SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK: TORNADO DANGERS
SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES WITH A LOOK AT ONE OF NATURE'S MOST FEARED FORMS OF WEATHER - TORNADOES. TORNADOES ARE MOST COMMON DURING THE SPRING AND FALL BUT CAN FORM AT ANY POINT DURING THE YEAR AND AT ANY POINT DURING THE DAY. WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES CAN VARY FROM 65 TO OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR AND CAN CAUSE MASS DEVASTATION. AREA RESIDENTS KNOW ALL TOO WELL THE DANGERS OF SUCH STORMS WITH 33 CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCH DOWNS IN LAWRENCE COUNTY AND 32 IN GILES COUNTY SINCE THE LATE 1800'S. THE STRONGEST OF THOSE WAS AN F-5 ON APRIL 16TH, 1998 WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR THAT CLAIMED 3 LIVES. OFFICIALS HIGHLY RECOMMEND AREA RESIDENTS KNOW AND PRACTICE SAFETY MEASURES TO ENSURE SURVIVAL DURING TWISTERS BOTH AT HOME AND ON THE GO. THE MOST RECOMMENDED PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER. IF SUCH A LOCATION IS UNAVAILABLE, FIND AN ENCLOSED ROOM AS FAR AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AS POSSIBLE. THOSE IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES ARE REMINDED TO SEEK SHELTER ELSEWHERE IN A STURDY, GROUNDED STRUCTURE. MORE TIPS AND FACTS ON TORNADOES CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT WEATHER.GOV. INFORMATION ON STORM SAFETY WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTING FLASH FLOODS.
