Public Information Statement

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM  AL
500 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2007

...LIGHTNING AWARENESS DAY...

...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH A LOOK AT
     LIGHTNING SAFETY...

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY...A REMINDER CONCERNING
CHANGES THIS YEAR DEALING WITH THE WEEKLY RADIO TEST CONDUCTED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM ON WEDNESDAY...
FEBRUARY 22.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM WILL DO THE WEEKLY
RADIO TEST AT THE SPECIAL TIME OF 9:30 AM ON WEDNESDAY...FEBRUARY
22. THIS TIME WILL REPLACE THE USUAL TIME OF THE WEEKLY RADIO TEST
THAT IS NORMALLY DONE ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA BETWEEN 11 AM AND 12 PM
ON WEDNESDAYS. THE INFORMATION MESSAGE GOING ALONG WITH THIS WEEKLY
RADIO TEST WILL HIGHLIGHT APPROPRIATE PREPAREDNESS AND SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS CONCERNING TORNADOES. THIS WILL ALSO REPLACE THE
TRADITIONAL FORMAL PRACTICE TORNADO WATCH AND WARNING THAT HAVE BEEN
ISSUED IN PREVIOUS YEARS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 AM AND 10 AM. IF
INCLEMENT WEATHER DEVELOPS ON WEDNESDAY...FEBRUARY 22...THIS
SPECIAL WEEKLY RADIO TEST ISSUANCE WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL
FRIDAY...FEBRUARY 24 AT 9:30 AM. 

NOW BACK TO LIGHTNING SAFETY...

THE SUMMER MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER ARE THE DEADLIEST AS
FAR AS LIGHTNING IS CONCERNED.

IN AN AVERAGE YEAR... 3 PEOPLE WILL BE STRUCK AND KILLED BY
LIGHTNING IN ALABAMA AND 6 WILL BE INJURED.

 LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES

1. MOVE INSIDE A WELL CONSTRUCTED HOUSE...A LARGE BUILDING...OR AN
   ALL METAL VEHICLE. STAY AWAY FROM ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND
   DO NOT USE THE TELEPHONE.

2. IF YOU ARE IN A BOAT...GET OFF THE WATER AND INTO A SUBSTANTIAL
   BUILDING OR AT LEAST INTO AN ENCLOSED AND ALL-METAL VEHICLE
   WITH THE WINDOWS UP. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN AN OPEN METAL
   BOAT...LIE DOWN IN THE BOAT WITH CUSHIONS BETWEEN YOU AND THE
   METAL SIDES AND BOTTOM.

3. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTDOORS DURING A STORM AND ARE TOO FAR AWAY
   FROM APPROPRIATE SHELTER...YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LAST DITCH
   EFFORT TO LOWER YOUR CHANCES OF BEING DIRECTLY STRUCK. CROUCH
   DOWN LOW...BUT DO NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND. IF IN A RAVINE
   OR VALLEY...BE ALERT FOR FLOODING. THE BEST ADVICE IS TO CHECK
   THE FORECAST AND WATCH THE SKY FOR STORM DEVELOPMENT...AND NOT
   PUT YOURSELF IN THE SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE OUT IN THE OPEN
   WHEN A THUNDERSTORM OCCURS.

4. MOVE AWAY FROM MOTORCYCLES...SCOOTERS...GOLF CARTS...BICYCLES
   ...TRACTORS AND OTHER METAL FARM EQUIPMENT. AVOID WIRE
   FENCES...CLOTHESLINES...METAL PIPES AND DRAINS...RAILROAD
   TRACKS AND ANY OTHER METAL SURFACES.

5. AVOID LONE TREES AND THE TALLEST TREES. IF CAUGHT IN THE
   WOODS...PICK A SMALL GROVE OF TREES AS YOUR SHELTER AND STAND
   AT LEAST 5 FEET FROM THE TRUNK OF THE NEAREST TREE TO AVOID
   FLYING BARK IF THE TREE IS STRUCK.

6. AVOID STANDING IN A SMALL ISOLATED SHED OR OTHER SMALL
   UNGROUNDED STRUCTURE IN OTHER AREAS.

7. IF IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN AN OPEN AREA AND CAN NOT GET TO
   SHELTER...SPREAD OUT BEFORE YOU TAKE LAST DITCH EFFORTS.

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

TOMORROW...WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22...WE WILL HIGHLIGHT TORNADO
SAFETY. FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS...VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/BMX...OR CONTACT JIM STEFKOVICH...
METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM...AT
205-664-3010...EXTENSION 2 2 2.

$$

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