PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

245 PM EDT FRI MAY 5 2000

A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY WHENEVER ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS, SOME OF WHICH COULD SPAWN TORNADOES. THE WATCH OFTEN COVERS SEVERAL STATES. IT IS YOUR INITIAL WORD THAT DANGEROUS WEATHER IS POSSIBLE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH TORNADOES CAN FORM WHEN ONLY A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY THAN IF WE ARE UNDER A TORNADO WATCH.

IF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A TORNADO WARNING, IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. A TORNADO WARNING MEANS THAT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS IN PROGRESS AND THAT A TORNADO HAS EITHER BEEN SIGHTED OR IS IMMINENT BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR IMAGERY.

YOUR FIRST SAFETY RULE IS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A MEANS OF RECEIVING THE WORD THAT A WATCH OR WARNING IS IN EFFECT. NOAA WEATHER RADIO, WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED FROM YOUR FAVORITE ELECTRONICS OUTLET, HAS AN ALARM FEATURE THAT WILL ACTIVATE WHENEVER A SEVERE WEATHER WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED. IT CAN WAKE YOU UP AT 3 O/CLOCK IN THE MORNING IF THAT IS WHEN IT IS ISSUED. THIS IS THE ONLY MEANS OF NOTIFICATION LIKE THIS THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS. LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS WILL BROADCAST THE WARNINGS, SOMETIMESWITH AN EMERGENCY ALERT TONE. THE WARNINGS SCROLL ACROSS A RED SCREEN ON THE WEATHER CHANNEL ON CABLE TV. HOWEVER, YOU NEED TO BE WATCHING OR LISTENING IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE WARNING VIA COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TV.

THE GREATEST DANGERS FROM A TORNADO ARE FROM FLYING DEBRIS AND FROM THE COLLAPSE OF THE ROOF AND/OR WALL STRUCTURE OF A BUILDING. IF IN A BUILDING, YOU SHOULD MOVE TO THE BASEMENT UNDERNEATH THE STAIRCASE. IF NO BASEMENT, SEEK SHELTER IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR DOORS. IF POSSIBLE, PLACE SOMETHING OVER YOUR HEAD SUCH AS A COAT OR BLANKET FOR EXTRA PROTECTION. IN SCHOOLS, AVOID THE CAFETERIA, GYMNASIUM, OR AUDITORIUM BECAUSE OF THE WIDE-SPAN ROOFS THAT CAN COLLAPSE. YOU SHOULD GO TO THE INTERIOR HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMS.

DO NOT STAY IN A MOBILE HOME OR ANY TYPE OF TEMPORARY SHELTER. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE. IF NONE IS AVAILABLE, GO TO A DITCH OR RAVINE NEARBY. TAKE THE PROTECTIVE POSITION ON YOUR ELBOWS AND KNEES WITH YOUR HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD. NEVER ATTEMPT TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN A CAR, BUS, OR TRUCK. VEHICLES CAN EASILY BECOME AIRBORNE. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER AN OVERPASS. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF OVERPASSES IS UNKNOWN, PLUS THE BERNOULLI PRINCIPLE CAN LEAD TO ACCELERATION OF THE WIND THROUGH THE EMBANKMENT.

AFTER THE STORM, IF A TORNADO HAS STRUCK YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, PLEASE REPORT IT TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TURN OFF THE GAS AT THE MAIN SWITCH TO YOUR BUILDING. IF LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRES ARE DOWN, TURN OFF POWER AT THE MAIN SWITCH. INSTRUCT PEOPLE NOT TO TOUCH LOOSE ELECTRICAL WIRES. FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AT RED CROSS SHELTERS.