Severe Thunderstorm Safety Rules
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
SAFETY RULES
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH AREA...KEEP UP TO DATE OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. THESE STORMS CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY SO THERE MAY BE OCCASIONS WHEN ADVANCE WARNING IS NOT POSSIBLE.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING MEANS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS BEEN OBSERVED OR INDICATED BY RADAR. IF YOU ARE NEAR OR IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
Safety Rules
1) IN OPEN COUNTRY...YOU SHOULD SEEK SHELTER AND AVOID TREES WHICH CAN BE TARGETS FOR LIGHTNING. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER...GO TO A DITCH OR CULVERT BUT BEWARE OF RISING WATER WHICH CAN CAUSE FLOODING.
2) WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM. AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
3) IN MOBILE HOMES...YOU SHOULD LEAVE AND SEEK NEARBY SAFE SHELTER.
4) IF SWIMMING OR ON A BOAT...YOU SHOULD GET TO SHORE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND FIND SHELTER.
Definition
A THUNDERSTORM IS CONSIDERED SEVERE WHEN IT CONTAINS 3/4 INCH OR LARGER DIAMETER SIZE HAIL OR WIND GUSTS OF 58 MILES AN HOUR OR GREATER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MAY CONTAIN A COMBINATION OF THESE TWO ELEMENTS AS WELL AS VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.
REMEMBER...WITH ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES.
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