These photos were taken this morning just outside Haxtun by Bob Hilderband, Emergency Manager of the damage currently being assessed.
Showing posts with label tornado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tornado. Show all posts
DHSEM Supports Damage Assessments in Northeast Colorado
The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management's Northeast Regional Field Manager is supporting several counties with damage assessments following the severe weather storms last night including reports of tornadoes. The counties impact overnight were Phillips, Sedwick, Logan and Washington.
These photos were taken this morning just outside Haxtun by Bob Hilderband, Emergency Manager of the damage currently being assessed.
These photos were taken this morning just outside Haxtun by Bob Hilderband, Emergency Manager of the damage currently being assessed.
Spring Tornadoes Are an Important Reminder to Prepare
A year ago today, on May 20, an EF5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 and leaving a 17-mile trail of destruction.
Later this week, May 22, will be the sixth anniversary of the EF3 tornado in Windsor, Colorado, that killed one person, was on the ground for 39 miles and was up to a mile wide.
The twin anniversaries are a poignant reminder of the importance of preparing for tornadoes, point out emergency managers from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Colorado gets an average of 40 tornadoes per year, which ranks the state ninth in the country for number of tornadoes. The highest number occurs in June, followed by July and May. The worst threat is along the heavily populated Front Range and foothills corridors.
The state’s READYColorado website (https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/tornado) provides these suggestions for what to do before, during and after a tornado:
FEMA’s Ready.gov website cites a study of tornado damage in Marion, Illinois, that showed half of all tornado-related injuries came after the tornado, from rescue attempts, clean up, and so forth. Almost a third of the injuries came from stepping on nails. Be very careful when entering any damaged structure, and use battery-powered light if possible rather than candles to minimize the danger of fire or explosions.
A timeline of some of the most significant tornadoes to affect the six-state region covered by FEMA’s Denver regional office, with links for more information, is available at http://www.fema.gov/fema-region-8-tornado-timeline.
Later this week, May 22, will be the sixth anniversary of the EF3 tornado in Windsor, Colorado, that killed one person, was on the ground for 39 miles and was up to a mile wide.
The twin anniversaries are a poignant reminder of the importance of preparing for tornadoes, point out emergency managers from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Colorado gets an average of 40 tornadoes per year, which ranks the state ninth in the country for number of tornadoes. The highest number occurs in June, followed by July and May. The worst threat is along the heavily populated Front Range and foothills corridors.
The state’s READYColorado website (https://www.readycolorado.com/hazard/tornado) provides these suggestions for what to do before, during and after a tornado:
BEFORE
- Maintain an emergency kit or check list of emergency items to take with you.
- Develop a family communication plan in case your family is separated.
- Identify a safe shelter location. A basement is best, followed by interior rooms on the lowest level of the building away from windows. Mobile homes are often unsafe in a tornado – identify a neighbor's house or public shelter where you can go if a tornado warning is issued.
- Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio to receive alerts about impending severe weather.
- Sign up for reverse telephone alerts for your county, and don’t forget to include your cell phone.
- Make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage – including flood insurance, which is separate from your homeowner’s policy.
- Photograph or video the contents of your home in case you need to file a claim.
- Store copies of your important documents in another location, such as a bank safe deposit box.
- Consider building a safe room inside your home.
DURING
- Immediately go to your pre-identified safe shelter – there is no time to gather possessions.
- If possible, crouch under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a table. Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.
- If you are outside and no other shelter is available, get in a vehicle and drive to shelter if possible. Keep in mind that you won't be able to outrun a tornado.
- If you must use a vehicle for shelter, keep your seatbelt on, cover your head and keep it below the window level.
- Do not use an overpass or bridge for shelter.
- If no other shelter is available, lie in a low spot and cover your head, but be alert for water filling the location.
AFTER
- Avoid downed power lines and leaking gas lines – report them to your utility company.
- Watch for broken glass, nails, and other sharp objects.
- Avoid damaged buildings until they are declared safe by officials.
- Notify your family that you are safe – phone lines may be down, so be prepared to send text messages.
- Check property for damage and contact your insurance company to file a claim, if necessary.
FEMA’s Ready.gov website cites a study of tornado damage in Marion, Illinois, that showed half of all tornado-related injuries came after the tornado, from rescue attempts, clean up, and so forth. Almost a third of the injuries came from stepping on nails. Be very careful when entering any damaged structure, and use battery-powered light if possible rather than candles to minimize the danger of fire or explosions.
A timeline of some of the most significant tornadoes to affect the six-state region covered by FEMA’s Denver regional office, with links for more information, is available at http://www.fema.gov/fema-region-8-tornado-timeline.
Tornadoes and Tornado Safety: Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week
This is Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week, a time when the National Weather Service reminds you of the hazards associated with thunderstorms. The topic for today is tornadoes and tornado safety.
The threat of tornadoes in Colorado increases rapidly in May and continues through August. Ninety percent of Colorado tornadoes occur during this four month period, but tornadoes have been reported as early as February and as late as October.
Tornadoes have been reported in just about all areas of the state, but historically 95 percent of Colorado tornadoes occur along and east of Interstate 25 where heat and moisture in the lower atmosphere are often more abundant. Tornadoes can occur at every hour of the day, but most occur between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Across the country about 90 percent of tornadoes are considered weak with winds less than 110 MPH. Winds of this magnitude will damage a wood frame construction home but may completely destroy a mobile home or outbuilding. They typically have a life span under 10 minutes and result in less than five percent of tornado fatalities.
About 10 percent of tornadoes are considered strong with winds up to 165 MPH. Winds of this magnitude will cause considerable damage to most buildings. These tornadoes may last 20 minutes or longer and are responsible for nearly 30 percent of tornado deaths.
Violent tornadoes account for only one percent of all tornadoes, but they result in nearly 70 percent of all tornado fatalities because they destroy much of what is in their path. Violent tornadoes can last over an hour and travel over 50 miles before dissipating. The best chance of surviving a violent tornado is to be inside a safe room or underground shelter.
An easy phrase to remember for tornado safety is to get in, get down and cover up. Get inside a sturdy building, get down to the lowest floor or most interior room in that building and cover your head.
The best option for tornado safety is to be inside a well-built structure within a basement, safe room or underground storm shelter. If none of these options are available move to a hallway or a small interior room on the lowest floor such as a closet or bathroom. Cover yourself with blankets or get under a sturdy piece of furniture because the greatest risk of injury from tornadoes is from flying debris.
Abandon modular homes and mobile homes as they offer little protection from tornadoes. If a tornado approaches leave these locations and seek safety in a nearby building or storm shelter.
If you are driving in open country and see a tornado simply drive away from the tornado path if time permits. Do not take shelter beneath a highway overpass. If you are in an automobile and a tornado is fast approaching with little time for action either pull over and remain buckled in your vehicle while crouching down or abandon your vehicle and lie in a ditch or culvert away from your vehicle and protect your head.
If you are caught outside and cannot find a safe shelter crawl into a culvert or lie down in a narrow ditch and cover your head. But remember that these are poor, last-minute options because the worst place to be when a tornado threatens is outside in the midst of flying debris.
You can get the latest weather forecasts and severe weather watches and warnings from a local NOAA weather radio all hazards station and on the internet at weather.gov.
This guest blog written by David Floyd, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS
The threat of tornadoes in Colorado increases rapidly in May and continues through August. Ninety percent of Colorado tornadoes occur during this four month period, but tornadoes have been reported as early as February and as late as October.
Tornadoes have been reported in just about all areas of the state, but historically 95 percent of Colorado tornadoes occur along and east of Interstate 25 where heat and moisture in the lower atmosphere are often more abundant. Tornadoes can occur at every hour of the day, but most occur between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Across the country about 90 percent of tornadoes are considered weak with winds less than 110 MPH. Winds of this magnitude will damage a wood frame construction home but may completely destroy a mobile home or outbuilding. They typically have a life span under 10 minutes and result in less than five percent of tornado fatalities.
About 10 percent of tornadoes are considered strong with winds up to 165 MPH. Winds of this magnitude will cause considerable damage to most buildings. These tornadoes may last 20 minutes or longer and are responsible for nearly 30 percent of tornado deaths.
Violent tornadoes account for only one percent of all tornadoes, but they result in nearly 70 percent of all tornado fatalities because they destroy much of what is in their path. Violent tornadoes can last over an hour and travel over 50 miles before dissipating. The best chance of surviving a violent tornado is to be inside a safe room or underground shelter.
An easy phrase to remember for tornado safety is to get in, get down and cover up. Get inside a sturdy building, get down to the lowest floor or most interior room in that building and cover your head.
The best option for tornado safety is to be inside a well-built structure within a basement, safe room or underground storm shelter. If none of these options are available move to a hallway or a small interior room on the lowest floor such as a closet or bathroom. Cover yourself with blankets or get under a sturdy piece of furniture because the greatest risk of injury from tornadoes is from flying debris.
Abandon modular homes and mobile homes as they offer little protection from tornadoes. If a tornado approaches leave these locations and seek safety in a nearby building or storm shelter.
If you are driving in open country and see a tornado simply drive away from the tornado path if time permits. Do not take shelter beneath a highway overpass. If you are in an automobile and a tornado is fast approaching with little time for action either pull over and remain buckled in your vehicle while crouching down or abandon your vehicle and lie in a ditch or culvert away from your vehicle and protect your head.
If you are caught outside and cannot find a safe shelter crawl into a culvert or lie down in a narrow ditch and cover your head. But remember that these are poor, last-minute options because the worst place to be when a tornado threatens is outside in the midst of flying debris.
You can get the latest weather forecasts and severe weather watches and warnings from a local NOAA weather radio all hazards station and on the internet at weather.gov.
This guest blog written by David Floyd, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS
Understanding Severe Weather Watches and Warnings: Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week
The National Weather Service sees the potential for severe weather and a stream of weather information flows from the National Weather Service forecast offices to you.
Each National Weather Service forecast office has a web site, a facebook page and a twitter feed where you can find graphical weather stories which highlight upcoming weather hazards. The Hazardous Weather Outlook, a text product, it is also available which highlights weather hazards sometimes seven days in advance.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma also forecasts the chance for severe weather across the country several days in advance. These outlooks will tell you if there is a chance for severe weather and if you are in a slight risk, moderate risk or high risk area for severe weather.
If severe weather becomes likely within six hours a watch will be issued alerting you to the increased risk for severe weather. If you are in or close to the watch area you should plan where to go for shelter if severe weather occurs. If high wind is a threat tying down or bringing loose objects indoors would be a wise move. If large hail is a threat protecting your vehicle would be a good idea.
Then forecasters at the local National Weather Service office will monitor satellite and radar data and collaborate with severe weather spotters. Forecasters will issue warnings to alert you of the imminent severe weather threat. The warnings are sent out in many different ways in order to reach the most people possible.
A warning is an urgent message telling you that severe weather or flooding is imminent or is occurring. Warnings are usually issued for an area smaller than a county.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher or for hail one inch in diameter or larger.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is imminent or occurring.
A flash flood warning is issued for rapidly developing life threatening flooding.
Before and during severe weather you can receive watches, warnings and advisories on NOAA all hazards weather radio.
Most weather radio receivers have a built in tone alert which is activated by the national weather service when watches and warnings are issued. You will also see warnings on the internet, your smartphone with wireless emergency alert (WEA) messages or hear them on your local radio or television stations.
Do not be caught off guard. Know how to receive watch and warning information and know what to do when severe weather threatens. Specific safety information will be available each day of this Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week.
This guest blog written by Tom Magnuson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Pueblo, Colorado.
Each National Weather Service forecast office has a web site, a facebook page and a twitter feed where you can find graphical weather stories which highlight upcoming weather hazards. The Hazardous Weather Outlook, a text product, it is also available which highlights weather hazards sometimes seven days in advance.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma also forecasts the chance for severe weather across the country several days in advance. These outlooks will tell you if there is a chance for severe weather and if you are in a slight risk, moderate risk or high risk area for severe weather.
If severe weather becomes likely within six hours a watch will be issued alerting you to the increased risk for severe weather. If you are in or close to the watch area you should plan where to go for shelter if severe weather occurs. If high wind is a threat tying down or bringing loose objects indoors would be a wise move. If large hail is a threat protecting your vehicle would be a good idea.
Then forecasters at the local National Weather Service office will monitor satellite and radar data and collaborate with severe weather spotters. Forecasters will issue warnings to alert you of the imminent severe weather threat. The warnings are sent out in many different ways in order to reach the most people possible.
A warning is an urgent message telling you that severe weather or flooding is imminent or is occurring. Warnings are usually issued for an area smaller than a county.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for wind gusts of 58 MPH or higher or for hail one inch in diameter or larger.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is imminent or occurring.
A flash flood warning is issued for rapidly developing life threatening flooding.
Before and during severe weather you can receive watches, warnings and advisories on NOAA all hazards weather radio.
Most weather radio receivers have a built in tone alert which is activated by the national weather service when watches and warnings are issued. You will also see warnings on the internet, your smartphone with wireless emergency alert (WEA) messages or hear them on your local radio or television stations.
Do not be caught off guard. Know how to receive watch and warning information and know what to do when severe weather threatens. Specific safety information will be available each day of this Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week.
This guest blog written by Tom Magnuson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Pueblo, Colorado.
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