Tornado Preparedness Vital for Georgians

Posted Wednesday, November 9, 2005

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The deadly tornado that tore through parts of Indiana and Kentucky last weekend should serve to remind Georgians of the importance of tornado preparedness, as well as the value of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radios. Nearly two dozen people were killed when the F-3 tornado touched down in the early hours of Sunday morning, and others remain missing.

The Georgia Office of Homeland Security – Georgia Emergency Management Agency (OHS-GEMA) encourages Georgians to have NOAA weather radios in their homes. The battery-powered, tone-alert radios are activated automatically when the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning. It is possible that many of the deaths reported this weekend could have been averted if residents of the affected area had the weather radios.

The National Weather Service has drastically expanded Georgia’s NOAA weather radio network over the past seven years, and 90% of the state’s population is currently covered by the service.

"A NOAA weather radio represents a small investment that can save lives," said OHS-GEMA Director Mike Sherberger. "It should be an integral part of a family disaster plan."

While most tornado activity in Georgia occurs during March through May, the months of October and November represent a secondary peak season for our state.

OHS-GEMA urges Georgians to take the responsibility to plan for severe weather, including tornadoes. Recommendations include:

· Know where to take shelter.

· If inside a building, take shelter in the basement, or the most interior room on the lowest floor.

· If outside, look for shelter. If none is available, lie in a ditch or the lowest point on the ground.

· If in a vehicle, get out and take shelter in a ditch of low point.

· If in manufactured housing, leave and take shelter in a sturdy building or in a ditch or low lying area.

For more information on tornado safety, visit the National Weather Service Web site at www.nws.noaa.gov.

Source: www.forsythco.com

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