STORM PREPAREDNESS
(Severe Storms and how to protect you and your family)

		Storms in recent years have left vivid memories of the quick and destructive nature of severe weather in North Central Texas.   Local storms occurring on April 25, 1994, killed three persons and injured fifty-five.  Tornado damage in the cities of DeSoto and Lancaster was estimated at $150 million.  Unprecedented rainfall from the storm of May 5, 1995, resulted in the deaths of twenty persons in Dallas County.  Based on several measures, including insurance payments due to hail damage in Fort Worth and flood damage in Dallas, the National Weather Service ranked the May 5th storm as the single most destructive storm in U.S. history.
Local residents need to be acquainted with the dangers of tornadoes and flash flooding.  Every year efforts are made to increase public awareness and to assure that all citizens have reasonable access to information on storm safety and the precautionary actions that can save lives.

The links below provide information that is designed to strengthen the understanding of safety precautions related to tornadic storms and flash flooding, the meaning of warning sirens, the differences between weather watches and warnings and the importance and availability of flood insurance.  We encourage all local citizens and visitors to utilize the attached safety tips throughout the year and increasingly during periods of potentially severe weather activity.

Plan Ahead for Severe Weather

Flash Flood Safety

You Can Help Prevent Flooding

Tornado Precautions

Tornado Safety for Mobile Home Dwellers

PLAN AHEAD FOR SEVERE WEATHER

Dallas Fire-Rescue
Office of Emergency Preparedness

Although tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and floods can strike virtually any part of Texas at any time, springtime inevitably brings an increase in violent weather.

You can take precautions to assist yourself and your family in the event of a tornado.

Periodically hold a tornado drill so that family members know what to do and where to go if advised to take shelter.  Be aware that while emergency sirens will warn of approaching danger, a local news-oriented television or radio station will be the best source of information regarding the proximity of the danger to your location and the necessity for precautionary actions.

The safest part of any building during a tornado traditionally is the basement.  If no basement is available, interior bathrooms, hallways and closets on the ground floor also offer protection from tornadic winds.  Avoid windows and exterior walls.  Take along blankets or sleeping bags to protect yourself from falling debris and shattering glass, which are frequently the cause of death and injury during a tornado.

Make certain you have a portable radio and several flashlights (and fresh batteries for both) as well as bottled water, extra prescription medications and a first aid kit in your shelter area.

Mobile homes and automobiles are dangerous places to be during a tornado.  If you live in a mobile home, make sure all family members know where the nearest substantial shelter is.  If you are in your mobile home or car and cannot get to better shelter, go outside, lie down in the nearest ravine, ditch or culvert and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas.  Do not hide under your mobile home or car because both can easily be picked up and carried away by tornadic winds.

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FLASH FLOOD SAFETY

Dallas Fire Rescue
Office of Emergency Preparedness

YOU WOULD NEVER CONSIDER DRIVING
INTO A TORNADO…

SO DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT DRIVING
INTO HIGH WATER!!

More people are killed by flash floods in the United States than by tornadoes or lightning strikes. 
During the storms of May 5, 1995, 18 of the 20 deaths occurred as a result of flooding.

Almost all of those deaths occurred because someone decided to drive into high water.

Floodwaters can look calm, but hide dangers such as missing manhole covers, uprooted trees and dangerous currents. 

DO NOT WALK, SWIM OR DRIVE THROUGH FLOODWATERS!

Water does not have to be deep to be dangerous:

• Only six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet;

• For each foot that water rises up the side of a car, the car weighs 1,500 pounds less.  Only two feet of water will carry away most cars.
• Floodwaters can wash away parts of the roadbed, leaving large pot holes that can strand your car and leave you trapped inside.

Remember, when you drive around a roadway barricade, you are not only risking your life, but you are also breaking the law.  This violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

TIPS TO FOLLOW DURING A FLASH FLOOD WARNING:

·     Avoid unnecessary travel when a Flash Flood Warning has been issued.

• If you must go out, be alert to the dangers of street flooding
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to judge the depth of floodwaters.
• Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas.
• NEVER drive through flooded roadways!  Turn around and go another way.  Two feet of water will carry away most vehicles.
• Comply with all detour signs.  Never try to go around a detour sign.
• If the vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.  Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away.
• Just because the car in front of you makes it across high water, there is no guarantee you will.
• Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream on foot where water is above your knees.
• Children should NEVER play around high water, storm drains or drainage systems.

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YOU CAN HELP PREVENT FLOODING

Dallas Fire-Rescue
Office of Emergency Preparedness

• Do not dump grass clippings, yard waste, trash or anything else into storm drains.  It’s not just a bad idea, it’s against the law and punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 per day, per offense.
• Silt from soil erosion clogs storm drains and fills creek beds.  Prevent soil erosion by using retaining walls, landscaping and other barriers
• Grass clippings and leaves left in the street or dumped on a creek bank or in the watershed will wash into storm drains.
• Any foreign object and wastes that enter a storm drain can prevent effective drainage, cause flooding and harm our water supply.
• Report polluters who dump wastes into storm drains by calling 3-1-1.  Storm Water Quality environmental inspectors will investigate your complaint and take appropriate action.

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TORNADO PRECAUTIONS

Dallas Fire Rescue
Office of Emergency Preparedness

TORNADO INFORMATION

·         Tornadoes can occur any place in the United States at any time of the year.  They happen most frequently in the midwestern, southern and central states from March through September. 

·         Tornado “weather” can be hot, sticky days with southerly winds and a threatening ominous sky.  Familiar thunderstorm clouds are present.  An hour or two before a tornado, topsy-turvy clouds appear sometimes bulging down instead of up.  The clouds often have a greenish-black color.  Rain or hail frequently precedes the tornado.

·         Tornadoes occur mostly between 3 and 7 p.m., but they have occurred at all hours.

·         Tornadoes in most cases move from a westerly direction, usually from the southwest.  The tornado’s path is usually 10-40 miles (the average length is 16 miles), but they may move forward for 300 miles.  The average width of the path is about 400 yards, but they have cut swaths over a mile in width.  Speeds within the tornado have been estimated at 500 mph.

·         Tornadoes cause destruction with violent winds which uproot trees, destroy buildings, and which create a serious hazard from objects blown through the air.

TORNADO PREPAREDNESS

·         Learn the tornado safety rules given in this leaflet.

·         Maintain a tone-alert weather radio to follow weather conditions and to receive local warnings.

·         Turn on local radio or television stations for information on weather and tornado conditions.  Call 9-1-1 only to request emergency assistance.

·         Keep calm and help prevent public excitement and panic.

·         Establish emergency plans for every school, church, hospital, hotel, business, house, industry, and trailer park.

REMEMBER:

            Tornado Watch:          Means tornadoes may develop in the area.

            Tornado Warning:      Means a tornado has been sighted in the area.

            Sirens: When the sirens sound, turn on your radio or TV for information.

SAFETY RULES: WHEN A TORNADO IS SIGHTED

If Outdoors:

·         Seek indoor shelter if time permits; if not, get into a ditch, ravine, or low-lying area.

·         If in a vehicle, park the vehicle and get into a ditch or ravine.  A vehicle offers no protection from a tornado.

In a House:

·         In houses, the basement offers the best protection.

·         In houses without basements, go to the center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lower floor.

·         Stay away from windows – get under heavy furniture.

In Apartments:

·         Move to the center hallway, bathroom, or closet.

·         Stay away from windows – get under heavy furniture if possible.

In Mobile Homes:

·         Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to overturning during strong winds and offer no shelter.  Leave mobile home.  Seek mobile home trailer park shelter if available.  Otherwise, look for a ditch, culvert, or low-lying area.

In Schools:

·         Move to central hallways.  Avoid gymnasiums and auditoriums with large, poorly supported roofs.  Stay away from windows.  Follow the instructions of the principal.

In High-Rise Buildings:

·         Move to the center of the building, the hallway or stairways.  Avoid areas with large amounts of glass.

In Industrial Plants or Warehouses:

·         Move to an area that has interior walls.  Avoid windows.  Avoid areas with clear-span, lightly supported roofs.  Follow company policy.

In Shopping Centers:

·         Stay indoors.  Stay away from glass.  Move to an interior area close to interior walls.  Sit on floors to avoid flying debris.

General

·         Keep calm.  It will not help to get excited.  People have been killed by running out into streets. Even though a warning is issued, chances of a tornado striking one’s home or location are very slight.  Tornadoes cover such a small zone, as a rule, that relatively few places in a warned area are directly affected.

·        Keep tuned to your radio or television station for latest tornado advisory information. 

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TORNADO SAFETY FOR MOBILE HOME DWELLERS

Dallas Fire-Rescue
Office of Emergency Preparedness

 BEFORE THE STORM

• Investigate tie downs to help anchor your mobile home against high winds.
• Identify shelter options. Locate the nearest building of solid construction for possible use in the event of a tornado. Consider the following:

Public access;

24-hour availability;

Less than 10 minute travel time.

• Know where the nearest emergency warning siren is located and whether or not you can hear it at your home.
• Strengthen your own warning system.  Although the city maintains an outdoor siren warning system, homes and businesses are encouraged to acquire a tone-activated Weather-Alert Radio with a battery backup.  Weather-Alert radios provide the most constant and reliable source of information on severe storms broadcast directly from the National Weather Service Forecast Office.  Weather-alert radios are available at most electronics retail stores.  A battery-powered AM/FM radio should also be maintained for emergency information.
• Develop tornado evacuation/shelter plans for your family based upon the various amounts of warning time that might be available.

AS THE STORM APPROACHES

• A TORNADO WATCH means that conditions are such that tornadoes may develop in the area.  This should be a period of heightened awareness.  Monitor local weather reports.
• A TORNADO WARNING means that a tornado has been sighted in the area.  Tune to a news-oriented radio or television station for emergency information and the location of the tornadic activity.  Call 9-1-1 only to request emergency assistance.  Do not call 9-1-1 just to get information that may be obtained through the media.
• If time permits, proceed to the nearest available building of substantial construction.  Do not get caught out in your car if tornadic activity is nearby.  A vehicle offers no protection from tornadic winds.
• Weather Alert Radios and emergency sirens will warn if a tornado has been sighted.  If there is no time to seek substantial shelter, leave your mobile home and get into a ditch or ravine, or lie flat on the ground.  Even this is preferable to remaining in your mobile home.  Be wary of areas with poor drainage, however, because of the possibility of flash flooding.
• Remain calm.  Even when a tornado warning is issued, the risk of injury can be greatly minimized if adequate precautions are taken in time.

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