Tornadoes, Lighting, Extreme Heat, Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Tornado Categories
F-0	40 - 72 mph	Chimney damage, tree branches broken

	64 - 116 kmh
F-1	7 3 - 112 mph 118 - 180 kmh	Mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned
F-2	113 - 157 mph 182 - 253 kmh	Consideration damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted
F-3	158 - 206 mph 254 - 332 kmh	Roofs/walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown
F-4	207 - 260 mph 333 - 418 kmh	Well-constructed walls leveled
F-5	261 - 318 mph 420 - 512 kmh	Homes lifted off foundation, carried distances, autos thrown as far as 100 meters

During a Tornado

Listen to local radio or T.V.
Go to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the building.
If there is no basement, go to an inner halfway or smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom closet.
Get under sturdy furniture, heavy table or desks. Hold on to it.
Protect head & neck with arms.
Get away from windows.
If in a mobile home, get out. Find safer shelter elsewhere.

If You are Outdoors

If possible, get inside.
If no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near strong building.
Be aware if flooding potential.
Use arms to protect head, neck.

If You are in a Car

Never try to out-drive tornado. Tornadoes change direction and can lift a car up in the air.
Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building.
If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the car. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

Lightning

Go inside for protection immediately.
Stay away from windows, water, faucets, sinks, bathtubs and telephones.
Turn off and unplug televisions, computers and other appliances.
If outside, stay away from tall trees, open fields pr water, bicycles, golf clubs, tractors, fences and other metal objects.
If caught in an open space or field, crouch low to the ground.

Extreme Heat

Drink plenty of water regularly and eat well-balanced, light meals.
Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you need to do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of day.
Avoid alcohol/caffeine. (Alcohol causes further dehydration.)
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
When outside, protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Allow your body to adjust to heat for the first 2 or 3 days of heat wave.
Avoid too much sunshine (sunburns) are extreme temperature changes.
Protect windows. Hang shades, draperies, awning on windows.
High-risk individuals should stay in cool places (home or public buildings).

Hurricanes

For Hurricane WATCH

Listen to local radio or T.V. for information
Prepare to board up all your windows. Install already-made shutter panels.
Bring objects inside that could fly around (trash cans, toys and lawn furniture).
Assemble a Disaster Supply Kit.
Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
Keep this guide handy with phone #s.
Fill your car's gas tank with gasoline.
Identify places where you can go if told to evacuate (i.e., friend's home, shelter).
Mark a road map with 2 alternative routes.
If told to evacuate, do so immediately.

For Hurricane WARNING

Keep Disaster Supply Kit on hand.
Stay indoors and away from windows if you are advised not evacuate.
Be aware of eye of the hurricane (calm center). This lasts seconds. The most severe part of the storm comes just after the calm eye is present.

DISASTER SUPPLY KIT