Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tornado safety precautions
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According to Bryan Morrison, USI’s manager of environmental health and safety, the Indiana state-wide tornado drill is set for 9:90 a.m. and 6:07 p.m. CDT today. Although severe weather and tornados can occur at anytime during the year (remember the November 6, 2005 Tornado that occurred in Vanderburgh and Warrick County), the peak tornado season for this area is beginning. Today is the anniversary of the March 18, 1925 twister which killed 689 people in Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana. Here are some actions that you need to be prepared to take. What to do when a tornado warning has been issued for your area. When a tornado has been sighted, seek safe shelter immediately. 1. If you are in a small building, or other lightly built structure, move to a safe area in a larger, heavily constructed building. If the severe weather/tornado is imminent, and there is no time to escape to a safe area in a larger building, quickly seek the safest area in your building (refer to item 2). 2. If you are in a larger building move to an interior hallway or room on the lowest floor away from windows, doors and outside walls. 3. Never try to outrun a tornado in a car or truck; instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. 4. If caught outside with no shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. 5. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. 6. Protect yourself from flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most of the fatalities and injuries. TORNADO WATCH vs. TORNADO WARNING When conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, a severe thunderstorm or TORNADO WATCH is issued. Remain alert for approaching storms. When a WATCH is issued tune in and listen to either NOAA Weather Radio (162.550 MHz), commercial radio (WIKY 104.1 FM) or television (channel 7 WTVW), (channel 14 WFIE), (channel 25 WEHT) for the latest watch or warning information. When a TORNADO WARNING is issued, a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. If a tornado warning is issued for your area move immediately to your pre-designated place of safety. In the Vanderburgh County area, emergency warning sirens are activated when there is a severe weather/tornado warning. This siren will be a long blast lasting 3 minutes or longer and you should seek safe shelter immediately. OUTDOOR AREAS If you are at an outdoor recreation field or caught outside when a severe weather siren sounds, you need to seek safe shelter immediately. Go to the nearest safe area. If a safe area is not available, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression away from trees or power lines and cover your head with your hand and avoid flying debris. USI APARTMENT BUILDINGS If you are located in a USI apartment building and hear an emergency warning siren, move to an interior room on the lowest level such as bathroom or hallway, away from exterior walls and windows. If you can, lay flat in the bathtub, cover your head to protect yourself from flying debris. Bring your battery powered weather radio, blanket, and flashlight with you. SAFE AREAS A safe area is defined as an interior hallway or room on the lowest floor of a larger, heavily constructed building away from windows, doors and outside walls. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For additional information, visit these web sites http://www.usi.edu/emergency/ http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/severe.php http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/ http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=6ec01c99b5ccb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/hurricane.html Kathy Funke News and Information Services 812/465-7050 or kfunke@usi.edu |
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