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Guide for Severe Weather Preparedness in Schools

Timmy the Twister

The National Weather Service's Memphis Forecast Office created "Timmy the Twister" in 2005 to raise the daily level of severe weather awareness. "Timmy" is based on the U.S. Forest Service's highly successful "Smokey Bear" campaign to raise the level of fire danger awareness in national parks.

The hazard levels of none, slight, moderate, and high correspond to the Day One Categorical Severe Weather Outlooks issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. There are two prototype "Timmy the Twister" signs in Ponotoc, Mississippi and Caruthersville, Missouri. The sign in Caruthersville was shown on cable television networks such as MSNBC and The Weather Channel in the aftermath of the F3 damage tornado which moved through the city on April 2, 2006. Only sixty five people were injured in a city of 6,800, despite substantial damage to 500 homes. The city emergency manager created the increased awareness due to the "Timmy" sign and its StormReady action plan for the lack of fatalities.

Timmy the Twister Materials:
Timmy the Twister Presentation (PDF)
Timmy Activity Brochure (PDF)

Timmy the Twister Printable Materials:
Sign: PSD 162 MB / JPG 3 MB

Brochure Insert Page 1: PDF 0.3 MB / PSD 34 MB / JPG 0.3 MB
Brochure Insert Page 2: PDF 0.5 MB / PSD 37 MB