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Perry lifestyles
1
[What is a I
tornado?
Tornadoes are the most
violent of all storms. They
form on the back side of
some thunderstorms and
can produce winds of 200
miles an hour or more.
Georgia is in the "tornado
belt". This belt stretches
from Oklahoma and Texas j
eastward to our state. More
Georgians have been killed
by tornadoes in the last 50 j
years than in Kansas.
Tornadoes occur most
often in Georgia between
mid-February and mid-May
in the afternoon and
evening. But some of our
worst have come between 5
a.m. and 9 a.m. They are
very small and usually
don't last very long.
Not all tornadoes are alike. j
They come in different
sizes, shapes, colors and
intensities. Most are weak
"mini-tornadoes". Others
are "medium" and only rare
ones are "maxies".
A Warning
System
A Tornado Watch
A tornado watch is issued
by the Severe Storms
Center in Kansas City for
very large areas when the
conditions are right for
tornadoes to form. They
may be issued even when
the sky is blue, but they're
saying that tornadoes may |
form inside the watch area
later on. Continue normal
activities, but have a radio
or TV handy, and keep a
watch on the sky.
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is
issued by the National
Weather Service when a
tornado is sighted or
indicated by radar. It's
issued for specific counties
for one hour or less. If your
county is included in the
warning, take cover imme
diately. Protect your head
and chest and get as low as
possible.
L Tornadoes: The most violent of storms
Tornados injured 16 people in
Georgia last year and these storms,
nature's most intense and violent,
will continue to threaten lives and
destroy property in our state each
year.
However, there are other severe
weather events, lightning for
example, that have caused the most
weather related deaths among Geor
gians according to Bob Smith, di
rector of Houston County Emer
gency Management
"For that reason our governor has
proclaimed the week of February
25-March 1 as Severe Weather
Awareness Week," Smith said.
"Monday, Feb. 25 will be Fam
ily Emergency Preparedness Day in
Houston County," he said. "And
Wednesday, Feb. 27 will mark a
statewide tornado drill which will
be held across the state. Families,
state and local governments,
schools, businesses and industries
are being urged to participate. It’s
just one way we are striving to
Use common sense
Don't be caught in harm's way this year
Saving lives during inclement
weather is just a matter of follow
ing "some common sense rules"
according to Patricia Brown, a me
terologist for the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
"People panic and just don't seem
to think," she said. "Take for ex
ample, lightning. All thunder
storms have lightning and during
1990, nine people were injured and
two people died due to lightning.
By following a few safety rules,
this could have been avoided."
Brown offered these safety rules:
•When a thunderstorm threatens,
get inside a home or large building,
or inside an all metal vehicle.
•Inside a home, avoid using the
telephone, except for emergencies.
•If outside, with no time to reach
a safe building or an automobile,
follow these rules: Don't stand un
When an emergency situation arises
Have a plan and follow it for safety
The National Safety Association
suggests that every family have a
family disaster plan.
At least once a year families
should have a meeting to discuss
and update the survival plan and
determine what training, equipment
and supplies are needed.
Occasional drills will assure
quick reaction and avoid injury and
panic in an emergency.
Below is a checklist for a
Family Disaster plan
Family Meetings: At least once a year have a meeting with your family to discuss and
update your plan and determine what training equipment and supplies are needed.
Occasional drills will assure quick reaction and avoid injury and panic in an
emergencys with co-workers, neighbors, friends and relatives.
1. Learn how to protect youreself from smoke, fire, fumes.
2. Learn First Aid (Call American Red Cross for more information.
Persons trained: Date:
Date:
3. Location of First Aid kit:
4. Learn how and where to cut off utilities
5. Draw a plan of your home.
6. List alternate places to meet around home.
7. Identify where emergency supplies and equipment are located.
Wednesday *i a
Feb. 20,1991 I O
educate the public.
Lightning
NWS statistics show that light
ning is the number one killer of
Georgians in weather related deaths
during the past 13 years. A total of
25 deaths were caused by lightning
during that period.
Last year, two lightning deaths
were reported in the state. In July,
lightning struck and killed a boy as
he walked beside a swimming pool
and a man died after he and a com
panion were both struck by light
ning on a beach.
Lightning, a deadly "offspring" of
thunderstorms, occurs mostly in the
summer time when high heat, hu
midity and temperature combine to
cause imbalances in the atmo
sphere.
Moreover, persons participating
in the usual summertime outdoor
recreational activities at the begin
ning of or during a thunderstorm are
at high risk to lightning strikes.
Under an isolated tree, on a golf
derneath a natural lightning rod
such as a tall, isolated tree in an
open area. Avoid projecting above
the surrounding landscape, as you
would do if you were standing on a
hilltop, in an open field, on the
beach, or fishing from a small boat.
Getout of and away from open wa
ter. Get off of and away from mo
torcycles, scooters, golf carts and
bicycles. Put down golf clubs. Stay
away from wire fences, clothes
lines, metal pipes, rails and other
metallic paths which could carry
lightning to you from some dis
tance away. Avoid standing in
small isolated sheds or other small
structures in open areas. In a forest,
seek shelter in a low area under a
thick growth of small trees. In open
areas, go to a low place such as a
ravine or valley. But be alert for
flash floods. If you're hopelessly
survival plan.
1. Learn how to protect yourself
from falling objects, smoke, fire,
caustic fumes, etc.
2. Learn First Aid. (Lessons
available from your local Red
Cross).
3. Learn how and where ot shut
off utilities.
4. Draw a plan of your home.
5. List alternate places to meet
around the home in case of fire or
course and in or on open water are
among the most dangerous places
to be during thunderstorms and
lightning.
Flash Floods
Flash floods are the second lead
ing cause of weather related deaths
in Georgia. During the past 13
years, a total of 22 persons have
died as a result of flash floods in
our state are the northeast Georgia
mountains and the rapidly growing
metropolitan of Atlanta.
Even though floods or flash
floods can develop at anytime dur
ing the year, most occur during the
spring or late fall times when
thunderstorms are so prevalent,
flash floods can develop quickly and
are usually the result of a thunder
storm's heavy rains, overflowing
streams and rivers, or storm surges
from hurricanes.
Remember that in the event of
flooding, there may be little time
between detection of flood condi
tions and the arrival of a flash flood
isolated in a level field or prairie
and you feel your hair stand on end,
indicating lightning is about to
strike, drop to your knees and bend
forward putting your hands on your
knees. Do not lie flat on the
ground.
Flood related deaths often occur
when people fail to perceive the
true danger during flooding.
"Most flood related deaths happen
when people refuse to evacuate or
drive past barriers into flooded ar
eas," Brown said." Sometimes
campers camp near streams prone to
flooding."
Brown said people should always
move to safer ground at the first
hint that a flood may occur.
"Listen to the radio and evacuate
if need be. It’s better to be safe and
alive then bold and dead," she said.
other emergency.
6 List alternate places to meet
when the family is not at home.
For example, a Red Cross shelter,
neighbor, relative, park or school.
7. Learn and discuss school
disaster policy. Are medical forms
complete?
8. Identify where emergency
supplies and equipment are located.
Engagements announced—4D
or flood crest. Swift action in re
sponse to floods or flash floods is
essential to saving lives.
Thunderstorms and their
accompanying high winds are the
third largest cause of weather related
deaths in Georgia over the past 13
years. Thirteen Georgians have died
as a result of these storms.
Thunderstorms
Occurring mostly during the
months of June through September,
thunderstorms can generate wind
speeds of up to 80 mph or more,
the equivalent of a tornado because
of wind "downdrafts" which occur
along the leading edge of almost all
thunderstorms.
Strong, localized downdrafts are
called "downbursts". This deadly
weather phenomenon is an intense
concentration of sinking air which
fans out upon striking the earth's
surface and can produce powerful
"straight" winds or "windshears".
Safety Rules
To know what to do when a warning is
> received, or a tornado is observed, may
> mean the difference between life and
- death!
I. There is no universal protection against tornadoes except
caves or underground excavations. When time permits, go to
a tornado cellar, cave or underground excavation which
should have an air outlet to help equalize air pressure. It
should be kept fit for use, free from water, gas or debris; and |
. preferably equipped with pick and shovel.
s
} ll.lf you are in open country-move at right angles to the
. tornado's path. Tornadoes usually move ahead at about 25 to
t 40 miles an hour. If there is no time to escape, lie flat in the
nearest depression such as a ditch or ravine.
111. If in a city or town-seek shelter, preferably in a steel
reinforced building. Stay away from windows! In homes, the
southwest corner of the lowest floor or in the basement offers
greatest safety. People living in brick or stone houses should
seek other shelter, preferably in a storm cellar or the base
ment of a frame house. If time permits, electricity and fuel
lines should be shut off. Standing against the inside walls on
the lower floors of an office building offers some protection.
IV In Schools-Stay away from gymnasiums and auditori
ums. Stay inside away from windows. Keep calm! People have
been killed by running out into streets and by turning back
into the path of a tornado. Keep tuned to your radio station for
the latest information.
: Special blessing:
Legend says Creek Indians
blessed land known as Perry
Warner Robins has been hit
many times by tornadoes. Other ar
eas of Houston County have also
been hit by devasting tornadoes
down through the years.
But old timers are hard pressed to
remember a time when Perry was
struck by a tornado. And some say
Perryans can thank the Indians for
this blessing.
'l’ve heard it since I was a
young'un," Charlie, a 104 year old
resident at the New Perry Nursing
Home said. ’’You see Perry was the
crossroads for the Creek Indians.
They met in Perry. They liked
Perry so well that they gave it their
blessing. It was a blessing that no
harm should ever come to this place
we know as Perrv."
For additional information about tornadoes or other
severe weather systems, Houston Countians should
contact Robert A. Smith or James W. Williams Jr. at
The Houston County Emergency Management Agency
by calling 922-4471 Ext. 320
Journal
This is the force of a thunderstorm
that most often kills, injures or in
flicts severe damage.
Although no lives have been lost
in Georgia as a result of tornadoes
during the past year, more people
have been injured by tornadoes than
any other weather event. Sixteen
people sustained injuries from tor
nadoes in Georgia last year.
"Never underestimate the deadly
threat and enormous force of a tor
nado," Smith warned. "Most
usually strike in Georgia during the
months of March, April and May.
However, that is not always the
case. In 1989, for example, torna
does occurred all during the year."
”1 hope that all citizens of Hous
ton County will gain a better un
derstanding of the numerous
weather threats that we face each
year and learn not only how to pre
pare for them, but most of all how
to survive them," Smith said.
Charlie continued, "So when the
floods, tornadoes and lighning
storms come, Mother Nature al
ways looks kindly upon Perry be
cause those Indians have blessed
this land.”
"I've heard my parents say that a
fella might get struck by lightning
any where in Houston County ex
cept for Perry because God is look
ing out for Perry," Charlie said. "I
think I might believe it too. I
hadn't thought of it in years."
So when the tornadoes come and
the lightning flashes, Perryans
should think back to the Creek In
dians who blessed this land more
than two centuries ago. Os course it
might pay to be wise and follow
safety rules anyway.