The New York State Weather Hazards Awareness Guide

Taken from the pamphlet Taken from the pamphlet produces by the New York State produces by the New York State

Disaster Preparedness Disaster Preparedness CommissionCommission

Snow and Ice

Winter Storm WatchWinter Storm Watch severe winter severe winter weather conditions may affect your weather conditions may affect your areaarea

Winter Storm WarningWinter Storm Warning sever winter sever winter weather condition are imminent weather condition are imminent (going to happen)(going to happen)

Snow and Ice

Blizzard WarningBlizzard Warning large amount of large amount of falling or blowing snow and winds of falling or blowing snow and winds of at least 35 miles per hour are at least 35 miles per hour are expected to last for several hours. expected to last for several hours. Visibility is dangerously restrictedVisibility is dangerously restricted

Picture from: http://chicagoweekendfun.com/2007/11/05/how-to-dress-to-survive-a-freezing-ice-cold-snowy-chicago-winter-or-blizzard/

Snow and Ice

Wind ChillWind Chill – the effect of wind, in – the effect of wind, in combination with actual combination with actual temperature, which increases the temperature, which increases the rate of heat loss to the human body. rate of heat loss to the human body. Also the temperature at which Also the temperature at which exposed skin suffers frostbite within exposed skin suffers frostbite within a short period of time.a short period of time.

Picture from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9339.htm

Snow and Ice• Avoid driving in dangerous ice or snowAvoid driving in dangerous ice or snow• Avoid overexertion if you are outside; cold Avoid overexertion if you are outside; cold

weather places added strain on your heardweather places added strain on your heard• If you are stranded in your vehicle:If you are stranded in your vehicle:

– Do not leave your car unless you see assistance Do not leave your car unless you see assistance within 100 feet (you can become disoriented and within 100 feet (you can become disoriented and lost in the snow)lost in the snow)

– Hang a bright colored cloth from a window or the Hang a bright colored cloth from a window or the antenna to draw attentionantenna to draw attention

– Occasionally run the engine to keep warm…Occasionally run the engine to keep warm…slightly open a window to prevent carbon slightly open a window to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.monoxide poisoning.

Hot and Sunny

• Wear sunblock and protective Wear sunblock and protective clothing to prevent sunburn, skin clothing to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature agingcancer, and premature aging

• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid Drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous activitiesstrenuous activities

• On very hot days, stay in areas that On very hot days, stay in areas that are air conditionedare air conditioned

Tornado

Tornado WatchTornado Watch – conditions are favorable – conditions are favorable over a large area for severe thunderstorms over a large area for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to develop.and tornadoes to develop.

Tornado WarningTornado Warning – a tornado has been – a tornado has been detected or seen, is on the ground and detected or seen, is on the ground and moving and is expected to move through moving and is expected to move through your area soon…TAKE COVER your area soon…TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELYIMMEDIATELY

Tornado

Environmental clues to look out for:Environmental clues to look out for:• Dark, often greenish skyDark, often greenish sky• Large hailLarge hail• Wall cloudWall cloud• Loud roar, similar Loud roar, similar

to a freight trainto a freight train

Picture from: http://kkd.ou.edu/METR%202603/metr2603lecture17.htm

Tornado

If you are outdoors:If you are outdoors:• Seek shelter in a substantial building Seek shelter in a substantial building

immediately. If there is no shelter immediately. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low spot nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your headwith your hands shielding your head

• Do not try to outrun a tornado in Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car…leave it and seek shelteryour car…leave it and seek shelter

• Avoid all downed power lines…Avoid all downed power lines…assume they are alive with electricityassume they are alive with electricity

Tornado

If you are at home or in a small building:If you are at home or in a small building:• Go to the basement or an interior Go to the basement or an interior

room on the lowest floorroom on the lowest floor• Stay away from windowsStay away from windows• Closets, bathroom and other interior Closets, bathroom and other interior

rooms offer the best protectionrooms offer the best protection• Get under something sturdy or cover Get under something sturdy or cover

yourself with a mattress.yourself with a mattress.

Notice that upper levels of house are more damaged than

lower

Picture from: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=20080107tor

Tornado

If you are in a mobile If you are in a mobile home or vehicle:home or vehicle:

• Get out! Mobile Get out! Mobile homes and vehicles homes and vehicles are easily tossed by are easily tossed by tornadoes. If there tornadoes. If there is no substantial is no substantial shelter nearby, lie shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands spot with your hands shielding your head.shielding your head. Picture from:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4413102.stm

Thunderstorm

Severe Thunderstorm Watch – Severe Thunderstorm Watch – severe thunderstorms are possible in severe thunderstorms are possible in and close to the watch areaand close to the watch area

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Severe Thunderstorm Warning - a a severe thunderstorm has bee spotted severe thunderstorm has bee spotted and is going to move through your and is going to move through your county soon.county soon.

Thunderstorm

If you are outdoors:If you are outdoors:• If you can hear thunder, you are If you can hear thunder, you are

close enough to be struck by close enough to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.immediately.

Picture from: http://www.air-and-space.com/lightning.htm

Thunderstorm

If you are outdoors (cont…):If you are outdoors (cont…):• Move to a sturdy building or car. Do Move to a sturdy building or car. Do

Not take shelter in small sheds, Not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, near fences, under isolated trees, near fences, poles, or in convertible automobiles. poles, or in convertible automobiles. Make sure the place you pick is not Make sure the place you pick is not subject to floodingsubject to flooding

Thunderstorm

If you are outdoors (cont…):If you are outdoors (cont…):• If you are in the woods, take shelter If you are in the woods, take shelter

under the shorter trees.under the shorter trees.

Picture from: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/photos/exploding_tree1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/photos.htm&usg=__WyML_fXkdbK1v5ptYWBG-oNzsec=&h=1536&w=2048&sz=708&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=a5E9LndL_2jfnM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlightning%2Bsafety%2Btree%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Imagine standing under this tree…

Thunderstorm

If you are outdoors (cont…):If you are outdoors (cont…):• If you feel your skin tingle or your If you feel your skin tingle or your

hair stand on end, squat low to the hair stand on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible; yourself the smallest target possible; minimize your contact with the minimize your contact with the ground. Get to shelter quickly.ground. Get to shelter quickly.

Thunderstorm

If you are outdoors (cont…):If you are outdoors (cont…):• Get out of boats and away from Get out of boats and away from

waterwater• Stay away from telephone lines and Stay away from telephone lines and

metal pipes, which can conduct metal pipes, which can conduct electricityelectricity

Thunderstorm

If you are under shelter:If you are under shelter:• Do not take a bath or showerDo not take a bath or shower• Turn off air conditionersTurn off air conditioners• Use the telephone only for Use the telephone only for

emergenciesemergencies• Unplug unnecessary appliances.Unplug unnecessary appliances.

Hurricanes

• Learn safe routes inland and the Learn safe routes inland and the location of official shelters. Fuel and location of official shelters. Fuel and service vehicles.service vehicles.

• Set refrigerator to maximum cold. Set refrigerator to maximum cold. Open only when necessaryOpen only when necessary

Picture from: http://american-press.net/wpStorm/?paged=37

Hurricanes

• Put up storm shutters and store loose Put up storm shutters and store loose objects. Brace exterior doors. Close objects. Brace exterior doors. Close all interior doorsall interior doors

Picture from: http://american-press.net/wpStorm/?paged=37

Hurricanes

• Stay away from windows and doors. Stay away from windows and doors. If you are in a a multi-story dwelling, If you are in a a multi-story dwelling, go to the lowest floor. Take refuge in go to the lowest floor. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, hallway, a small interior room, closet, hallway, or under a table.or under a table.

Hurricanes

• If you are told to leave your home…If you are told to leave your home…do so! Plan to evacuate if you live in do so! Plan to evacuate if you live in a mobile home, high-rise, on the a mobile home, high-rise, on the coastline or offshore island, or near a coastline or offshore island, or near a river or flood plain.river or flood plain.

Flooding

If you are under shelter:If you are under shelter:• Keep materials like sandbags, Keep materials like sandbags,

plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber hand for emergency water-proofing.hand for emergency water-proofing.

Picture from:http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/908AA89093222FDB8625746C000EB456?OpenDocument

Flooding

If you are under shelter:If you are under shelter:• If you are in a multi-story dwelling, If you are in a multi-story dwelling,

move essential items and furniture to move essential items and furniture to upper floors…including yourself.upper floors…including yourself.

Flooding

If you are under shelter:If you are under shelter:• Disconnect electrical appliances that Disconnect electrical appliances that

cannot be moved. Do not touch them cannot be moved. Do not touch them if you are wet or standing in water.if you are wet or standing in water.

Flooding

If you are outdoors:If you are outdoors:• Get to higher ground. Watch out for Get to higher ground. Watch out for

washed out roads, earth slides, washed out roads, earth slides, broken water or sewer mains, loose broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electric wires and falling or downed electric wires and falling or fallen objects.or fallen objects.

Flooding

If you are outdoors:If you are outdoors:• Do not attempt to drive over a Do not attempt to drive over a

flooded road. Most flash flooding flooded road. Most flash flooding deaths occur in automobiles.deaths occur in automobiles.

Picture from: www.time.com

Disaster Kits good for many emergencies

• FlashlightsFlashlights• Battery-operated Battery-operated

radioradio• Emergency food Emergency food

and waterand water• Blankets and Blankets and

sleeping bagssleeping bags• First aid kitFirst aid kit

• Extra batteriesExtra batteries• Essential medicinesEssential medicines• Manual can openerManual can opener• Fire extinguisherFire extinguisher• Checkbook, cash, Checkbook, cash,

and/or credit card and/or credit card (ATM)(ATM)

• Emergency heating Emergency heating equipment (used equipment (used properly)properly)