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000
NOUS44 KLIX 041224
PNSLIX
LAZ034>037-039-040-046>050-056>072-050030-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
624 AM CST WED MAR 4 2015

     ...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN LOUISIANA...
          ...MARCH 1 THROUGH MARCH 7 2015

THE WEEK OF MARCH 1 THROUGH MARCH 7 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS SEVERE
WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN LOUISIANA. LATE WINTER AND SPRING MONTHS
TYPICALLY BRING THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY OF SEVERE WEATHER TO GULF
COAST REGION. SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW
SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY PLANS AND ENSURE YOU HAVE A MEANS TO RECEIVE
TIMELY WARNINGS.

TODAYS TOPIC IS TORNADOES...NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS.

TORNADOES ARE ONE OF NATURES MOST VIOLENT WEATHER EVENTS.  A
TORNADO IS DEFINED AS A RAPIDLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR WHICH IS
ATTACHED TO A THUNDERSTORM AND IS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.  IN
THE MOST EXTREME TORNADOES WIND SPEEDS MAY EXCEED 250 MILES PER
HOUR.

ONLY FOUR TORNADOES WERE REPORTED IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA LAST YEAR. THE
MOST DAMAGING TORNADO OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 23 WHEN A STRONG TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN EAST OF AMITE AND HEAVILY DAMAGED SEVERAL HOMES AND
DOWNING NUMEROUS TREES ALONG A 6 MILES PATH. THE ONLY INJURIES IN
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FROM SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRED NEAR KENTWOOD ON
JUNE 24 WHEN SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS DOWNED A TREE ONTO HOUSE
INJURING SEVERAL OCCUPANTS.

EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT LIVES CAN BE SAVED IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF
THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER...AND ARE
PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK STEPS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM NATURES MOST
VIOLENT AND UNPREDICTABLE STORMS. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A MEANS TO
RECEIVE WEATHER WARNINGS AND KNOW THE BASIC SAFETY RULES TO PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM SEVERE WEATHER.

SHOULD A TORNADO WARNING BE ISSUED OR IF THREATENING WEATHER
DEVELOPS IN YOUR AREA...PLEASE FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RULES:

1. IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR...AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORWAYS.

2  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS...OPENING OR CLOSING WINDOWS WILL DELAY
YOUR  ESCAPE TO SAFETY AND WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO DAMAGE
CAUSED TO YOUR HOME OR BUILDING.

3. DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR...INSTEAD LEAVE YOUR
CAR IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK SHELTER IN A WELL CONSTRUCTED BUILDING.

4. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...LIE FLAT IN A NEARBY DITCH OR DEPRESSION.

5. MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION FROM
TORNADOES AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR WELL CONSTRUCTED
BUILDINGS.

THIS MORNING AROUND 915AM ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE
A TEST TORNADO WARNING MESSAGE ON THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO SYSTEM TO
ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS TO TEST AND REVIEW THEIR SEVERE WEATHER PLANS
AND ENSURE THEIR NOAA WEATHER RADIOS ARE WORKING PROPERLY.  THE TEST
MESSAGE WILL BE CLEARLY WORDED AS A TEST.  SOME NOAA WEATHER RADIO
MAY NOT SOUND AN AUDIO ALARM...HOWEVER THEY WILL DISPLAY TEST ON
THEIR SCREEN SIGNIFYING THEY SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVED THE TEST. THE
TEST WILL BE DELAYED IF STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ARE EXPECTED
IN THE AREA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LIX... OR CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE IN SLIDELL LA AT TELEPHONE NUMBER 985-649-0357.

$$