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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
900 AM CST WED FEB 22 2006   


              SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK 2006
                DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22 2006     

THIS IS DAY THREE OF SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN
MISSISSIPPI. TODAY'S TOPIC IS "TORNADOES".

A TORNADO...ONE OF NATURE'S MOST VIOLENT STORMS...IS A VIOLENTLY
ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. TORNADOES VARY
GREATLY IN SIZE, INTENSITY, AND APPEARANCE. TORNADO WINDS CAN
RANGE FROM LESS THAN 100 MPH TO UP TO 300 MPH WITH THE LARGER
TORNADOES. THE TIME TORNADOES STAY ON THE GROUND CAN ALSO VARY
FROM A QUICK TOUCH DOWN THAT DOES LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE TO ONE THAT
STAYS ON THE GROUND FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND DESTROYS EVERYTHING IN
ITS PATH.

DURING THE YEAR OF 2005 THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 99 TORNADOES
REPORTED ACROSS MISSISSIPPI. ONE PERSON DIED AND 22 OTHERS WERE 
INJURED AS A RESULT OFF THESE VIOLENT STORMS. TORNADOES
ALSO ACCOUNTED FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND
DISRUPTED MANY PEOPLES LIVES.

TORNADOES CAN AND DO OCCUR IN EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. IN A
NORMAL YEAR THERE IS A HIGHER FREQUENCY OF TORNADOES IN THE
SPRING MONTHS FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY.  TORNADOES CAN ALSO
OCCUR AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, BUT ARE MORE COMMON DURING
THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS WHEN HEATING IS AT A
MAXIMUM. IT IS THE HEATING THAT FUELS THE THUNDERSTORMS AND MAKES
THE ATMOSPHERE MORE UNSTABLE.

A "TORNADO WATCH" IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
FORMATION OF BOTH TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER A
PARTICULAR AREA. DURING A "WATCH" REMAIN ALERT FOR SIGNS OF
THREATENING WEATHER AND MAKE PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR ACTION. PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES SHOULD HAVE PLANS FOR SEEKING SHELTER IN
A MORE STURDY STRUCTURE.

A "TORNADO WARNING" IS ISSUED WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED BY
A SPOTTER OR DETECTED ON RADAR. WHEN A "WARNING" IS ISSUED IT'S
TIME TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL NOT CONDUCT A DRILL THIS YEAR. 
WE ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS, BUSINESS, HOSPITALS AND FAMILIES TO CONDUCT 
THEIR OWN DRILL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN SEVERE 
WEATHER APPROACHES. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE TORNADO IS KNOCKING AT
YOUR DOOR TO DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

TORNADO SAFETY RULES WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY.

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