Transcript What Are Weather Emergencies?

What Are Weather Emergencies?
 Weather emergencies-dangerous situations
brought on by changes in the atmosphere.
– Storms such as tornados, hurricanes, blizzards
and thunder storms.
 National Weather Service-monitors the
progress of storms and periodically issues
bulletins about what is happening.
– Watch-issued when weather conditions make it
likely it will storm.
What Are Weather Emergencies?
– Warning-is issues when an actual weather
emergency is occurring and people are in
immediate danger.
 Follow any instructions given by the NWS.
Tornadoes
 Tornado-a whirling, funnel-shaped
windstorm that drops from the sky to the
ground.
– Tornados normally occur during the spring and
the summer.
 Of all the storms, tornadoes cause the most damage.
– If a tornado watch is issued for your area:
 Use a battery-powered radio and listen for updates.
 Prepare to take shelter.
– Get supplies ready, food, water and clothes.
Tornadoes
– If a tornado warning is issued take shelter
immediately.
 Where to go
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Cellar or basement.
Windowless interior room.
Ditch or flat on the ground
Stay away from cars, trees, buildings.
 What to do
– Cover yourself with anything that can protect you.
– Tornadoes move at 25-40 mph on a narrow path.
– See 14.6 on page 411.
Hurricanes
 Hurricane-a strong windstorm with driving
rain that originates at sea.
– Each hurricane has a center, called the eye.
 Weather is call in the eye, a circular cloud mass
whirls around the eye giving the storm its fiercest
strength.
– Most hurricanes occur in late summer and early
fall.
 Board up windows.
 Evacuate if advised
Hurricanes
 If no evacuation is advised, stay inside.
 Be prepared for power loss.
 Prepare an emergency kit.
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Flashlight
Batteries
Food
Water
Radio
First aid kit
blankets
Blizzards
 Blizzard-a very heavy snowstorm with winds
of up to 45 mph.
– Stay inside during a blizzard.
– Have emergency kit ready.
– If outside,
 keep moving and find shelter ASAP.
 Watch for landmarks along your path.
 Keep head, nose, mouth, ears covered
 Hypothermia-sudden and dangerous drop in body
temperature.
Thunderstorms
 Thunderstorms-heavy rain with thunder and
lightning.
– Thunderstorms can be dangerous when it has
lightning.
 Stay inside or seek shelter.
 Be prepared for power outage.
 Unplug electrical appliances.
 Avoid using phone or running water.
 If out side stay low and avoid electric poles, trees,
water and metal which all attract lightning.
Natural Disasters
 Floods
– If the NWS issues a flood watch for your area
 Move valuables to higher ground.
 Listen to the radio for updates.
– If the NWS issues a flood warning for your area
 Evacuate your house.
 Flash floods can happen quickly and be violent.
Natural Disasters
– In any flooding situation
 Never walk, swim, ride a bike, or drive a car through
the water. You may drown or be electrocuted.
 Drink only bottled water.
 Only return home when advised to.
 Once you return home throw away all food and
disinfect everything.
Natural Disasters
 Earthquake-a violent shaking of the earth’s
surface.
 Aftershocks-secondary earthquakes.
 Richter scale-records the amount of ground
motion.
– Scale of 1 to 10.
– Most destructive quakes have a magnitude of 7
or more.
Natural Disasters
 Protecting yourself during an earthquake.
– Indoors
 Stay away from windows, mirrors, ect.
 Stay away from tall or heavy objects that can fall on
you.
 Stand or crouch in a strongly supported doorway or
brace yourself in an inside corner of the building.
 Cover your head.
 Get under a piece of furniture.