NWS PSA

618

NOUS43 KLOT 041531

PNSLOT

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL

900 AM CST TUE MAR 4 2014

...TORNADOES AND TORNADO SAFETY...

IN ILLINOIS...MOST TORNADOES OCCUR FROM APRIL THROUGH JUNE...DURING THE MID AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING HOURS...BUT THEY CAN OCCUR ANYTIME OF DAY AND ANY MONTH OF THE YEAR. ILLINOIS RANKS FIFTH IN THE NATION IN TORNADO FREQUENCY PER SQUARE MILE. LAST YEAR… ILLINOIS HAD 54 TORNADOES...WHICH CAUSED 187 INJURIES AND 8

FATALITIES. NEARLY HALF THE TORNADOES OCCURRED DURING THE NOVEMBER 17 2013 OUTBREAK?WHICH WAS THE FOURTH LARGEST IN HISTORY. THERE WERE TWO EF-4 TORNADOES...ONE NEAR CENTRALIA AND THE OTHER WHICH STRUCK WASHINGTON.

WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS...YOU MAY ONLY HAVE SECONDS TO SAVE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN FOR YOUR HOME… SCHOOL...AND WORKPLACE. KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE BEST TORNADO SHELTER.

IN A HOME...GO TO THE BASEMENT AND GET UNDER THE STAIRWELL...OR UNDER A HEAVY PIECE OF FURNITURE. IF THERE IS NO BASEMENT...GO TO AN INTERIOR CLOSET...HALL OR BATHROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. COVER YOUR HEAD WITH PILLOWS OR SOFA CUSHIONS.

IN SCHOOLS...HOSPITALS...CHURCHES AND OFFICE BUILDINGS...GO TO SMALL INTERIOR ROOMS OR INTERIOR HALLS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. LONG CORRIDORS WITH DOORS OR WINDOWS ON THE END CAN ACT AS WIND TUNNELS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. AVOID LARGE OPEN AREAS WITH FREE SPAN ROOFS SUCH AS GYMNASIUMS AND CAFETERIAS.

IN STEEL AND CONCRETE HIGH RISE BUILDINGS...IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO GET TO THE LOWEST FLOOR...BUT GO TO INTERIOR HALLS...BATHROOMS OR CLOSETS.  STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IN SHOPPING CENTERS...AVOID LARGE OPEN AREAS AND GLASS. SEEK SHELTER IN BATHROOMS...SMALL INTERIOR SPACES AND BEHIND COUNTERS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE IN YOUR VEHICLE.

ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES FOR A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT LIE FLAT IN A DITCH. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER AN OVERPASS.