06-22-10 How do you know if a tornado warning has been issued?
How do you know if a tornado warning has been issued for your local area?
Knowing if a tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for your local area may be the difference between life and death. It’s hard to believe in today’s high-tech world that during some tornado situations people may not know that tornado warnings have been issued for their area, but here are four things to consider.
1) Have a NOAA Weather Radio in your home or business. In countless situations, weather radios save lives. The NWS can tone-activate your weather radio, even in the middle of the night when you are sleeping. The weather radio is the smoke alarm of the weather world. Make sure you purchase one that is programmable and has a battery backup...in case you lose electrical power.
2) Monitor commercial AM/FM radio and television as well as cable-TV as they broadcast severe weather information such as watches and warnings.
3) Electronic wireless devices and computer email can connect to commercial weather alert services and often are available at free or at low cost. You can sign up to receive free weather alerts from local television stations and cable weather channels. You can get text messages sent to your cell phone or emails sent to your wireless device or home computers. Just go to the local television websites to sign up.
4) Outdoor warning sirens are designed to be heard and warn people who are outdoors - hence the name "outdoor sirens." They may not always be heard indoors depending on building construction or weather conditions or severe weather can put an outdoor siren out-of-commission. If you do hear the siren in your local area, then head for your basement or a sturdy shelter immediately. However, the NWS notes that you should never depend on an outdoor warning siren as your primary warning device.
Remember you will know a tornado warning has been issued for your local area if you have a NOAA Weather Radio, monitor your local television or radio station or use some other kind of electronic wireless device or computer notification that disseminates weather alert information.
For more information contact the Sheriff’s Emergency Management Bureau at (414) 525-5770.
NOTE: THE NWS ADVISES THAT THE WEATHER PATTERN THAT PRODUCED THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN MONDAY EVENING WILL PERSISTINTO WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATER TONIGHT IN PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN WITH THE RISK SPREADING INTO MUCH OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN FOR WEDNESDAY. ADDITIONALLY, THE ATMOSPHERE IS LOADED WITH MOISTURE AND WITH THE RECENT RAINS THE GROUNDS IN MANY AREAS ARE SATURATED. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF AN INCH OR MORE MAY LEAD TO FLOODING PROBLEMS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE ROOT RIVER AT FRANKLIN FROM LATE TONIGHT TO THURSDAY MORNING. AT 10:15 AM TUESDAY, THE STAGE WAS 7.1 FEET, MAKING MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE. FLOOD STAGE IS 8.0 FEET.