National Weather Service Text Product Display

Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

000
NOUS42 KMHX 051233
PNSMHX
NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-051645-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
733 AM EST WED MAR 5 2014

*******************************************************************
          SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH CAROLINA
                       MARCH 2 - MARCH 8
         STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL SCHEDULED TODAY AT 9:30 AM
*******************************************************************

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN DECLARED NORTH CAROLINA`S SEVERE WEATHER
AWARENESS WEEK FOR 2014.  IN ADDITION, THIS WEEK IS ALSO NOAA AND
FEMA`S NATIONAL SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK.

TODAY`S THEME IS:  BE A FORCE OF NATURE: BUILD A KIT.

A DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT IS SIMPLY A COLLECTION OF BASIC ITEMS YOUR
HOUSEHOLD MAY NEED IN THE EVENT OF A WEATHER EMERGENCY.

TRY TO ASSEMBLE YOUR KIT WELL IN ADVANCE OF AN EMERGENCY. YOU MAY
HAVE TO EVACUATE AT A MOMENT`S NOTICE AND TAKE ESSENTIALS WITH YOU.
YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT HAVE TIME TO SEARCH FOR THE SUPPLIES YOU NEED
OR SHOP FOR THEM.

YOU MAY NEED TO SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN AFTER A WEATHER EMERGENCY. THIS
MEANS HAVING YOUR OWN FOOD...WATER AND OTHER SUPPLIES IN SUFFICIENT
QUANTITY TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS. LOCAL OFFICIALS AND RELIEF
WORKERS WILL BE ON THE SCENE AFTER A DISASTER BUT THEY CANNOT REACH
EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY. YOU COULD GET HELP IN HOURS OR IT MIGHT TAKE
DAYS.

ADDITIONALLY...BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS ELECTRICITY...GAS...WATER...
SEWAGE TREATMENT AND TELEPHONES MAY BE CUT OFF FOR DAYS OR EVEN A
WEEK...OR LONGER. YOUR SUPPLIES KIT SHOULD CONTAIN ITEMS TO HELP
YOU MANAGE DURING THESE OUTAGES.

SOME BASIC ITEMS YOU`LL WANT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR EMERGENCY KIT INCLUDE:

* WATER...ONE GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON PER DAY...FOR DRINKING AND
  SANITATION.
* FOOD...AT LEAST A THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD.
* BATTERY-POWERED RADIO AND A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH TONE ALERT...AND
  EXTRA BATTERIES FOR BOTH.
* FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES.
* FIRST AID KIT.
* WHISTLE TO SIGNAL FOR HELP.
* INFANT FORMULA AND DIAPERS...IF YOU HAVE AN INFANT.
* CLEANING ITEMS...MOIST TOWELETTES...GARBAGE BAGS AND PLASTIC TIES FOR
  PERSONAL SANITATION.
* DUST MASK OR COTTON T-SHIRT...TO HELP FILTER THE AIR.
* PLASTIC SHEETING AND DUCT TAPE TO SHELTER-IN-PLACE.
* WRENCH OR PLIERS TO TURN OFF UTILITIES.
* ADEQUATE CLOTHING...SUCH AS A JACKET OR COAT...LONG PANTS...A LONG
  SLEEVE SHIRT...STURDY SHOES...RAIN GEAR...AND A HAT AND GLOVES.
* A SLEEPING BAG OR WARM BLANKET FOR EACH PERSON.
* MESS KITS...PAPER TOWELS...PAPER CUPS...PLATES AND PLASTIC UTENSILS.
* FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
* MATCHES IN A WATERPROOF CONTAINER.

IMPORTANT FAMILY DOCUMENTS SUCH AS COPIES OF INSURANCE POLICIES...
IDENTIFICATION AND BANK ACCOUNT RECORDS IN A WATERPROOF...PORTABLE
CONTAINER.

FINALLY...IF YOU RELY ON ELECTRICITY TO OPERATE LIFE SUSTAINING
EQUIPMENT...HAVE A BACKUP POWER SUPPLY AND KNOW HOW TO CONNECT AND
START IT.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT BUILDING A KIT...AND DOWNLOAD A MORE COMPLETE
LIST OF KIT ITEMS BY VISITING READY.GOV/BUILD-A-KIT. PLEDGE
TO PREPARE...THEN BE A FORCE OF NATURE BY ENCOURAGING YOUR FRIENDS...
FAMILY...NEIGHBORS...AND CO-WORKERS TO DO THE SAME.

$$
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
