Severe Weather Awareness Week: Are you ready?
Tornado sirens sounded a warning early Sunday morning from Osage Beach to Laurie as a fast-moving thunderstorm passed through the lake area.
The sirens will sound again Tuesday as part of a statewide drill.
Individuals, homeowners and businesses can take measures to be prepared in the event 2009 is anything like last year, when nearly every county, at one time, was part of a presidential disaster declaration. Most counties had multiple disaster declarations through the year.
"Missourians can learn how to protect themselves and cope with disaster by planning ahead," said FEMA's Tom Hall, federal coordinating officer in Missouri. "We urge everyone to develop, practice and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during and after a disaster."
Hall said the following FEMA publications can be particularly helpful to Missouri residents in planning ahead.
- Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizens Preparedness (IS-22) is a comprehensive guide and provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by walking readers through important and possibly life-saving information.
- Flood Preparation and Safety (F-684) presents some important tips to prepare. Protecting Your Property From Flooding, involves a variety of actions, from inspecting and maintaining structures to installing protective devices.
- The FEMA National Flood Insurance Program offers Answers to Questions About the NFIP (F-084) a booklet that acquaints the public with hazard areas, insurance rates, and offers an opportunity to "write your own" coverage.
- Safe rooms. To guard against the potential life-threatening damage caused by tornadoes, residents are urged to obtain a free copy of Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House.
- Preparing for Disaster for People with Special Needs is a booklet that helps people with disabilities prepare an emergency plan to protect themselves, family, friends, personal care assistants and others in their support networks in the event of an emergency. FEMA Publication Number 476.
- Animals in Emergencies is a two-DVD set that addresses what planners, public officials and pet owners need to consider when planning for emergency animal and pet evacuation, transportation and sheltering. FEMA Publication Number F-206.
Some other helpful publications include:
- Against the Wind: Protecting Your Home from Hurricane and Wind Damage (F-247)
- FEMA for Kids: Young Americans Prepare: Becoming Disaster Ready
Copies of each are free and available through the FEMA publications warehouse by calling (1-800-480-2520), or online at www.fema.gov/fims.
Numbers to know
87: the number of tornadoes Missouri recorded in 2008.
102: The record number of tornadoes documented in Missouri -- in 2006.
64: Tornadoes that occurred across the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas in 2008, with 36 during the January 7, 2008 tornado outbreak.
28. The average number of tornadoes that occur each year across the state.
Dangerous thunderstorms
Severe thunderstorms produce a variety of weather hazards including tornadoes, large hail, damaging straight line winds, flooding, and lightning.
Severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph and large hail can be a threat to life and property. Damaging straight line winds are much more common than tornadoes and can be just as deadly.
Those caught outdoors during a severe thunderstorm are particularly vulnerable. Boaters and campers that enjoy the recreational opportunities of the Ozarks should be especially alert to the potential of severe storms. High winds associated with severe thunderstorms can strike suddenly. Winds in excess of 70 mph can easily capsize boats and put campers at risk due to falling trees.
Lake Sun Leader