Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Burlington, VT

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NOUS41 KBTV 010900
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NYZ026>031-034-035-087-VTZ001>012-016>019-020000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
500 AM EDT WED MAY 1 2013

...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...ALONG WITH ALL THE NEW ENGLAND STATES
AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK...HAVE PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF APRIL 28TH
THROUGH MAY 4TH AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK. TODAY...WE LOOK
AT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES.

THE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS VERMONT AND NORTHERN
NEW YORK RANGES FROM 20 TO 30 DAYS WITH NEARLY A THIRD OF THESE
DAYS EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58
MILES AN HOUR...LARGE HAIL OF 1 INCH IN DIAMETER OR LARGER...OR EVEN
A TORNADO. HEAVY RAIN WHICH MAY CAUSE FLOODING AND DEADLY LIGHTNING
ARE ALSO LIKELY HAZARDS IN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WHEN
CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WHEN
RADAR INDICATES A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR WHEN SEVERE
WEATHER IS REPORTED BY SPOTTERS OR LOCAL OFFICIALS.

TORNADOES ARE A RARE PHENOMENA ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY..WITH AN
AVERAGE OF ONE TORNADO OCCURRENCE PER YEAR. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENT
WINDSTORM CHARACTERIZED BY A TWISTING...FUNNEL-SHAPED CLOUD.

TORNADO DAMAGE IS CLASSIFIED BY THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE RANGING
FROM RELATIVELY LITTLE DAMAGE (EF0) TO CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE (EF5).
VIOLENT TORNADOES (EF3 OR GREATER) ARE CAPABLE OF GREAT DESTRUCTION
AND LOSS OF LIFE. TORNADOES FILL THE AIR WITH LETHAL...WIND BORNE
DEBRIS...SUCH OBJECTS AS STICKS...GLASS AND LAWN FURNITURE BECOME
DEADLY MISSILES WHEN DRIVEN BY TORNADIC WINDS.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXIST FOR THE
POSSIBLE FORMATION OF TORNADOES IN YOUR AREA.

A TORNADO WARNING MEANS A TORNADO HAS BEEN SPOTTED OR HAS BEEN
INDICATED BY RADAR.

WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED...YOU
SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS AND BE ALERT FOR APPROACHING STORMS. SECURE
ALL LOOSE OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER YARD EQUIPMENT.
THESE ITEMS MAY BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES DURING THE STORM.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY FIRST AID KIT AVAILABLE...INCLUDING A BATTERY
OPERATED NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO WITH TONE ALERT
CAPABILITIES. IT IS ONE OF THE QUICKEST AND MOST RELIABLE WAYS TO
RECEIVE SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION.

WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED ACT
QUICKLY...BUT DO NOT PANIC.

AT HOME...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR FIND A WINDOWLESS INTERIOR ROOM ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR...LIKE A CLOSET OR BATHROOM. REMEMBER...MOBILE HOMES
ARE NOT CONSIDERED SAFE INDOOR SHELTERS...YOU SHOULD SEEK SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER ELSEWHERE.

IN SCHOOLS...HOSPITALS...FACTORIES AND SHOPPING CENTERS GO TO A
PREDESIGNATED SHELTER. IF AN UNDERGROUND SHELTER IS NOT AVAILABLE...
GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AND GET
UNDER A STURDY PIECE OF FURNITURE. STAY AWAY FROM LARGE OPEN ROOMS
WITH WINDOWS SUCH AS AUDITORIUMS AND GYMNASIUMS.

IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS AND NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...FIND A DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND STAY CROUCHED LOW TO THE GROUND...PROTECTING YOUR HEAD. DO
NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND. IF ON A BOAT...HEAD FOR SAFE HARBOR AND
FIND SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

STAY INFORMED AND BE ALERT...IF THREATENING WEATHER IS IN THE AREA.
REMEMBER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY GIVING YOU LITTLE
TIME TO REACT TO THE DANGER. IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES YOU...TAKE
THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

MORE INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER AS WELL AS FORECASTS CAN BE FOUND
AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOMEPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV...AND FOR
THE BURLINGTON VERMONT OFFICE...CLICK ON VERMONT.

$$