Editor’s note: April 12-16 is tornado and severe weather awareness week. In recognition, the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management has released the following information:
Good Morning and Welcome to day one of Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.
“They have been called cyclones, twisters, whirlwinds, ‘The Finger of God’ and ‘The Tail of the Devil’. They are among the most elusive and most deadly of all-natural phenomenon…the tornado.”
There are many different myths associated with tornadoes, including:
• Seeking shelter under an overpass is safe. An overpass can act as a wind tunnel and flying debris is a huge concern.
• Opening windows to equalize pressure. Most damage from a tornado is from strong winds and debris hitting a home, not low atmospheric pressure. Your time is better spent seeking shelter.
• All tornadoes are visible as they approach. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air. Often you will see dirt and debris being kicked up at the base of the tornado before you will see the visible tornado shape. A good indicator of a tornado is a loud roar, similar to a train.
• You can outrun a tornado in a vehicle. Tornadoes can move at up to 70 miles per hour or more and shift directions erratically and without warning. It is unwise to try to outrace a tornado. It is better to abandon your vehicle and seek shelter immediately.
Be prepared
Make a severe weather plan before you need it. Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance. Ask yourself:
How you will get to a safe place?
How you will contact one another?
How you will get back together?
What you will do in different situations?
Preparedness steps you can take include:
• Get a Kit. When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it’s best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.
• Make a Plan.
• Be Informed. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.
Fun facts:
Did you ever wonder about weather folklore? Here’s one to ponder: “Seagull, seagull, sit on the sand, it’s never good weather when you’re on land.”
And here’s our weather joke: Q: What kind of shorts do clouds wear? A: Thunderwear!
Area weather photographer and Janesville resident Tom Purdy said he took this photo about six years ago in northern Illinois. He described the storm as a “monster EF4.”
Tom Purdy photo.
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