Tornado Survival Skills

Tornado Survival Skills

Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a tornado hazard.

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area. You should monitor NOAA Weather Radio (www.weather.gov/nwr), local radio and television news outlets for the latest developments.

A tornado warning comes when a tornado is actually occurring. Take shelter immediately.
Determine in advance where you will take shelter in case of a tornado warning.
Storm cellars or basements provide the best protection.

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Planning For Pet Disaster Needs

Today much emphasis is put on planning ahead for disasters. Many families now have disaster supply kits, escape plans and emergency contacts prepared in case of an emergency. But what about the furry members of our families (or feathered or scaley in some cases)? Do you know what you would do with your pet if a disaster struck your area?

Here are some helpful tips from FEMA...

Identify Shelter:

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Prepare for Tornado Season

Tornado season is officially here! It hasn't started out with a bang like last year, but it's still very important to plan ahead to protect your homes and families.

Here are some facts about storms...

They may occur singly, in clusters, or in lines.

Some of the most severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended time.

Thunderstorms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

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Do you I.C.E.?

When there's an emergency often EMS responders don't know who to contact. A movement that started in England has caught on in the US. It turns your cellphone into a way for EMS or hospital personnel to contact your next of kin, doctor, etc. in a case of emergency if you were unconscious or unable to respond. Here's the idea: You list all of your emergency contacts under "ICE" in your cell phone (acronym for In Case of Emergency). You can list ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc to list multiple contacts. Or you could do ICE-wife, ICE-doctor, etc. It's good to put a small sticker on your phone with "I.C.E." on it. 75% of people don't carry any emergency contacts. And a driver's license just doesn't provide enough information. ICE should NOT replace a card that you carry in your wallet or purse with emergency contact numbers, medical conditions, current medications, dangerous allergies, etc. I'm going to ask Summer, our graphics expert, if she will make up a card for all of our Champion personnel that they can fill out and we can laminate and keep with us. Or you can go to medids.com and fill out a form on your computer that you can carry with you and put one on your refrigerator at home. Believe it or not, that's where firemen and other EMS personnel look for contact information! But it will be up to you to "ICE"!

Larry Banach - Construction Department Manager

Fire Extinguisher Safety

Being prepared and able to fight small fires can prevent massive fire damage and save you the need for fire and smoke restoration services.

Before considering fighting any fire there are a few things that you should know.

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Three Things You Need To Do Before Flood Season

FLOOD FACTS:

Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states.

Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property.

Your home has a 26% chance of being damaged by a flood during the course of a 30-year mortgage in a high-risk area, compared to a 9% chance of fire.

New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff paths.

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Georgia Flood Awareness Week March 15-19, 2010

Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters with the exception of fire. Many people do not realize that flooding kills more people than any other weather hazard. The majority of deaths occur when people are trapped in automobiles that stall while attempting to drive through flooded areas. Most communities in Georgia experience some kind of flooding after spring rains or thunderstorms. Dam failures are potentially the worst flood events because when a dam fails, a massive quantity of water is suddenly released downstream, destroying anything in its path. Another concern is flash flooding. Flash floods usually result from intense storms dropping large amounts of rain within a brief period. They occur with little or no warning and can reach full peak in only a few minutes. Areas most prone to floods are ones with streams and rivers, urban areas and low-lying areas.

As always, the Champion team is committed to doing everything in our power to continue to provide outstanding service to our clients during this year's storm season. If you have any questions please feel free to call our office at 770-253-6070. We also have collected an abundance of valuable resources available on our Information Center at www.championcsi.com.

Flood Trivia

1. How much rapidly moving water can knock a person down?
A. 3 inches
B. 6 inches
C. 12 inches

The answer is B. It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving water to bring you down.

2. Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994 dropped how many inches of rain on Americus, Georgia in a span of 24 hours causing rivers to burst their banks and flood the area?
A. 21 inches
B. 32 inches
C. 44 inches

The answer is A. 21 inches

3. How high was the wall of water that hit Shadyside, Ohio, in a flash flood on June 14, 1990?
A. 10-15 feet
B. 15-20 feet
C. 25-30 feet

The answer is B. 15-20 feet. After thunderstorms drenched Southeastern Ohio that day, three tributaries of the Ohio River flooded and sent a wall of water into Shadyside, killing 26 people.

4. This "Great" flood occurred in 1993 and caused a very well known river to flood and cause massive damage in the Midwest. What is the name of this river?
A. Snake River
B. Chattahoochee River
C. Mississippi River

The answer is C. The Mississippi River. This flood is one of the worst of all time. The Mississippi River broke through many dikes and walls after months of rain. The floodwaters stayed in some streets for 2 months or more.

5. What's a muddy flood?
A. a flood caused by runoff on farmland
B. a flood caused by a landslide
C. a flood with a lot of mud in it

The answer is A. Muddy floods happen when heavy storms on cropland cause a great deal of runoff. They've increased in some areas because of new home construction and the planting of erosion-sensitive crops.

6. In 1976 the Teton Dam failed and caused the loss of 14 lives with the flood it caused. What state was this doomed dam built in?
A. Wyoming
B. Idaho
C. Utah

The answer is B. The dam was located in Idaho and the dam was doomed when seepage started to wear away the bottom of it. The dam was never rebuilt.

7. Which of these can cause floods?
A. Heavy rain
B. Snow melt
C. Ice jams
D. All of the above

The answer is D. Most floods are caused by heavy rain but some of the worst floods ever have been caused by rapid snow melt. Ice jams can cause major flooding problems also.

8. What caused the famous 1889 flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania?
A. Sudden ice melt in the Allegheny Mountains
B. Hurricane Clara
C. Broken dam

The answer is C. On May 31, 1889, after days of torrential rain, the South Fork Dam burst near Johnstown, sending the waters of Lake Conemaugh roaring downhill. The flash flood killed more than 2,000 people in a matter of minutes.

9. What should you do if a flash flood is approaching you?
A. Climb to higher ground any way you can
B. Run as fast as you can
C. Go limp and let the flood waters carry you

The answer is A. You should  climb to higher ground out of the path of the flood.

10. What percentage of the city of New Orleans was flooded after Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
A. 30 percent
B. 50 percent
C. 80 percent

The answer is C. Because of the failure of the city's levee system, 80 percent of New Orleans flooded.

Georgia Severe Weather Awareness Week 2010

Georgia Severe Weather Awareness Week
February 1 - 5, 2010

Severe weather is no stranger to North and Central Georgia. (Click Here to view the North and Central Georgia Severe Weather Climatology.) Severe Weather Awareness Week is designed to provide information about the types of severe weather that affect Georgia, and what to do in the event that severe weather occurs.

Topics to be covered include:

Monday - NOAA Weather Radio

Tuesday - Thunderstorm Safety

Wednesday - Tornado Safety

Thursday - Lightning Safety

Friday - Flooding

Source: www.noaa.gov

Prepare for Cold Weather

Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. Even areas that normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm or extreme cold. Winter storms can result in flooding, storm surge, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines and hypothermia.

How can you prepare your home and family?

Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.

Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.

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