If you have been here long enough, you probably already know that Texas weather is really bipolar. That also means severe weather can happen anytime of the year. That being said, when severe weather strikes, it is imperative to have a plan and a reliable source to get warning when they are issued. These following steps will help you make sure that you are doing everything possible to keep you and your family safe in the worse scenarios.
Know Your Risk For Severe Weather
When there is a risk for thunderstorms or severe weather, it is categorized on a 5-tier system; Marginal, Slight, Enhanced, Moderate, and in worst events, High, in that order. During a risk for severe weather, it is imperative that you know where you live, when and where severe weather is expected. Knowing this information is imperative to keeping you and your family safe. More information about the 5-tier severe weather categories can be found here.
Consider Where To Go When Severe Weather Threatens Your Area
Your family, colleagues, and administration should formulate a plan as to where to go when severe weather threatens the area. This includes homes, schools, churches, and large retail stores.
Here is a general overview as to where to go in the most critical situations.
Here is a general overview as to where to go in the most critical situations.
In a Home
- Seek shelter in a basement. If no basement is available, seek shelter in a safe room, closet, or bathroom on the lowest floor, near the center of your house, away from windows.
In a Church
- Your church should have a predesignated place to go when severe weather threatens.
- Church sanctuaries and halls are not a safe place to be in a tornado warning.
- If in a basement area, get under a table or a workbench as debris can easily fall into the basement.
- If no basement is available, seek shelter in a interior closet, hallway, or a restroom on the opposite side of the approaching storm.
In a School
- Seek shelter in a basement or a pre-designated safe place.
- Auditoriums, gymnasiums, and open cafeterias, science labs, and classrooms with windows are not safe places to be during a tornado.
- Restrooms, teacher lounges, and other small room areas are usually the safest places.
- As a last resort, if there is no time to move to a safe place, quickly dive under a desk or other workbench.
In a Mall/Large Retail
- Go to your mall's designated storm shelter (it should be clearly labeled).
- Stay away from outside walls, glass, windows, and large rooms.
- As a last resort, dive under a workbench, or a counter. Get inside a restroom or a small room.
- Do not exit the building and go to your car outside.
In a Hotel
- Go to the designated shelter area. This is usually listed on a map which is on your hotel room door.
- If no designated shelter is listed, go to a small room or a restroom on the lowest floor. Underground areas are best.
- Stay away from glass and windows.
- Alert others about the impending danger that may be in their rooms.
In a Commercial Building (large and small)
- Large, reinforced structures are usually not completely destroyed.
- Go to a shelter area (basement, restroom, or small room on the lowest floor)
- Stay away from doors and windows.
- Hide under something study.
In a Mobile Home
- Mobile homes offer affordable living spaces at low prices, but do not offer protection from a tornado
- In fact, even the weakest tornadoes can destroy mobile homes and leave them unrecognizable.
- Over 50% of tornado fatalities occur while in a mobile home.
- If your mobile home park has one, seek shelter in the nearest designated safe place.
- If no designated safe place is available, get inside a vehicle, and attempt drive to the NEAREST substantial building.
- As a last resort, lie flat in the nearest ditch or culvert that you can find.
In a Vehicle
- Most tornado deaths occur in vehicles, which usually get tossed in the air and destroyed.
- If you get caught in a vehicle during a tornado warning, drive to the nearest substantial building if available.
- If on the highway, take the nearest exit and drive to a substantial building/shelter.
- In the most extreme cases, if you are in a vehicle during a tornado, attempt to drive away from the storm's path.
- If no shelter is available, abandon your vehicle and lie flat in the nearest ditch or culvert that you can find.
Taking these measures when a tornado warning is issued is imperative to keep you and others around safe. However, there are some dangerous myths that can get you seriously injured or perhaps killed.
- Do not open windows or doors, especially not the garage door.
- Highway bridges and overpasses offer no protection from a tornado.
Have An Emergency Response Kit
Each home and/or building should have an emergency response kit within their storm shelter or in a secured location.
Here are some items to consider when building...
Here are some items to consider when building...
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Battery-powered radio and a weather radio with extra batteries
- Heavy-duty first-aid kit
- 2 12/24 packs of bottled water for people and pets. You should have one gallon of water per person that is usually isolated.
- Hard-sole shoes for each person in your family
- A helmet of some kind for each person in your family.
- Energy food (protein bars, nuts, etc.)
- Non-perishable food for each person that will last up to five days.
- Extra toiletries and baby supplies.
- A blow up tent or sleeping bags.
- Important documents such as birth certificates, insurance policies, bank account records, and identification that is in a waterproof container in a secure location.
- Air horns and whistles. This is used to signal rescuers. First responders have been trained to listen for those.
Have a Way to Receive Alerts
During the year, it is imperative that you have multiple ways of getting warnings. This includes one way that will awaken you if you are asleep. In the age of the NEXRad Doppler Radar, lead times for severe weather warnings have continued to increase, which has resulted in the decrease of the false alarm ratio.
Know The Difference Between County-Based Warnings and Storm Based Warnings
Prior to 2007, severe weather warnings were issued to cover entire counties. More than a decade ago, the National Weather Service implemented the storm-based warning system, where tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings are now issued for narrowly defined areas where a storm poses a significant threat to life and property.
These storm-based warnings are issued by small geometrical shapes called polygons, which look like this.
These storm-based warnings are issued by small geometrical shapes called polygons, which look like this.
Recommended Sources
If you have an Android or Apple device, we highly recommend purchasing Weather Radio by WDT on the App/Google Play Store.
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Weather Radio is an app developed by Weather Decisions Technology that is designed to provide both visual and audible alerts based on your current location and preset locations. This app warns for the communities in the path of a storm (based on NWS warnings) rather than entire counties. You can also configure which watches/warnings alert you and your predetermined locations you have set, such as your home, school, or workplace. This reliable app is available on the App/Google Play Store for a one-time charge of only $4.99. Click here or on the image to visit their website for more details.
The NOAA Weather Radio has been around since the beginning of time. When an advisory, watch, or warning is issued by the National Weather Service, built-in receivers are activated automatically by radio which then sounds a loud alarm that can awaken you at night. These radio can be programmed to alert you when a warning is issued for a certain county. Unfortunately, these radios are designed to only warn entire counties, rather than specific outlined areas issued by the National Weather Service which may include multiple parts of counties. But the NOAA Weather Radio is still a very robust, reliable way of getting the message when severe weather threatens, and should be part of your redundant ways to receive warnings. These weather radios range anywhere from $10-70 based on what type you are purchasing. Click here or the image for more information.
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Outdoor warning sirens are designed specifically to warn those who are outside that there is a tornado warning or winds of over 75 mph. These sirens are typically very hard to hear indoors when you are sleeping, so don't rely on them as a primary method for getting the warning.
Know the Difference Between a Watch and a Warning
The first step is to understand the differences between a watch and a warning.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch - A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather in and close to the watch area. The watch area can cover several counties, or even multiple states at times. Stay alert and be prepared to go to your call to action should a warning get issued for your area. Reminder - severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.
Tornado Watch - A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes. Take time to review and discuss your emergency plans and check your safe room and emergency response kit. Be ready to act on a moment's notice if a tornado warning is issued for your area, or if you suspect an approaching tornado. Acting quickly and swiftly can make the difference between life and death. The watch area can cover several counties, or even multiple states at times. |
Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Severe weather has been reported by trained storm spotters, law enforcement, or indicated by doppler radar. This means that there is an imminent danger to property. These warnings are issued if storms are capable of producing 59 mph winds or large hail (1" or greater). Refer to the call to action down below.
Tornado Warning - A tornado has the potential to develop, or has been confirmed by doppler radar, trained storm spotters, or local law enforcement. There is a significant threat to life and property and you must put your call to action into effect. See the call to action down below for more details. |
Call to Action
When a severe thunderstorm/tornado watch is issued for your location, take the following actions...
- Review your severe weather safety plan.
- Think about the place you will go at a moment's notice should a warning be issued for each place that you will be.
- Make sure that you know where your designated safe place is for your home, work, school, or church.
- Review and consider postponing outdoor activities.
- Pay attention to weather information during the valid time of the watch.
- Have multiple sources of receiving weather warnings, including one that will wake you up in the middle of the night.
- Notify people that you know that may be unaware.
- Be ready to leave mobile homes at a moment's notice when a warning is issued.
- Bring pets inside so you don't have to search for them if the situation becomes dire.
- Charge cell phones, and other electronic mobile devices ahead of time.
- Keep a close eye on the sky
When a Tornado Warning is issued for your area...
- The time to act is NOW!!! YOU are under a TORNADO WARNING!!!
- Get to the lowest floor of the building
- Put as many walls between you and the outside as you possibly can
- If in a basement, seek shelter under something sturdy, such as a workbench or a table.
- More importantly, PROTECT YOURSELF!!! Put on a helmet or something that will protect your head from flying debris. Cover yourself up with blankets. Wear very sturdy shoes (boots preferred), and long sleeve clothes, such as jackets, heavy jeans, and gloves.
- Take cell phone, mobile devices, and charger. Make sure you have identification, credit card, insurance, driver's license, and cash.
- If no basement is available, go to a safe room, or a closet or interior room on the lowest floor near the center of your house, away from windows.
- For schools, stores, hospitals, airports, and churches - Follow your buildings severe weather plan and staff should guide you towards a safe place.
- Refer to the safe place list tab at the beginning of these guidelines for more details.
When a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued for your area...
- If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a nearby basement, storm shelter, or building
- If you can't walk quickly to a storm shelter, get inside your car, and drive to the nearest building.
- Vacate mobile homes for a sturdier buildings.
- The basement is the safest place to be in a home or small building
- If no basement is available, seek shelter in a windowless room, closet, bathroom, or hallway.