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City of North Platte: Miscellaneous Information: Severe Storms Winter
To prepare for severe winter weather, stay tuned for storm watches and warnings issued
by the National Weather Service. Know the terms used by the NWS, which can be seen
at Winter Weather Terms.
Before the watches and warnings are issued, prepare a winter storm plan that
will enable you and your family to survive for up to 72 hours without any outside
assistance...
- Have extra blankets on hand.
- Ensure that each member of your household has a warm coat, gloves and mittens,
hat and water resistant boots.
- Assemble a disaster supplies kit for you home containing:
- First aid kit and essential medicines, battery powered NOAA Weather Radio and
portable radio, flashlight and extra batteries, canned food and nonelectric can
opener and bottled water.
- Have your car winterized.
- Make sure all family members know what to do when a winter storm watch or warning
is issued.
Assemble a separate disaster supplies kit for the trunk of each car used by members
of your family.
Include: Blankets or sleeping bag, extra sets of dry clothing, a shovel and container
of sand, tire chains, jumper cables, first aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, a
brightly colored cloth, candles and high calorie, nonperishable food.
Avoid traveling by car in a winter storm, but if you must travel...
- Have emergency supplies in the trunk.
- Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel lines
from freezing.
- Travel during daylight and let someone know your destination and route.
Try to travel with other vehicles.
If you do get stuck...
- Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
- Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna for rescuers to see.
- Start the car and use the heater for about 10 minutes each hour. Keep the
exhaust clear of snow and crack a window on the downwind side. Beware the silent
killer - carbon monoxide.
- Leave the overhead light on when running the engine so you can be seen.
- As you sit, move your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay
warm.
When a winter storm WATCH is issued...
- Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio and TV stations, or
the Weather Channel for further updates.
- Be alert to changing weather conditions.
- Avoid unnecessary travel.
When a winter storm WARNING is issued...
- Stay indoors during the storm.
- If you must go outside, wear several layers of clothing to ward off the
cold. Wear gloves or mittens. Wearing a hat will conserve valuable body
heat. Avoid alcohol.
- Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect
of wind and cold on exposed skin. The results can be frostbite and hypothermia
(the rapid loss of body heat).
- Walk carefully on snow or ice-covered surfaces.
- A common killer during winter storms is heart attack. Avoid overexertion
while walking in heavy snow or while shoveling snow.
Winter Weather Survival Tips
Frostbite and Hypothermia
Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims.
A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes or nose and earlobes
are symptoms of frostbite.
Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than
90 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering,
slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness and exhaustion.
If frostbite or hypothermia are suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek
immediate medical assistance. Warm the person's trunk first. Use your own body
heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs
can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure. Put the person in
dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine or
alcohol.
A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and
responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storm.
Before the storm
Be familiar with winter storm warning messages.
Service snow removal equipment and have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways
and kitty litter to generate temporary traction.
Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off.
Winterize your home:
- Insulate walls and attic.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
- Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
Have safe emergency heating equipment available.
- Fireplace with ample supply of wood.
- Small, well-vented, wood, coal or camp stove with fuel.
- Portable space heaters or kerosene heaters (See kerosene heaters below).
- Install and check smoke detectors.
Keep pipes from freezing.
- Wrap pipes with insulation or layers of old newspapers
- Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
- Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
- Know how to shut off water valves.
Have disaster supplies on hand, in case the power goes out.
- Flashlight and extra batteries.
- Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
- One-week supply of food (include items that do not require
refrigeration or cooking in case of power loss.
- Nonelectric can opener.
- One-week supply of essential prescription medications.
- Extra blankets and sleeping bags.
- Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type).
Develop an emergency communications plan. In case family members are separated from one
another during a winter storm (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and
children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster,
it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure all family members know the name, address
and phone number of the contact person.
Make sure all family members know how to respond after a severe winter storm. Teach children how
and when to call 9-1-1, police or fire department and which radio station to tune to for
emergency information.
Kerosene Heaters:
Check with your local fire department on the legality of
using kerosene heaters in your community. Use only the correct fuel for your unit and follow
the manufacturer's instructions. Refuel outdoors only, and only when cool. Keep your kerosene
heater at least 3 feet away from furniture and other flammable objects.
During the Storm
If Indoors
Stay indoors and dress warmly.
Conserve fuel. Lower the thermostat to 65 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night.
Close off unused rooms.
If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in
rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were
most exposed to the cold (or where the cold is most likely to penetrate).
Listen to the radio or television to get the latest information.
NOTE: NEMA urges everyone to purchase a NOAA weather radio. Program the
device to your county and get the latest information from the NWS, the same information
that emergency managers receive!
If Outdoors
Dress warmly. Wear loose-fitting, layered, light-weight clothing. Layers can be removed
to prevent perspiration and chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water
repellent. Mittens are warmer than gloves and are recommended.
Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises
to warm up your body. Also take frequent breaks. Those with heart problems or if you lead
a sedentary lifestyle, be careful of over-exertion and heart attack. Be aware of symptoms
of dehydration.
Cover your mouth. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth.
Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent loss of body heat. Wet clothing
loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance - infants,
elderly and people with disabilities.
Wind Chill - Check the following wind chill chart.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
1300 Military Road
Lincoln, NE 68508-1090
(402)471-7421
Fax:(402)471-7433
City of North Platte: Miscellaneous Information: Severe Storms Summer
Severe Weather Awareness Week...
For one week during each year, the National Weather Service and emergency service agencies
across the state of Nebraska sponsor the Severe Weather Awareness Week. The goal
is to remind everyone of the upcoming tornado season and to test tornado warning
systems statewide.
Severe storms strike quickly! Thunderstorms can produce heavy rain, strong winds, lightning,
hail and tornadoes. You may need to respond promptly to one of these threats posed by a
storm in your area. The National Weather Service, in cooperation with the broadcast media and
your local spotter system, will provide you with the warnings you need to quickly respond. If
you listen to the media, you'll know when a storm is approaching your area and if you need to take
protective action.
NOAA Weather Radio is the best warning system for all kinds of emergencies, including severe storms.
These inexpensive devices are recommended as the primary warning system for everyone. Click here for
more information.
Watch or Warning...
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are right for the development of storms. Stay tuned to
the media for further advisories. Don't travel.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means a storm is probable in the warned area and residents there should be prepared to take cover.
Don't wait until an emergency siren sounds to start looking for flashlights and other things. Make sure the entire family knows where to go at home, at work, in school, at the mall or anywhere they might be when the storms strike. Know where you will take shelter. PLAN AHEAD!
Flash Flooding...
Floods kill more people on average than tornadoes and lightning combined! Most flood deaths are due to
flash floods.
Flash floods are often the result of heavy rains associated with sever thunderstorms. You will not always have a
warning that these deadly, sudden floods are coming.
When a flash flood WATCH is issued, be alert and be ready to evacuate on a moment's notice.
When a flash flood WARNING is issued, or the moment you realize a flash flood is imminent, act quickly to save
yourself. You may only have SECONDS!
Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are automobile related. In your auto, look out for flooding at highway
dips, bridges or low areas.
DO NOT drive through flowing water. A mere two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.
Lightning...
Lightning kills between 75 and 100 people nationwide annually.
During thunderstorms, stay inside. If you are outdoors, an automobile is a safe place to be.
Indoors, keep away from doors, windows, stoves, sinks, metal pipes or other conductors. Don't use
the telephone. Disconnect electrical appliances such as TVs and radios.
Outdoors, minimize your height but don't lie flat. Do not take shelter under a tree. Stay away from
wire fences or other metallic conductors. Avoid standing in small sheds in open areas.
Tornados...
The most destructive and devastating product of a thunderstorm, these violent "twisters", are
characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud, which forms at the bottom of a wall cloud.
Tornadoes are more often than not, accompanied by lightning, heavy rain and hail. In an average year,
the United States reports 800 tornadoes resulting in 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries.
While they can occur all year, tornadoes are most common in Nebraska during spring and early summer,
where they develop along "dry lines." Dry lines separate very warm, moist air to the east from hot,
dry air to the west. Most twisters in the state occur in the afternoon or early evening as these dry
lines move east.
The safest place to be when a tornado strikes is in a basement under something sturdy like a workbench.
A major cause of injury and death is flying debris, (note the basement at the right) so even in the
basement, have a mattress or heavy blanket handy to protect you from debris.
If your house or apartment doesn't have a basement, seek shelter in a small room (preferably without
windows) in the middle of the house. A closet or a bathroom (lie in the bathtub) are recommended.
The more walls between you and the approaching storm, the better.
If you live in a mobile home, even those with tie downs, seek more secure shelter. Have a prearranged
location selected. Go to a friend's or a relative's house or a nearby building with a basement or tornado
shelter.
As a last resort, go outside and get in a culvert or other low area, but be alert to rising water from
the heavy rains.
If you are in an automobile, get out of your vehicle and seek shelter in a safe structure or lie down in
a low area with your hands covering the back of your head and neck.
It is unwise to try and outrun a tornado, however, you may be able to head at a right angle to the storm
if you are sure of the direction in which the twister is heading. Tornadoes can change directions suddenly!
They can toss cars, and even large 18 wheelers, around like toys.
Taking shelter under an overpass is also not recommended, because most underpasses offer no place to hide.
They can actually act like a wind tunnel and increase the storm's fury. Click here for more info on tornados.
At work or school, know the emergency plans. If no specific plans exist, go to an interior hallway or small
room on the building's lowest level. Avoid areas with glass and wide, free span roofs.
When tornado watches are issued stay at home. But if you find yourself at the store or a mall and if you
can't get to a basement or a designated shelter, go to the center of the lowest level of the building.
Avoid windows and lie flat. Cover yourself with any handy object.
Most towns in Nebraska sound the sirens when a tornado is sighted or when the NWS issues a tornado warning. However, many times there are no warnings. Tornadoes can develop suddenly; sometimes the sirens fail.
The best bet is to have a NOAA weather radio with battery backup, have it programmed for your nearest NWS
office and programmed to sound alerts for your county. Be aware of changing weather conditions,
HAVE A PLAN and be prepared to seek shelter.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
1300 Military Road
Lincoln, NE 68508-1090
(402)471-7421
Fax:(402)471-7433
©2010 City of North Platte
Modified 2010-02-04 Webmaster
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