NATIONAL PREPAREDENSS MONTH | 2012
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Tornado Safety
Issue 1 PLEDGE TO PREPARE – AWARENESS TO ACTION
Tornado Safety September is National Preparedness Month, and is a good reminder that we need to do our own part in preparing for disaster. We will be focusing on one disaster planning area during each week this month. This week we will focus on Tornado Safety, including weather conditions that typically precede tornadoes, creating a family emergency kit, what to do during a tornado, Indiana’s history of tornadoes, and what you should do to prepare before and after a storm.
A Quick Peak at Tornadoes: Tornadoes are one of nature’s most violent storms. Created by powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in just mere seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a storm cloud to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state, including Indiana, is at some risk from this hazard. Severe weather knows no boundaries and does not discriminate –so always be prepared! Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or low-hanging clouds can obscure others.
Occasionally, tornadoes develop so quickly that little or no warning is possible, so it’s important to know the warning signs. Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm, therefore it is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
Take a Look! Please take a moment to read through this newsletter and take note as to what to do if a tornado strikes while at the office. Although tornado season is typically March through June, tornadoes can occur during any month, as you’ll read later in the Indiana Tornado History article.
A well-developed emergency plan can save time, money and lives in the event of a disaster
MAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT!
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items: Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
Food, at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-inplace
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Manual can opener for food Local maps Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
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Tornado Warning Signs Take that extra step and watch your local weather conditions for possible tornado strikes. Be alert for changing weather and any of the warning signs listed below. Look for the following signs:
Dark, often greenish sky Large hail Heavy rain/hail followed by calm A large, dark, low-lying cloud Loud roar, similar to a freight train sound, that doesn’t fade like thunder Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud (sometimes tornadoes don’t have a funnel!) Tornado siren
workers, family, and friends. Spread the warning and then get to safety yourself.
If you see or hear any of these warning signs, get to shelter fast! Follow the steps of your disaster plan, whether you’re at home with your family, or at work! Many times tornadoes can strike without warning, or tornado sirens can fail to alert the surrounding areas. So, if you hear or see ANY of the previously mentioned weather conditions, please be sure to tell your co-
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National Preparedness Month Established in 2003, the Ready Campaign was designed to help families and businesses prepare for natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to involve the public in increasing the level of basic preparedness across the United States. Ready asks individuals to do three things: 1) build an emergency supply kit 2) make a family [or business in our case] emergency plan and 3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.” In 2004, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched Ready Business, which is an extension of the campaign geared towards small and medium-sized businesses.
The Ready campaign has created other branches reaching to children, teachers, military families, and more. So whether you’re reading this as a parent, employee, pet-owner, or another role, take this information and do something with it. Make a kit. Make a plan. Be prepared. Let’s do our part! Here at Henriott Group we’ve pledged to prepare to be a good example and help lead the way!
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KNOW THE DIFFERENCE! This picture captured a tornado in southern Indiana on March, 2, 2012. Picture courtesy of blogs.wane.com.
Tornado Watch A tornado watch is issued to alert people that tornadoes are possible, since conditions are favorable. You should remain alert and ready. Watch the sky and keep tuned to the radio or television for more information.
History of Indiana Tornadoes This past March, several tornadoes struck southern Indiana. More than 14 people were killed and five entire counties were affected. These weren’t the first or last of powerful tornadoes to sweep through our home state of Indiana.
Tornado Warning A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Find shelter IMMEDIATELY.
Here’s a list of some of the most devastating tornadoes in Indiana history:
TRACKS AND TOUCHDOWNS
1950-2011 TRACKS AND TOUCHDOWNS Check out Tippecanoe County!!! It’s the dark square! *Courtesy of IDHS and the NOAA
The “Tri-State Tornado” struck in March of 1925 from southern Missouri all the way to southwestern Indiana at more than 200 miles per hour. More than 730 people were killed between both of the states. One of the most infamous Indiana tornado appearances happened on Palm Sunday in April of 1965. Ten tornadoes struck Indiana on that day, making this the most deadly disaster in Indiana’s history. There were more than 137 people killed and 1,700 injuries. As a result of this devastation and more than $30 million in property damage, the state worked to develop better tornado safety plans. In 1974, more than 20 tornadoes killed at least 50 people and injured more than 1,000. All within the month of April. In June of 1990, at least 37 tornadoes struck Indiana, killing at least 10 people and affecting 31 counties. In November of 2005, more than 22 people were killed by a tornado that swept through Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
Tracks and Touchdowns Taking a look at the map to the far left, brought to you by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, you can see that every county in Indiana needs to be prepared for such disasters! The reddish colored square is our Tippecanoe County! This should convince you that we are not invulnerable from tornadoes! Another scary fact: According to the “www.tornadoproject.com” Indiana is ranked 7 in the U.S. by number of killer tornadoes! Source: Sunstone Online
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What to do During a Tornado If you see a tornado, hear or see a tornado warning, make sure to follow the guidelines listed below. This can save a life! If you are in a structure such as a residence, small building, school, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise, etc., go to a basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there isn’t a basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. Put as many walls as you can between you and the outside. Closets and interior hallways work well. If you can, get under a sturdy table and use your arms to cover your head and neck. Most people remember to cover their heads from drills they did in elementary school, but remember your neck is just as important!
4 If you are in a trailer or mobile home, get out IMMEDIATELY and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or storm shelter. Mobile homes offer very little protection from tornadoes, even if they are tied down.
all shapes and sizes! You are safer in a low, flat location, such as ditch, ravine, or field.
If you are outside without shelter, immediately get in your vehicle and drive to the closest shelter. If your vehicle gets hit by debris, pull over and park. Most tornado fatalities are caused by flying debris. Stay inside the car with your seat belt buckled. Put your head down (lower than the windows if possible), and cover your head and neck with your hands and a blanket, if you have one. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas. Many people, when outside during a tornado, will think to get under an overpass or a bridge. Do not do this! Wind speed and strength increase tremendously under a bridge, carrying with it dangerous debris of
Safety After a Tornado If a tornado strikes, take the necessary actions to help yourself, your neighbors, coworkers, family members, and others in a SAFE way. Injury may result from the direct impact of the tornado, or it may occur afterward during rescue attempts, cleanup and other post-tornado activities. A study done in Marion, IL (ready.gov) found that 50 percent of tornado-related injuries happened as a result of post-tornado activity. Nearly a third of the injuries resulted from stepping on nails. Knowing the risks and how to stay safe can prevent needless injuries. After the tornado has passed, check for injuries. Do not move anyone who is seriously injured, unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call 911 and get medical assistance as soon as possible. If someone has stopped breathing, begin CPR (check out our next issue on CPR, First Aid, and much more!). If someone has a bleeding injury, apply pressure directly to the wound. Some general safety precautions during post-tornado activities include:
Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and gloves when handling or walking near debris. Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Clean up spilled medicines, drugs, flammable liquids, and other potentially hazardous materials. If you suspect damage to your home, shut off electrical power natural gas, and propane tanks. When inspecting your home at night, use a flashlight rather than a candle or torch to avoid the risk of fire or explosion. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all the windows, and leave the house immediately.
So where does this leave us? Well, whether you are at work or at home, in the country or the city, in Indiana or another state, be prepared. Having an emergency plan can save lives. Please share this information with anyone you can! Pledge to Prepare!