Stay Safe, Be Alert

Nebraska is in the heart of the tornado season. Nebraska is ranked 5^th in the nation for total number of tornadoes and averages over 40 tornadoes a year. May, June and July account for 78% of all tornadoes (the peak month is June) with 50% of them occurring between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

From 1950 to 2006, there have been 182 tornadoes recorded in our health district. Chase -14, Dundy -21, Frontier - 25, Furnas - 25, Hayes - 13, Hitchcock - 25, Perkins - 28, and Red Willow - 31. There have been 115 Nebraska tornado fatalities since 1916.

Before a tornado occurs in your area, practice your tornado drill at home. It’s imperative all family members know where to go and what to do. Make sure your disaster kit is packed and ready to grab or have it stored in your safe place. It should contain a battery powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries, canned and other non-perishable foods, a hand operated can opener, bottled water, candles and matches, a first aid kit and a supply of essential prescription medication need by family members, sturdy shoes and work gloves, cash and credit cards, and written instructions on how to turn off your homes utilities.

Choosing a safe place in your home is very important. The safest place to go is the basement; otherwise choose interior rooms on the ground floor; such as, a closet or bathroom (without glass shower doors or large mirrors) on the lowest level. Never choose upstairs location because tornadic wind speeds increase with height above the ground. Stay away from exterior walls or glass-enclosed rooms. A good rule of thumb is to have as many floors and walls as possible between you and the tornado. Once you are in a safe place, take shelter under a sturdy bench or table, or in the stairwell. Crouch down and cover your head with your hands, blankets, pillows, or other soft material to protect yourself from flying debris.

Never stay in your mobile home. Immediately go to the designated storm shelter, a neighbor with whom you have made prior arrangements, or another substantial structure. Remember you may only have seconds to get there.

When a tornado strikes and you are away from home; evacuate vehicles and seek shelter in a substantial structure, ditch or culvert. In schools, offices, shopping centers, seek shelter in interior rooms or hallways on the ground floor, or lowest floor as possible. Avoid large open rooms like auditoriums and gymnasiums.

Be alert to what is happening outside. Check your local and national weather channels or websites when bad weather first comes to your area. If your area is in a “WATCH” that means a tornado is possible. If your area is in a “WARNING” that means a tornado has actually been spotted, or is strongly indicated on radar, and immediately to head for shelter.

Stay alert to the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for:

• Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base
• A sickly greenish/greenish black color to the sky
• Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base (tornadoes sometimes have no funnel!)
• Hail or heavy rain followed by either a dead calm or a fast, intense wind swift (Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen)
• A sound like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning into a roar as it comes closer

If you see a tornado and it is not moving to the right or left relative to trees or power poles in the distance, it maybe moving towards you! Tornadoes usually move southwest to northeast, but they also move towards the east, the southeast, the north, and even northwest.

Keep a watchful eye to the sky and have a fun and safe summer.