# Presentation: 784290

## NC and Severe WeatherIn the last 12 years NC has experienced

- Over 400 Tornadoes (70 in 2004) resulting in at least 9 deaths...over 300 injuries and over $160 million in damage
- 10 Hurricanes/Tropical Storms...44 deaths...over $16 billion in damage
- Over 3000 reports of high wind...12 deaths...over $200 million in damage.

## Examining The Problems

- Powerful

- Emotional

- Disruptive

## Lightning Safety

-  The safest place to remain is indoors and away from windows and electrical appliances
-  If mobile spotting, the safest place is to remain inside your vehicle
-  If mobile spotting, do not park along fence lines, or near overhead electric/phone lines
-  Avoid being the tallest object, and stay away from other tall objects such as isolated trees.
-  If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning. Take shelter.

## Flood Safety

**Flood Safety**

** ****Never cross through water covering the road unless absolutely sure the water depth is very shallow, the water is not moving, and the roadway is still intact. If the water covering a road is muddy (as it will be in most cases), water depth and road conditions will be hard to determine. In this case, turn around and find an alternate route. **
** ****Water-filled roadway dips are difficult to see at night. Slow down! Hydroplaning is a real threat.**
** ****Two feet of running water can pick up and carry most vehicles (including trucks and SUVs).**
** ****Never underestimate the incredible power and force of fast moving water.**
** ****If water levels are up to a bridge, do not cross it as it may be damaged and unable to support the weight of your vehicle.**

## Flood Safety

**It may just be a whole lot deeper than what you think!**
**Remember, boats float, cars don’t.**

## Don’t become another flood death statistic

**Story County, IA**

**Don’t become another flood death statistic**

- _[http://tadd.weather.gov](http://tadd.weather.gov/)_

**Notes:**
Its really simple. Turn around. Don’t drown. Many flood deaths occur because motorists drive past barricades warning of potential flooding. Note the barricade on the road in the above picture.

## Tornadoes

- Typically Afternoon and Evening Events But Not Always
- Warning Time Can Be Minimal
- Calls for quick and proper response
- Main Cause of Death And Injury Is Flying Debris

- Myrtle Beach tornado

- Library hit by tornado

## Establish Safe Zonesand Practice

## Myths

**Myths**

-  **Myth** - **I heard a loud noise and it sounded like a train...it had to be a tornado.**
**Truth** - **Any very strong wind will make a “roaring” noise or sound like a train – the sound depends on the wind speed, local terrain, obstructions to flow, and atmospheric conditions.**
-  **Myth** - **The wind twisted the metal on my shed...the trees that were blown down are twisted...it had to be a tornado.**
**Truth** - **One generally cannot look at any individual object to determine if the damage was caused by a tornado or straight-line wind. The total damage pattern and how the debris is strewn in relation to other debris is a better indicator of the causative effect. A straight-line wind can cause an object to twist as the destructive force of the wind on an object can cause uneven stress loads with different failure points.**
-  **Myth** - **Objects like lakes, rivers, and hills protect areas from getting hit by a tornado.**
**Truth** – **Nothing more than folklore. These features provide no protection or have any bearing on the development or movement of a tornado. Some thought tornadoes would not strike the downtown area of a large metropolitan city. Recent tornadoes in downtown Fort Worth, Salt Lake City and Nashville dispelled that myth.**

**Notes:**
Photo - copyright Michael Peregrine

## Myths

**Myths**

-  **Myth** – **Mobile homes attract tornadoes.**
**Truth** – **Mobile homes are not more likely to get hit by a tornado. Mobile homes are more likely to sustain damage (compared to a house) if struck by a tornado or strong winds.**
-  **Myth** – **It is safe to seek shelter from a tornado under an overpass.**
**Truth** – **Overpasses are not a safe place to take shelter. They can funnel the wind flow and increase the strength of the wind. They do not provide protection from flying debris. In addition, parking your car under or near an overpass creates a hazard to other motorists trying to pass through the area. Virtual traffic jams have been created by motorists gathering under an overpass.  See this link for **_[overpass safety](http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/papers/overpass.html)__._
-  **Myth** – **We should open our windows if a tornado approaches.**
**Truth** – **Stay away from windows if a tornado approaches. If your windows are closed, leave them closed. Your house will not explode due to the decrease in pressure within the tornado. If the tornado is close enough to your house that it experiences a significant and rapid drop in pressure, chances are the wind and debris will have damaged or destroyed your house before the minimum drop in pressure occurred.**

**Notes:**
Photo - copyright Michael Peregrine

## Warning Alerts on NOAA Weather Radio

- http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ncnwr

-  NWS sends out alerts for storm Watches & Warnings!
** **“Smoke detector for the weather”

## Daily Weather Information

-   On the Internet...
-   www.erh.noaa.gov/rah
- 	- severe weather
- 	- tropical weather
- 	- winter weather
- - flash flooding
- 	NWS products, satellite and radar images, preparedness information, and more!

## Information

- Jeff Orrock
- Warning Coordination Meteorologist
- NWS Raleigh
- _[jeff.orrock@noaa.gov](mailto:jeff.orrock@noaa.gov)_
- (919) 515-8209 ext.223
- Please contact if interested in safety and weather spotter training sessions for schools, businesses or other facilities.