[BNAWX] Public Information Statement

[EMWIN Server]

NOUS44 KOHX 270641
PNSOHX
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-270640-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
600 AM CST WED FEB 27 2008

    ...TORNADO AWARENESS DAY...

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH TORNADO AWARENESS
DAY. A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH
THE GROUND. IF THE CIRCULATION IS NOT ON THE GROUND...THEN IT IS
TERMED A FUNNEL CLOUD. TORNADOES USUALLY DESCEND FROM THUNDERSTORMS.
WIND SPEEDS IN TORNADOES ARE USUALLY AROUND 100 MILES AN HOUR...BUT
CAN APPROACH OR EXCEED 300 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MOST VIOLENT OF
STORMS.

YOUR SAFETY DEPENDS ON BEING CONSTANTLY ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF
TORNADOES FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT APPROACH YOU. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING TORNADO WATCHES. A CAREFUL LOOKOUT SHOULD
BE KEPT DURING ANY PERIOD OF SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY. PLAN IN
ADVANCE WHERE YOU WILL GO AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IF A TORNADO
THREATENS YOU.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IS
POSSIBLE...SO WATCH THE SKY FOR DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS AND ALL
THE HAZARDS THEY BRING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...
COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR WEATHER STATEMENTS OR
WARNINGS.

THE WATCH GIVES YOU TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF A
TORNADO APPROACHES AND ALERTS YOU TO THE FACT THAT ATMOSPHERIC
CONDITIONS MIGHT FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
AND TORNADOES. A WATCH MIGHT COVER SEVERAL THOUSAND SQUARE MILES
OVER PARTS OF ONE OR MORE STATES.

A TORNADO WARNING, USUALLY ISSUED FOR 1 OR 2 COUNTIES AT A TIME,
MEANS THAT A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED OR INDICATED BY WEATHER
RADAR. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM NEED TO IMMEDIATELY FIND
SHELTER, PREFERABLY IN A STURDY BUILDING, BELOW GROUND IF POSSIBLE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TORNADOES CAN SOMETIMES DEVELOP
RAPIDLY...AND THERE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE TIME FOR A WARNING TO BE
ISSUED. IF YOU SEE OR HEAR A TORNADO...OR IF YOU FEEL THREATENED
...MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO SHELTER. SECONDS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.

 TORNADO SAFETY RULES

1.   IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN
     INTERIOR ROOM, SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM, ON THE LOWEST
     LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR A
     BED.

2.   IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES, ABANDON THEM AND GO TO A
     STURDY STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY, LIE
     FLAT IN A DITCH, RAVINE, GULLY, CULVERT OR LOW SPOT WITH
     YOUR ARMS AND HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD.

3.   IN LARGE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, HOSPITALS,
     NURSING HOMES AND SHOPPING CENTERS, GO TO THE PREDESIGNATED
     SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE
     USUALLY BEST. STAY AWAY FROM ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA
     BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS.

4.   IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR
     HALLWAY.

5.   STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON'T BOTHER OPENING OR CLOSING
     THEM. IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE AND
     YOU'LL JUST WASTE TIME OR PUT YOURSELF AT RISK SHOULD
     GLASS BREAK AS YOU ARE NEAR.

NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL CARRY INFORMATION AND SAFETY TIPS ALL THIS
WEEK CONTAINING IMPORTANT SAFETY RULES THAT YOU CAN USE TO
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THE DANGERS OF SEVERE
WEATHER.

$$

END




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