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NOUS45 KBOU 192146
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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
346 PM MDT SAT APR 19 2014

...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN REVIEW...

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN COLORADO CONCLUDES TODAY. DURING
THE PAST WEEK WE HAVE PRESENTED INFORMATION AND SAFETY RULES FOR
TORNADOES...LIGHTNING...FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS...STRAIGHT-LINE
THUNDERSTORM WINDS...HAIL...AND OUR WARNING PROGRAMS.

WE WILL NOW REVIEW SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES IN OUR
EFFORT TO BUILD A WEATHER READY NATION.

BE WEATHERWISE BY STAYING INFORMED ON EXPECTED WEATHER IN YOUR
AREA. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TYPICALLY AWARE OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER MANY HOURS OR EVEN DAYS BEFORE ANY
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED...PROVIDING FORECAST
PRODUCTS TO HEIGHTEN YOUR AWARENESS. A WEATHER STORY PRODUCT IS
POSTED EACH DAY ON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNET PAGES AND
FACEBOOK PAGES WHICH INCLUDES A MAP AND TEXT ON POSSIBLE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT 7 DAYS.

A HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS ALSO ISSUED DAILY WITH INFORMATION ON
POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS WEATHER DURING THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. A WATCH IS
ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS FOR SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING BECOME
POSSIBLE. A WARNING IS THEN ISSUED WHEN LIFE THREATENING
CONDITIONS ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.

TORNADOES...
THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TORNADOES IS TO HAVE A PLAN
OF ACTION. THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IF A TORNADO APPROACHES IS
IN A BASEMENT OR SAFE ROOM WITHIN A WELL-BUILT STRUCTURE...OR IN
AN UNDERGROUND STORM SHELTER. IF NONE OF THESE OPTIONS ARE
AVAILABLE...MOVE TO A HALLWAY OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR...USUALLY THIS IS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. GET UNDER A
HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE OR IN A BATH TUB AND COVER YOURSELF WITH
BLANKETS. REMEMBER...THE GREATEST RISK OF INJURY FROM TORNADOES IS
FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MODULAR HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES...EVEN THOSE TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADOES. IF A TORNADO APPROACHES...LEAVE THOSE
LOCATIONS AND SEEK SAFETY IN A NEARBY STURDY BUILDING OR STORM
SHELTER.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING IN OPEN COUNTRY AND SEE A TORNADO...IF TIME
PERMITS...THE BEST THING TO DO IS SIMPLY DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO
PATH. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER BENEATH A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. WIND SPEEDS MAY
ACTUALLY BE HIGHER IN THESE AREAS AND OFTEN BECOME COLLECTION
POINTS FOR DEBRIS.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE AND CANNOT SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE...CRAWL INTO A CULVERT OR LIE DOWN IN A NARROW DITCH OR
RAVINE AND COVER YOUR HEAD. BUT REMEMBER THAT THE WORST PLACE TO
BE WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS IS OUTSIDE IN THE MIDST OF FLYING
DEBRIS.

LIGHTNING AND WILDFIRES...
SINCE 1980...LIGHTNING HAS KILLED AND INJURED MORE PEOPLE IN
COLORADO THAN ANY OTHER THUNDERSTORM HAZARD. LIGHTNING ALSO CAUSES
MANY WILDFIRES.

THE BEST DEFENSE TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST A LIGHTNING STRIKE IS TO
PLAN AHEAD AND AVOID BEING CAUGHT WHERE YOU MIGHT BE VULNERABLE.
CHECK WEATHER FORECASTS PRIOR TO VENTURING OUT...ESPECIALLY IF
YOU ARE HEADING INTO THE MOUNTAINS. PLAN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES EARLY
IN THE DAY BEFORE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP.

IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...SEEK SHELTER IN A BUILDING OR IN AN
ENCLOSED METAL ROOF VEHICLE...MAKING SURE ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE
CLOSED. NEVER SEEK SHELTER UNDER AN ISOLATED TREE. DURING
THUNDERSTORMS...STAY OFF CORDED TELEPHONES...AWAY FROM ELECTRICAL
DEVICES...AND AWAY FROM PLUMBING. ALSO GET OUT OF SHOWER STALLS...
BATH TUBS...SWIMMING POOLS AND LAKES WHEN LIGHTNING IS NEARBY.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST
SOUND OF THUNDER BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.  WHEN THUNDER
ROARS...GO INDOORS.

FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS...
WHEN FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...YOU SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT AND BE READY TO QUICKLY EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND OR CLIMB
TO SAFETY. FLASH FLOODS OFTEN OCCUR SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.
YOU NEED TO FOLLOW SOME BASIC FLOOD SAFETY RULES...

DO NOT CAMP OR PARK YOUR VEHICLE ALONG STREAMS AND WASHES...
PARTICULARLY DURING THREATENING CONDITIONS. IF YOU ARE NEAR A
RIVER...BE AWARE OF WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER
GROUND IF RIVER LEVELS RISE. DO NOT ENTER AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY
FLOODED. IF WALKING OR FISHING ALONG A RIVER...BE AWARE THAT EROSION
FROM SWIFT RUNNING WATER CAN CAUSE RIVER BANKS TO COLLAPSE. NEVER LET
YOUR CHILDREN PLAY AROUND HIGH WATER...STORM DRAINS...VIADUCTS OR
ARROYOS.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLASH FLOOD FATALITIES ARE VEHICLE RELATED.
WHILE DRIVING YOUR AUTOMOBILE...LOOK OUT FOR FLOODING AT HIGHWAY
DIPS...BRIDGES AND LOW AREAS. TWO FEET OF MOVING WATER WILL
CARRY AWAY MOST AUTOMOBILES. NEVER ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS A FLOODED
ROAD. AND BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE
FLOOD DANGERS.

STRONG STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS...
STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS FROM THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING MICROBURSTS...CAN
BECOME QUITE STRONG...EVEN REACHING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH IN
EXTREME CASES. WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...HIGH WINDS CAN SUDDENLY
DEVELOP...CAUSING THINGS ON THE GROUND TO BECOME SWIFT MOVING
AIRBORNE MISSILES WITH A POTENTIAL FORCE TO INJURE OR KILL. AS WITH
ANY THUNDERSTORM...SEEK SHELTER BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES.

HAIL...
LARGE HAIL CAN POSE A DANGER TO ANIMALS AND PEOPLE. HAIL ALSO
PRODUCES CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO CROPS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY EACH
YEAR IN COLORADO. AGAIN...GET INDOORS BEFORE THUNDERSTORMS ARRIVE.
A FALL OF SMALL HAIL CAN SUDDENLY CHANGE TO A FALL OF VERY LARGE ICE
MISSILES WHICH CAN INJURE OR KILL. MAKE EFFORTS TO PROTECT PERSONAL
PROPERTY BEFORE THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN.

WARNING NOTIFICATION...
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...TUNE TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS
...THE WEATHER CHANNEL...OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATIONS. ALSO CHECK THE INTERNET WEB SITE FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE SERVING YOUR AREA. AND IF YOU HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW
CELL PHONE YOU SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE TORNADO AND FLASH FLOOD
WARNINGS ON YOUR PHONE IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA OF THE WARNING.

DURING THREATENING WEATHER DAYS...PLAN THE ACTIONS YOU WILL NEED
TO TAKE SO THAT YOU WILL BE PREPARED IF DANGEROUS WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACTUALLY DEVELOP.

NOAA`S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WISHES YOU A SAFE SEVERE WEATHER
SEASON.

$$

JIM PRINGLE
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
GRAND JUNCTION CO