Tornado Preparedness

Tornadoes have killed several hundred persons and caused tens of millions of dollars in property damage in the southeast part of the country so far this spring. Southeast Colorado is not immune from tornadoes, as witnessed by the devastation in Holly four years ago. According to the National Weather Service, the U.S. averages 800 tornadoes a year.

Every household and business should have a plan of action in case a tornado strikes. Be alert for tornado warnings in your community. Sirens are tested in Lamar at noon the first Monday of every month and are activated at Lamar Light and Power. A tornado watch means conditions are present for a tornado to develop. A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted.

When a warning has been issued, head for a basement or underground shelter away from windows. Select a room that offers structural safety, featuring beams or supports. Mobile homes offer little shelter against a tornado. Plan ahead and seek an easily reachable area to wait out the storm. If a tornado strikes, be wary of any broken gas or downed electric lines, and do not enter a damaged building. If a tornado strikes while you’re on a highway, seek shelter in a low-lying ditch. Do not attempt to avoid the storm under a bridge or overpass. Local radio stations should provide updates on the progress of a storm. City and County offices offer pamphlets and websites that provide safety information for all types of weather emergencies.

Public Service Document – click here!

Filed Under: Public SafetyWeather

Tags:

About the Author:

RSSComments (0)

Trackback URL

Comments are closed.