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National Tornado Summit to be held in Oklahoma

February 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Emergency managers, policymakers, insurance industry professionals, teachers, weather experts and weather enthusiasts are invited to attend the 2nd annual National Tornado Summit in Oklahoma City March 10-12.

“Since severe weather impacts everyone, this summit is for everyone,” said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. “While the experts can learn valuable lessons about preparedness and response, those merely fascinated by severe weather can get an inside look at storm prediction and response and how it affects them. They’ll also learn how to protect their families” For the first time, the National Tornado Summit will also include the National Severe Weather Workshop (NSWW). The breakout sessions, organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will focus on crisis communication, emergency response analysis, significant weather events of 2012, tornado ratings and how social media impacts the effectiveness of severe weather watches and warnings. “Teaming up with the Tornado Summit seems like a natural fit for the National Severe Weather Workshop,” said Greg Carbin, warning coordination meteorologist for the NOAA SPC and NSWW chair. “We look forward to a great event.” The summit also includes a tour of the National Weather Center and the NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC), which issues all tornado watches for the contiguous United States. “The National Severe Weather Workshop is a tremendous addition to the National Tornado Summit,” said John Wiscaver, National Tornado Summit Committee Co-Chair. “The workshop has a great reputation for excellence and we’re delighted to include it in this year’s summit. You add that to the emergency management and insurance experts, and this event really encompasses every aspect of tornado safety, awareness, response and recovery.”

Source: ardmoriete.com

In addition to the Tornado Summit will be a Weather Fair.  The free, family-friendly Weather Fair is scheduled for March 10th and is open to the public. Attendees can step inside the tornado simulator, speak to a television meteorologist or hop in the front seat as professional storm chasers relive the close calls they’ve encountered on the job. The Weather Fair will also feature canine search and rescue teams, disaster response vehicles, cutting-edge weather products, weather experiments, mascots and more.

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What are the signs of a tornado?

March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Understanding and looking out for the signs of a tornado are critical in Oklahoma even if you do have a storm shelter, (there’s no point having a tornado shelter or safe room if you do not know when to use it).  Here’s some helpful advise from the Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma to help you spot the signs of a tornado:

Weather forecasting science is not perfect and some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning. There is no substitute for staying 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.
  • Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base — tornadoes sometimes have no funnel!
  • Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen.
  • Day or night – Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder.
  • Night – Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, maybe a tornado.
  • Night – Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning — especially if it is on the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath.

Our advise is if you see any of these signs, head straight to your safe place, ideally a well prepared storm shelter or safe room.

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Tornado Kit Checklist

July 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The next time a severe storm or tornado strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare now for such an emergency by having a tornado emergency kit for your family.

Whether it comes in the form of an earthquake, flood, tornado or fire, the key to survival is to be prepared, including having an emergency kit in place.  Here is a checklist of items to have ready in your storm shelter or safe room:

  • A supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Identify the storage date and replace every six months.
  • A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.
  • A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
  • Blankets or sleeping bags.
  • A first aid kit and prescription medications.
  • An extra pair of glasses.
  • A battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
  • Credit cards and cash.
  • An extra set of car keys.
  • A list of family physicians.
  • A list of phone numbers for relatives, neighbors, your schools, and utility companies, and photos and descriptions of your family should you be separated.
  • A list of important family information; the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers.
  • Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.
  • Don’t forget your pets. Canned pet food and water, sturdy leashes, harnesses or carriers, current photos of the pets and a litter box with litter.

A five-day supply of non-perishable food, bottled water and any prescription medications is recommended for your storm shelter/safe room.

On its website, Ready.gov, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says to obtain information after a disaster by watching TV, listening to the radio or checking the Internet often for information or official instruction as it becomes available.

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