Severe Weather Safety Tips

Severe Weather Awareness Week

Governor Bob Taft has proclaimed March 26 - April 1, 2006 as Spring Severe Weather Safety Awareness Week in Ohio. This week can be the ideal time for homes, schools, and businesses to craft disaster preparedness plans. Schools and businesses are encouraged to conduct their Tornado drills at the time.

The outdoor warning sirens in Hamilton County are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at noon. Therefore, Hamilton County will not activate sirens during the State's schedule for the outdoor siren activation on Wednesday, March 29th at 9:50a.m.

The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness has produced a preparedness guide that contains valuable information on how to prepare for and stay safe during and after a major weather event. This guide is available online at: http://ema.ohio.gov/weather.htm .

Weather Terms

A Watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather in your area.
Warning means severe weather is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.
Watches and Warnings are issued for thunderstorms, floods, flash floods and tornadoes. If a warning is issued, move to your basement or a safe area in your home and turn on the local news or your weather radio for further instructions.
Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent. This is your best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.

Prepare a family disaster plan

Keep insurance policies, documents and other valuables in a safe place.
Purchase a weather radio for your home to warn you of impending severe weather.
Assemble a disaster supplies kit containing: first aid kit, non-perishable canned food and hand-operated can opener, bottled water, sturdy shoes, work gloves, battery powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
Also include in the kit written instructions on how to turn off your home's utilities.

Lightning Tips

If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to a storm to be struck by lightning. Get to safe shelter immediately.
Move to a sturdy building or car with a hard top. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees or in convertible automobiles.
Get out of boats and away from water. DO NOT take a bath or shower.

Tornado Tips

Move to a shelter, such as a basement. If underground shelter is not available, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture.
Stay away from windows.
If you are in a car, never try to outrun a tornado. If caught outside or in a vehicle, leave your car and lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression (not a storm ditch).
Mobile homes should be abandoned as they offer little protection. Move to a nearby shelter.

In Hamilton County, the outdoor warning sirens will sound a steady tone for five (5) minutes when a Tornado Warning or a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued during a Tornado Watch. Click here for a demo of the tone you would hear.

Flash Flood Tips

Know your area's flood risk. Keep your car fueled; if electricity is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for days.
If roads are closed due to flooding, DO NOT go around roadblocks, and DO NOT attempt to drive through flooded streets. Road closings are for your safety.
Never cross a road covered with water.

Winter Storm Outlook - Issued prior to an official Winter Storm Watch. The outlook is given when forecasters believe winter storm conditions are possible, usually 48 to 60 hours in advance of the winter storm.

Winter Storm Watch - Alerts the public to the potential for blizzard conditions, heavy snow, significant icing, or a combination of these events. Watches are usually issued 12 to 36 hours before the beginning of the winter storm.

Winter Storm Warning - Issued when a combination of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or sleet is expected to occur. Winter storm warnings are usually issued to 6 to 24 hours before the event is expected to begin.

Heavy Snow - Six inches or more or snow in 24 hours or less across northern Ohio. Five inches or more of snow in 24 hours across southern Ohio.

Significant Icing - Ice accumulation of ¼ inch or more from freezing rain, an accumulation or ½ inch or more of sleet, or a combination of freezing rain and sleet.

Sleet - Solid grains of ice formed as rain freezes before reaching the ground.

Freezing Rain - Rain that falls on surface with a temperature below freezing causing it to freeze to surfaces forming a coating or glaze of ice.

Blizzard Warning - Sustained or gusty winds of 35 MPH or more and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities below ¼ of a mile. Blizzard conditions should be expected for at least 3 hours.

Snow Advisory - Issued when 4 inches of snow is expected to fall, within 24 hours, over a large part of northern Ohio. When 3 inches of snow is expected to fall, within 24 hours, over a large part of southern Ohio.

Blowing and Drifting Snow Advisory - Issued when blowing snow will restrict visibility to an eighth of a mile or less and cause significant drifting snow.

Wind Chill Advisory - Issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be between (-20) and (-34) degrees Fahrenheit.

Wind Chill Warning - Issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be less than (-34) Fahrenheit.

Winter Weather Advisory - Issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and sleet, which will cause significant inconvenience and moderately dangerous.

Dense Fog Advisory - Issued when widespread fog will reduce visibility to 1/8 mile or less.