NOUS41 KBGM 310824 PNSBGM NYZ005-009-015>018-022>025-036-037-044>046-055>057-062-PAZ038>040- 043-044-047-048-311400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BINGHAMTON NY 422 AM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002 FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY, MAY 31ST 1998, CENTRAL NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA ENDURED ONE OF ITS WORST SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAKS EVER. OVER A DOZEN TORNADOES RIPPED THROUGH THE REGION WITH THREE PRODUCING ENOUGH DAMAGE TO BE CLASSIFIED AS F3. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS PRODUCED BY STRAIGHT LINE THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND BASEBALL SIZED HAIL. THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES DURING TIMES OF SEVERE WEATHER IS TO BUY A NOAA WEATHER RADIO. A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL GIVE YOU THE LATEST CRITICAL WEATHER INFORMATION WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. SOME MODELS EVEN COME WITH A SPECIAL TONE ALARM FEATURE THAT CAN BE AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED WHENEVER A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. PORTABLE MODELS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO TAKE ALONG WHEN VENTURING OUTDOORS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAY 31, 1998 SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK OR ABOUT NOAA WEATHER RADIO, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/ER/BGM SPORER