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NOUS42 KTAE 031039
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GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-041100-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
539 AM EST TUE FEB 3 2009

TODAY'S TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN GEORGIA IS 
THUNDERSTORMS.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN GEORGIA. ALTHOUGH THEY CAN 
DEVELOP ANYTIME...THEY ARE MOST FREQUENT DURING THE SPRING AND 
SUMMER MONTHS. LIGHTNING...DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...TORNADOES 
AND FLASH FLOODS ARE ALL HAZARDS FROM THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS OF 58 MPH OR GREATER...PENNY OR LARGER 
SIZE HAIL...AND TORNADOES. THE MAIN THREATS FROM SEVERE STORMS ARE 
LARGE HAIL...AND STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...WHICH CAN REACH SPEEDS IN 
EXCESS OF 100 MPH AND PRODUCE DAMAGE SIMILAR TO A TORNADO.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY...

HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION IN PLACE BEFORE THREATENING WEATHER STRIKES. A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING MEANS A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS BEEN OBSERVED OR DETECTED BY DOPPLER RADAR.

MONITOR FORECASTS IF THREATENING WEATHER IS POSSIBLE IN YOUR AREA.

IF SEVERE WEATHER IS IMMINENT...AND YOU ARE INDOORS...MOVE TO A 
SHELTER SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.

IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS...SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/FFC...OR 
CONTACT YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

WEDNESDAY'S TOPIC FOR SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WILL BE
TORNADOES.

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