PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUTSON/GALVESTON TEXAS
300 PM CST TUE MAR 8 2005

...TORNADO SAFETY AT HOME...WORK OR SCHOOL...

PLANNING AHEAD AND KNOWING THE SAFETY RULES IS ESSENTIAL IN BEING 
PREPARED FOR WHEN A TORNADO STRIKES. ONCE A TORNADO HAS FORMED...
THE TIME FOR PLANNING HAS PASSED AND ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED 
IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT LIFE. EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST KNOW WHAT TO DO 
DEPENDANT ON WHERE THEY ARE...WHETHER AT HOME...WORK OR SCHOOL.

FOR EACH PLACE THERE SHOULD BE BASIC PREPAREDNESS PLANS IN PLACE 
FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER.  

1. SELECT AND DESIGNATE SHELTER AREAS. BASEMENTS BELOW GROUND LEVEL 
   OFFER THE GREATEST PROTECTION. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST
   FLOOR AWAY FROM WINDOWS OFFER SOME PROTECTION. PUT AS MANY WALLS 
   BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM 
   STRUCTURES WITH HIGH WIDE SPAN ROOFS SUCH AS SHOPPING CENTERS OR 
   AUDITORIUMS AND GYMNASIUMS AT SCHOOLS. 

2. HAVE RELIABLE AND REDUNDANT METHODS TO RECEIVE WEATHER INFORMATION.  
   NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS A RELIABLE SOURCE TO RECEIVE CURRENT SEVERE 
   WEATHER INFORMATION. HOWEVER...LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS...
   THE INTERNET AND PAGERS CAN OFFER OTHER WAYS OF RECEIVING WARNING 
   INFORMATION IN CASE OTHER AVENUES FAIL.

3. EACH MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY...STAFF OR FACULTY SHOULD KNOW THEIR 
   RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW WHEN A WARNING IS 
   ISSUED OR THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. YOU MAY ONLY HAVE A FEW 
   SECONDS TO REACT AND FIND SHELTER. IMMEDIATE ACTION COULD SAVE 
   LIVES. KNOW WHAT TO DO!

4. CONDUCT DRILLS TO TEST AND PRACTICE YOUR PLAN ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
   PRACTICING TORNADO SAFETY PLANS...SIMILAR TO FIRE SAFETY DRILLS...
   WILL ENABLE YOU TO ENACT YOUR PLAN WHENEVER A TORNADO THREATENS YOUR 
   AREA.

KNOW THE SAFETY RULES FOR SURVIVING A TORNADO. IN HOMES AND SMALL 
BUILDINGS...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A 
CLOSET...BATHROOM OR AN INTERIOR HALL ON THE LOWEST LEVEL. PROTECT 
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH THICK BLANKETS...SLEEPING BAGS OR 
MATTRESSES.

AT SCHOOLS AS WELL AS HOSPITALS...FACTORIES AND SHOPPING MALLS GO TO THE 
DESIGNATED SHELTER AREAS...USUALLY AN INTERIOR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST 
FLOOR WITHOUT WINDOWS. KNEEL ON THE FLOOR AGAINST THE WALL AND PLACE 
HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD TO PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR YOUR HEAD.  
  
FOR MOBILE HOMES...PORTABLE CLASSROOMS OR VEHICLES LEAVE THEM AND 
GO TO A STRONG BUILDING FOR SHELTER. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY... 
GET INTO THE NEAREST DITCH OR DEPRESSION. LIE FLAT WITH YOUR HANDS 
SHIELDING YOUR HEAD.

STAY AWARE OF THE LATEST FORECASTS. IF THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER 
EXISTS...BE PREPARED TO ACT BY REVIEWING THE SAFETY PLANS. WHEN SEVERE 
WEATHER OUTLOOKS OR WATCHES ARE ISSUED...BE READY TO ENACT YOUR SAFETY 
PLANS. WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED OR SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS...ACT 
IMMEDIATELY TO REACH THE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. 

PLANNING AHEAD MAY BE THE KEY TO YOUR SURVIVAL DURING A TORNADO.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TORNADO SAFETY...CALL YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE OFFICE...OR VISIT THEM ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV.