National Weather Service Text Product Display

Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
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WIZ046-047-051-052-056>060-062>072-210615-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1225 PM CDT THU MAY 30 2013

..THERE IS A RISK OF TORNADOES THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 700 PM CDT...

...TORNADO SAFETY RULES...

TORNADOES ARE THE MOST ERRATIC...MOST UNPREDICTABLE...AND MOST
VIOLENT OF STORMS ON EARTH.  THEY MOST COMMONLY OCCUR IN WISCONSIN
DURING THE WARMER PART OF THE YEAR...WITH THE MONTHS OF MAY...JUNE...
AND JULY BEING THE PEAK MONTHS.

A TORNADO MAY RANGE FROM A FEW YARDS TO NEARLY A MILE IN WIDTH.  IT
MAY PROPAGATE VERY SLOWLY OR AS FAST AS 60 MILES AN HOUR.  IT MAY
SKIP ALONG OR EVEN MAKE A U-TURN.  IT MAY TRAVEL ALONG THE GROUND A
FEW HUNDRED FEET OR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES.  THEY MAY APPEAR SINGLY OR
IN GROUPS.

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FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION...BE FAMILIAR WITH TORNADO SAFETY RULES AND
HAVE A PRE-ARRANGED PLAN TO GET TO SAFE SHELTER WHEN THESE DEADLY
STORMS THREATEN.  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE AND
BROADCAST TORNADO WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO AVAILABLE...PREFERABLY ONE
THAT CAN OPERATE ON BATTERIES.  LISTEN FOR DIRECT TORNADO WATCH OR
WARNING INFORMATION ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR LISTEN TO OTHER
COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TV STATION BROADCASTS.

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BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TORNADO WATCH AND
TORNADO WARNING.  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A TORNADO
WATCH TO GIVE YOU ADVANCE NOTICE THAT TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN YOUR
LOCALITY. THIS GIVES YOU THE TIME TO MAKE PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR
MOVING TO A SAFE SHELTER QUICKLY IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED.

THE TORNADO WARNING IS AN URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT A TORNADO HAS
BEEN REPORTED OR DETECTED BY RADAR AND WARNS YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS. WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED...MOVE QUICKLY...SECONDS SAVE
LIVES.

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IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE OPEN DURING A TORNADO WARNING...TRY TO HIDE
IN A DITCH OR RAVINE.  LIE FLAT AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

IF YOU CAN...WRAP A COVERING AROUND EXPOSED PORTIONS OF YOUR BODY.
EVEN SMALL GROUND DEBRIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY WHEN DRIVEN BY
TORNADO STRENGTH WINDS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ADVISES YOU TO MEMORIZE THESE BASIC
SAFETY RULES...YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON KNOWING THEM.

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IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME...BE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN OF SAFE
ACTION SHOULD THE WEATHER BECOME THREATENING.

THE SIZE AND CONSTRUCTION OF MOBILE HOMES MAKE THEM PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE TO OVERTURNING AND ROLLING IN HIGH WINDS.

SOME PROTECTION MAY BE PROVIDED AGAINST THIS HAZARD BY SECURING THEM
WITH CABLES ANCHORED IN CONCRETE FOOTINGS.

BUT...FOR SAFETY SAKE...WHEN HIGH WINDS ARE IMMINENT...MOBILE HOMES
SHOULD BE EVACUATED FOR SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.

IF SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER IS NOT AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN A DITCH OR
RAVINE AND COVER YOUR HEAD.  HOWEVER...WATCH FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING.

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IN THE HOME...THE SAFEST PLACE FROM TORNADO WINDS IS IN A BASEMENT
OR CELLAR BELOW GROUND LEVEL.

IF POSSIBLE...GET UNDER A STURDY TABLE OR WORK BENCH. IF A BASEMENT
OR CELLAR IS NOT AVAILABLE...TAKE COVER IN AN INTERIOR
CLOSET...HALLWAY...OR BATHROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE FOUND THAT AN EMPTY BATH TUB WITH A MATTRESS OR
BLANKET FOR A COVER MAKES A GOOD EMERGENCY REFUGE.

AHEAD OF TIME...YOU CAN HAVE A FOOTBALL HELMET OR BIKE HELMET STORED
IN THE SAFEST LOCATION OF YOUR HOME. PUT IT ON TO MINIMIZE HEAD
INJURIES.

DON/T OPEN WINDOWS OR DOORS...THIS ACTION WILL WASTE PRECIOUS
SECONDS THAT COULD BE USED TO SEEK THE PROPER SHELTER.

OPENING YOUR WINDOWS...DOORS...OR THE GARAGE DOOR WILL ALLOW WINDS
TO PENETRATE YOUR HOME...LEADING TO A PRESSURIZATION OF YOUR HOME.
THIS PRESSURIZATION MAY LEAD TO THE SO-CALLED EXPLOSION THAT PEOPLE
REPORT.

ALSO...KEEP IN MIND THAT BROKEN GLASS AND OTHER FLYING DEBRIS BECOME
MISSILES THAT CAN INJURE OR KILL A PERSON.

$$

KAPELA
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
