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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
1224 PM PDT MON SEP 22 2008
..WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY
...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE'S 2ND ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HAZARDOUS
WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...
..THUNDERSTORMS AND SEVERE WEATHER IN CALIFORNIA
THUNDERSTORMS AFFECT RELATIVELY SMALL AREAS WHEN COMPARED WITH
HURRICANES AND WINTER STORMS AND MANY ARE BENEFICIAL, BRINGING
NEEDED RAINFALL TO AN AREA. BUT WHILE ONLY A FRACTION OF THESE
STORMS ARE CLASSIFIED AS SEVERE, ALL THUNDERSTORMS ARE DANGEROUS!
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING AND STRONG WINDS AND OFTEN ALSO
BRING HAIL, TORNADOES, AND FLASH FLOODING. AN AVERAGE OF 300 DEATHS
AND MORE THAN 2000 INJURIES A YEAR ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THUNDERSTORMS
AND THE ASSOCIATED AFFECTS. THESE DANGERS EXIST IN EVERY REGION OF
THE UNITED STATES...EVEN IN CALIFORNIA!
THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR IN EVERY PART OF CALIFORNIA AND IN EVERY MONTH.
IT IS COMMON FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE SIERRA NEVADA
IN LATE SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN MONTHS...BUT IT IS JUST AS TYPICAL
FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE WINTER.
AND JUST AS IN THE MIDWESTERN STATES, MOST LOCATIONS CAN EXPECT TO
SEE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE SPRINGTIME.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT CALIFORNIA THUNDERSTORMS IS THAT THEY TEND
TO BE MORE LOCALLY FOCUSED RATHER THAN DEVELOPING INTO LARGE STORM
COMPLEXES THAT SWEEP THROUGH SEVERAL STATES IN A DAY. THE RESULT
IS THAT MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE IMPACTED AREA ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT
HAS OCCURRED AND UNLESS THEIR AREA IS DIRECTLY HIT BY A STORM THE
RESULTING IMPRESSION IS THAT SEVERE WEATHER DOES NOT OCCUR IN OUR
STATE. BUT CALIFORNIANS NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR ALL FORMS OF SEVERE
WEATHER.
THERE ARE FIVE SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER HAZARDS PRODUCED BY
THUNDERSTORMS. THESE ARE LIGHTNING, STRONG WINDS, HAIL, FLASH
FLOODING, AND TORNADOES.
..LIGHTNING
LIGHTNING OCCURS WITH ALL THUNDERSTORMS AND KILLS MORE PEOPLE THAN
HURRICANES OR TORNADOES! ON AVERAGE, SOMEONE IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
EVERY DAY. MOST OF THEM SURVIVE BUT MANY DO NOT. IN THE UNITED
STATES, LIGHTNING CAUSES AN AVERAGE OF 80 DEATHS AND 300 INJURIES
PER YEAR AND MANY OF THESE INJURIES OCCUR EVERY YEAR IN CALIFORNIA.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT LIGHTNING IS THAT IT
TAKES THE SHORTEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE PATH IT CAN FIND TO THE
GROUND. IT WILL LIKELY STRIKE THE TALLEST OBJECT AND/OR ONE MADE OF
METAL OR NEAR WATER IN ORDER TO DISCHARGE INTO THE GROUND.
THEREFORE, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ON A HILL, AN OPEN FIELD, OR ON
THE WATER YOU ARE MOST AT RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. IF
YOU ARE INDOORS, STAY OUT OF THE BATHTUB AND AWAY FROM METAL PIPES
AND ELECTRICAL WIRING!
ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT LIGHTNING IS THAT IT CAN
STRIKE THE GROUND AS MUCH AS TEN MILES AWAY FROM THE THUNDERSTORM.
IF YOU SEE A THUNDERSTORM ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR LOCATION...NOT JUST
OVERHEAD...YOU NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST BEING STRUCK.
..STRONG WINDS
STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN EXCEED 100 MILES PER HOUR AND CAN
CAUSE DAMAGE EQUAL TO THAT OF A TORNADO. IN FACT, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN
SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT DAMAGE THEY THINK WAS CAUSED BY A TORNADO
WAS INSTEAD CAUSED BY THE THUNDERSTORM WINDS. ALL THUNDERSTORMS CAN
CAUSE DAMAGE! TYPICAL DAMAGE FROM THESE WINDS INCLUDE LARGE TREE
BRANCHES DROPPED ONTO VEHICLES AND HOMES, SECTIONS OF PROPERTY LINE
FENCES BLOWN DOWN, AND GAZEBOS AND CARPORT COVERS LIFTED AND TOSSED.
CALIFORNIANS CAN REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE
BY KEEPING THEIR TREES PRUNED, PROPERLY MAINTAINING FENCING AND
EXTERNAL STRUCTURES, AND BY PUTTING LAWN CHAIRS AND OTHER LOOSE
OBJECTS IN THE GARAGE OR SHED WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST.
..HAIL
HAIL CAUSES MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN CROP AND PROPERTY
DAMAGE EACH YEAR. THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT
MOST PROPERTY FROM THESE EFFECTS OTHER THAN TO MOVE VEHICLES
UNDER COVER WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST. HOWEVER, MANY INJURIES
AND SOME DEATHS ARE CAUSED EACH YEAR IN CALIFORNIA WHEN HAIL IS
ENCOUNTERED BY DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD WHEN A
THUNDERSTORM WITH HAIL MOVES THROUGH THE AREA, PULL OFF THE ROAD AT
THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY AND WAIT FOR THE STORM TO PASS. MOST
THUNDERSTORMS IN CALIFORNIA ARE SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT WILL ONLY TAKE
A FEW MINUTES FOR THE STORM TO PASS BY. THE ROAD SURFACE MAY STILL
BE VERY SLICK AND HAZARDOUS SO EXTRA CAUTION IS NEEDED WHEN
RETURNING TO THE ROAD. HOWEVER, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO TRY TO
HANDLE THE SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS WHILE THE HAIL IS ALSO PELTING
YOUR VEHICLE SO DON'T DO BOTH! AND REMEMBER...THE OTHER DRIVERS
ARE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME POOR CONDITIONS AND MAY NOT BE HANDLING IT
AS WELL.
..FLASH FLOODING
FLASH FLOODING IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH
THUNDERSTORMS. MORE THAN 140 PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE
EITHER CAUGHT BY A SUDDEN SURGE OF WATER ACROSS THE ROADWAY OR
BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE OFTEN DEADLY DECISION TO DRIVE THROUGH AN
ALREADY FLOODED CROSSING. DON'T DO IT!!
MOST DEATHS OCCUR WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADS IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS OR OTHER FAMILIAR AREAS. THEY BELIEVE THE WATER IS
NOT TOO DEEP OR THAT THEIR TRUCK OR SUV IS HEAVY ENOUGH TO GET THEM
THROUGH THE FLOWING WATER. WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT THE ROAD
SURFACE IS OFTEN WASHED AWAY AND THE WATER IS DEEPER AND FASTER THAN
IT LOOKS. AND ONCE A VEHICLE...ANY VEHICLE...IS CAUGHT UP BY THE
WATER ALL CONTROL OF THE SITUATION IS LOST.
NEVER DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS! BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN
DRIVING OR CAMPING IN THE MANY MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA
THAT YOU ARE NOT CROSSING OR CAMPING IN A DRY RIVER BED. A
THUNDERSTORM THAT IS MILES AWAY MIGHT BE SENDING SEVERAL FEET OF
WATER THROUGH THE SAME CANYON YOU ARE IN. STAY EXTRA ALERT IF
THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST!
..TORNADOES
MOST CALIFORNIANS DON'T THINK TORNADOES OCCUR IN OUR STATE. BUT
IN THE PAST TEN YEARS ALONE THERE HAVE BEEN 113 CONFIRMED TORNADOES
AND ALMOST THREE HUNDRED FUNNEL CLOUDS FROM ALL REGIONS OF THE
STATE...AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN ELEVEN TORNADOES EACH AND EVERY
YEAR. IN 2005, THERE WERE 30 CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN CALIFORNIA!
NATIONALLY, THERE IS AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 70 DEATHS AND 1500
INJURIES FROM TORNADOES. THOUGH THERE ARE NO RECORDED DEATHS IN
CALIFORNIA, TORNADOES HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HOMES AND
OTHER PROPERTY. IN MANY CASES THE WINDS FROM CONFIRMED TORNADOES
HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED WELL IN EXCESS OF 100 MILES AN HOUR. THE
RESULT HAS BEEN DAMAGED ROOFTOPS AND SIDING, BROKEN WINDOWS, DOWNED
TREES, AND DANGEROUS FLYING PROJECTILES. WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE NOT
TO HAVE HAD ANYONE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME!
IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA...TAKE IMMEDIATE
ACTION! TAKE COVER IN YOUR BATHROOM OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH
AS A CLOSET. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON'T TRY TO DRIVE OUT OF THE
AREA AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN A TORNADO
HITS. ANY TIME THERE ARE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST, BE THINKING
ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF A THUNDERSTORM WERE TO PRODUCE A TORNADO
IN YOUR AREA. THINKING AHEAD ABOUT WHICH BUILDING OR ROOM IS THE
SAFEST WILL SAVE PRECIOUS SECONDS.
..BEFORE SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES
- HAVE A PLAN. DISCUSS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHAT TO DO WHEN
THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR
SEVERE WEATHER. PLANNING SHOULD INCLUDE IDENTIFYING A SAFE PLACE TO
TAKE SHELTER IN YOUR HOME, OFFICE, AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
- HAVE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH A WARNING ALARM TONE AND BATTERY
BACK-UP. THIS WILL HELP KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT DEVELOPING
SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CAN BE USED REGULARLY WHEN PLANNING
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.
- KNOW THE COUNTIES IN WHICH YOU LIVE AND WORK AND THOSE NEARBY.
SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS TYPICALLY REFER TO COUNTIES THAT ARE AT
RISK AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHICH OF THESE WARNINGS ARE
REFERRING TO YOUR AREA.
- REGULARLY PRACTICE YOUR PLAN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF
YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSE WHO ARE ELDERLY, VERY YOUNG, HAVE
MOBILITY CONCERNS, OR ARE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.
- KNOW THE WEATHER FORECAST. THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY AND
CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE QUICKLY. IN MOST CASES, PREVENTATIVE
ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN WELL IN ADVANCE OF A STORM IF YOU ARE AWARE
THAT THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
FORECASTS, VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT WEATHER.GOV, OR
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR WARNINGS AND UPDATED WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
CALIFORNIA HAZARDOUS WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK
WEATHER.GOV
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