■ play it safe
WHEN DARK SKIESTHREATEN
WILL YOU KNOW WHAT TO TO DO?
BY GUYDALE COORDINATOR OF SAFETY & LOSS CONTROL
f you’ve lived in Oklahoma for any period of time you know that spring ushers in more than April showers. As we’ve seen over the past several years, warm weather brings its own brand of misery— and I’m not talking about air conditioning bills. Now through the summer months, thunderstorms can roll in fast, bringing tornadoes, wind and hail storms that are powerful and deadly. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory tells us these supercells tend to strike more often in the afternoon or evening. In Oklahoma, it’s safe to say they can hit anytime.
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Before the skies start rumbling, please take a moment to refresh yourself on storm safety procedures. When a F5 tornado is bearing down on you, panic and ill preparation are not your friends. Knowing what to do when time is short can make the difference between life and death.
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Prepare for high winds by removing diseased and damaged tree limbs. With damage from the ice storm this is particularly important for CEC members. Limbs can become torpedos during a tornado.
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Listen to local news or National Weather Service broadcasts to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings. Download iMap Alert off the Internet and you’ll receive alerts on your mobile phone.
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If you live in a mobile home, immediately head to a sturdy shelter or vehicle. Mobile homes, especially hallways and bathrooms, are not
safe places to take shelter during tornadoes or other severe winds.
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Designate a family meeting place for shelter during and after a storm. If possible, go to your home’s basement, a small interior room, or under stairs on the lowest level. Also, have a battery-operated weather radio handy along with emergency supplies.
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Unplug your electronics to protect them from surges caused by lightening. Avoid using electrical equipment and corded telephones.
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Remember that there is no safe place outside during a severe storm. If you are caught in a storm while on the road,
TORNADO MYTHDEBUNKED
Taking cover in the southwest corner of your house will protect you from a tornado
This theory was published in 1887 and stemmed from the myth that because tornadoes typically come from the southwest, debris will tend to be blown to the northeast side. This information was then distributed in various newspapers and became conventional wisdom.
As it turns out, this information is wrong. Debris,can be blown to any corner of a house. According to Roger Edwards of the Storm Prediction Center, “Tornadoes are not straight-line winds, even on the scale of a house, so the strongest wind may be blowing from any direction and tornadoes themselves may arrive from any direction.” SOURCE:
ACCUWEATHER.COM.
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the American Red Cross urges drivers to turn their headlights on, try to safely exit the roadway, and park. Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt on and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. If thunder and lightning is occurring, avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.
Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.
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Stay safe after a storm. Wait for the storm to pass before venturing outdoors. Stay away from downed power lines and avoid flooded areas; power lines could be submerged and still live with electricity. Report downed lines to Choctaw Electric immediately at 800-780-6486 or call 911.
If you don’t have safe shelter near your home, consider installing a storm shelter. With CEC’s storm shelter loan program you can have an inground shelter installed for as little as $49/month. You may not need to use it this year, or even next, but when you do you will appreciate it. The other option is to grow wings.
For more information on storm safety visit
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/ education/svrwx101/thunderstorms/. ■
Guy Dale is coordinator of co-op safety programs including free safety presentations for the community and CPR courses. To contact him, please call 800-780-6486, ext. 227.
“When a tornado is bearing down on you, panic and ill preparation are not your friends."
12 | april 2014
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