Tornados and Severe Weather
by Kenny Garrett, Director
Henderson Office of Emergency Management
With the severe weather season approaching, people are being asked to remember two things — AWARENESS and PREPAREDNESS!
STORM SEASON: Most tornados occur between March and September, but they can strike at any time, day or night. Stay alert during severe thunderstorms. Watch for a spinning, funnel-shaped cloud or listen for a sound like the roar of a huge fan or speeding train. Wherever you go, be aware of where you might take shelter. Stay tuned to local radio or TV stations for tornado information. It could save your life.
WATCH/Warning: Know the difference between a Tornado WATCH and a Tornado WARNING. A WATCH means “Watch” the sky. Weather conditions are right for tornados. A WARNING means a tornado has been sighted or picked up on radar -TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY. Remember Watch means “Watch the Sky”. Warning means “TAKE COVER!”
ALERTING: In Henderson County, we have 34 severe weather sirens. These sirens are strategically placed throughout populated areas in The City of Henderson, Corydon and Robards as well as more rural areas in the County.
These sirens are computer programmed and monitored by radio 24×7 for a critical systems failure like “battery failure, intrusion notifications and various other sensor issues” within the siren controllers. All of this is done from our computer systems in the Emergency Operations Center.
911 maintains physical control of siren activation when certain parameters are met. A real-time siren activation means one of two things; (1) Henderson County has been placed under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, or (2) Henderson County has been placed under a Tornado Warning.
Both alerts require action on your part. When either of these two warnings occur via the National Weather Service in Paducah KY, 911 will activate all 34 sirens with a single push of a button. This activation is pre-programmed to last three (3) minutes and is your alert to tune into local radio or television broadcast for further information.
The only other time the sirens should activate are on Fridays at noon when we do a full mechanical test which is currently programmed to last sixty (60) seconds. Plans are in the works to reduce this test to fifteen (15) seconds. We will do a public information campaign prior to making this adjustment so everyone is prepared before the change occurs. This should minimize any confusion.
Contrary to popular belief, weather sirens are not designed to be heard inside your home. Depending on atmospherics and physical location of the siren, they may only be heard from up to a mile away and since they rotate 360 degrees during activation, you may only hear the siren for a second or two before it has passed your area. Instead, weather sirens are meant to alert you when you are outside and are your alert to seek further information as to what and where the threat currently is located and/or heading.
If you are already inside, you should have your weather radio turned on and should have already been alerted by it. Plus with todays emergency alerting technology available via mobile devices (assuming you have it activated), you likely would have been notified by your mobile device as well.
Henderson County is in the middle of “Nocturnal Tornado Alley” as most of us remember from the 2AM tornado touchdown in 2005 in Smith Mills KY that moved across the river at least twice before striking Ellis Park and then Eastbrook Mobile Home park in Evansville killing 25 people.
If we learn anything from that tragedy, it’s to have a weather radio with fresh batteries (turned on) monitoring 24×7, 365. We can have severe weather here any time of the year.
During times of emergencies not related to severe weather, we have the capability to pre-empt local broadcast services, including mobile device alerting using the Integrated Public Alerting and Warning System (iPaws). There is a specific list of emergencies used within this service.
MOBILE HOME: Even the most securely anchored mobile home is not safe in a tornado. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, leave your mobile home immediately. Move to a nearby permanent shelter or take cover in a ditch or ravine. Don’t get under your mobile home or try to outrun the tornado in your car. Stay tuned to local radio or TV stations for current weather information – your life may depend on it!
ON THE ROAD: If you are caught on the road in a tornado, leave your car immediately. Don’t try to drive away from the storm. If you have time, get inside a building. If not, lie flat in a ditch or ravine and cover your head with your arms. Don’t take cover under the car or under a bridge overpass.
AT HOME: If you are home when a tornado strikes, go to your basement and take cover. If you don’t have one, go to an interior room on the lowest floor, like a closet or a bathroom with no windows. It’s vital to stay away from windows. Don’t take the time to open them before taking cover. If you live in a mobile home, go outside and lie in a ditch or ravine.
OUTSIDE: If you’re caught outside in a tornado, take cover in a ditch or ravine immediately. Lie flat with your arms over your head. If you can, wrap something around your body like a blanket or sleeping bag. Do NOT get under your car or camper or go into a grove of trees. Knowing what to do in a tornado can save your life.
SAFETY DRILLS: Do you know what to do if a tornado threatens your school, factory or office? In a tornado, take cover against a wall in the center of the building, below ground level if possible. Stay away from windows and avoid large open spaces like auditoriums and cafeterias. If there are no tornado drills at your school or office, suggest them. Safety drills can save lives.
LIGHTNING -WHAT TO DO: If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, get inside a building or a car. If you must stay outside, keep away from metal, like golf carts, motorcycles, fences, metal lines or pipes. Stay below ground level, away from hilltops, open beaches or fields. And most importantly stay away from open water.
LIGHTNING – STAY INSIDE: Each year lightning kills more Americans than tornados or hurricanes. Most of these deaths happen outside. If you are inside a building, or even a car, your chances of being struck by lightning are slim. Stay on top of weather conditions when planning camping trips, swimming, fishing, or other outdoor activities.
This has been a reminder from The Henderson Office of Emergency Management where “we care about your safety”.