
FLAT…COVERING YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS FOR PROTECTION.

IN VEHICLES OR OUTDOORS…WHEN TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE…LIMIT YOUR
OUTDOOR PLANS OR FINISH THEM EARLY. STAY CLOSE TO A STURDY SHELTER.
IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE…FIND SHELTER IN A DITCH OR REMAIN IN YOUR
VEHICLE AND COVER YOUR HEAD FOR PROTECTION. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER
UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS…WHERE WIND SPEEDS CAN INCREASE DUE TO A
TUNNELING EFFECT. IT IS BEST TO NOT PUT YOURSELF OR OTHERS IN A
SITUATION WHERE NO STURDY SHELTER IS AVAILABLE.

REMEMBER…STAY AWAY FROM DOORS…WINDOWS…AND OUTSIDE WALLS.

PROTECT YOUR HEAD.

Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather