With a long duration and potentially high impact severe weather event expected at the end of this week, we want to take some time to remind everyone of some important severe weather safety tips.
First, you’ll need to know where to go and shelter in the event of a tornado warning for your area. If you are in a site built home or building, go to the lowest floor, in an interior room, and away from windows. Garages, upper floors, and rooms near windows do not offer safe shelter. A below ground basement or storm shelter is preferred but not required. If you are in a vehicle or a mobile home, you must immediately find a site built structure as both a mobile home and vehicle are the 2 worst places to be in a tornado warning. Any site built structure will work, even something as simple as a nearby gas station, convenience store, or restaurant.
You also need to have multiple (at least 3) ways to receive severe weather warnings. The baseline is always an NOAA weather radio. You can purchase one for around $30 at Walmart as well as Amazon. In addition to a weather radio, be sure you have WEA enabled on your smart phone. This will be triggered for tornado warnings, high end severe thunderstorm warnings, and high end flash flood warnings as well. And finally, download the ABC33/40 weather app which will send push notifications to your phone if your area is under a severe weather watch or warning. Remember, you should NEVER rely on an outdoor siren, as you wont hear them indoors during a raging storm. Finally, you can be a hero! If you or someone you know is under a tornado warning, call or text them (yes, even in the middle of the night!) to make sure they are aware and inform them to take shelter.
One more thing to consider is that you need to begin preparing for severe weather BEFORE it strikes. Use the next 36 hours as your prep time, by continuing the check the forecast, pick out your shelter area, and ensure you have 3 ways to receive warnings. During the severe weather, implement your plan if you come under a warning. And after the storm passes, continue to monitor the forecast. With multiple rounds of storms expected, one storm may not be the last for your area. Be sure to check on your friends and family as well.
Category: Alabama’s Weather, ALL POSTS, Social Media
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jack is a junior at Mississippi State University studying meteorology. He has several years of forecasting experience through a local group of forecasters in Maryland where he resides. Jack plans to become a broadcast meteorologist after graduation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
