PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
900 AM EDT FRI APR 3 2009
...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH APRIL 4TH...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN BRING MANY DANGERS IN ADDITION TO
OCCASIONAL TORNADOES. OTHER HAZARDS INCLUDE DAMAGING WINDS
AND LARGE HAIL. SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE WINDS OVER
100 MILES AN HOUR...RESULTING IN DAMAGE EQUAL TO THAT OF A TORNADO.
SINCE 1970...HIGH WINDS...MOSTLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS....
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR 120 WEATHER RELATED DEATHS IN MICHIGAN. DURING
THAT SAME TIME PERIOD THERE WERE 23 TORNADO RELATED DEATHS.
THERE WERE MORE POSITIVE RESULTS WHEN LOOKING AT LIGHTNING FOR 2008.
LAST YEAR THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF LIGHTNING DEATHS AND ONLY 1 INJURY.
HOWEVER...LIGHTNING RESULTED IN 4 DEATHS AND MANY INJURIES IN 2006
AND 2007.
AS A RESULT...MICHIGAN RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE COMPLACENT ABOUT
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS WHEN THEY ARE ISSUED.
TODAY WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THUNDERSTORM AND LIGHTNING SAFETY
RULES...
BEFORE THE STORM...
- KNOW THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOU LIVE OR ARE VACATIONING IN...AND THE
NAMES OF THE NEARBY COUNTIES AND MAJOR CITIES. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS USE COUNTIES AND CITIES AS REFERENCES.
- CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE LEAVING FOR EXTENDED OUTDOOR
PERIODS.
- WATCH FOR SIGNS OF APPROACHING STORMS.
- POSTPONE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE IMMINENT.
- CHECK ON THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE GETTING TO SHELTER IF
SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS.
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...
- WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...
YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
LIGHTNING CAN ARC 5 TO 10 MILES FROM THE THUNDERSTORM. GO TO
SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. YOU ARE NOT SAFE OUTDOORS.
- MOVE TO A STURDY BUILDING OR CAR. IF IN A BUILDING...STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER IN SMALL SHEDS...UNDER ISOLATED
TREES...OR IN CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILES.
- IF LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING AND A STURDY SHELTER IS NOT
AVAILABLE...GET INSIDE A HARD TOP AUTOMOBILE AND KEEP WINDOWS UP.
- GET OUT OF BOATS AND AWAY FROM WATER.
- TELEPHONE LINES AND METAL PIPES CAN CONDUCT ELECTRICITY.
UNPLUG APPLIANCES NOT NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING WEATHER
INFORMATION. AVOID USING CORDED TELEPHONES OR ANY ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES. USE TELEPHONES ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY.
- DO NOT TAKE A BATH OR SHOWER.
- TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONERS. POWER SURGES FROM LIGHTNING CAN
OVERLOAD THE COMPRESSORS.
IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS...
- KEEP ABREAST OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS SO AS NOT TO GET
CAUGHT OUTDOORS.
- RUN TO THE NEAREST SHELTER. NO PLACE OUTSIDE IS SAFE IN A
THUNDERSTORM.
- A HARD TOP AUTOMOBILE OFFERS SOME PROTECTION. KEEP WINDOWS UP.
- IF YOU ARE BOATING OR SWIMMING...GET TO LAND AND FIND
SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!
TIME IS CRITICAL WHEN ANY TYPE OF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS. NOW
IS THE TIME TO REVIEW SAFETY PROCEDURES SO YOU WILL KNOW WHERE
TO GO FOR SAFETY WHEN THUNDERSTORMS...TORNADOES...OR FLOODS OCCUR
IN YOUR AREA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE.
ON SATURDAY...WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP YOU PREPARE FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
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