[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 2/28/2011 9:15:22 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 281409
PNSPHI
PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-010000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
909 AM EST MON FEB 28 2011

...PENNSYLVANIA WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...

GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK...FEBRUARY 27TH THROUGH 
MARCH 5TH...AS WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK WE WILL COVER VARIOUS TOPICS RELATING TO 
SEVERE WEATHER AND WEATHER SAFETY.

OUR TOPIC FOR TODAY...TORNADOES AND TORNADO SAFETY.

WE WILL COVER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TORNADO WATCH AND A TORNADO 
WARNING...AND GIVE YOU TIPS ON WHAT TO DO WHEN A WATCH OR WARNING IS 
ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

WHAT IS A TORNADO?
A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR IN CONTACT WITH THE
GROUND. THE WIND SPEEDS INSIDE A TORNADO RANGE FROM UNDER 100 MILES 
AN HOUR UP TO 300 MILES AN HOUR. THEY CAN TRAVEL WITH A FORWARD 
SPEED AS FAST AS 70 MPH...AND CAN DESTROY VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING IN 
THEIR PATH.

WHILE MOST TORNADOES THAT OCCUR IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE NOT AS STRONG
AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE PLAINS...STRONG AND DAMAGING
TORNADOES CAN AND DO OCCUR HERE. IN FACT...PENNSYLVANIA RANKS IN
THE TOP 25 FOR TORNADO OCCURRENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND AVERAGES
TWENTY TORNADOES PER YEAR. ON MAY 31ST AND JUNE 2ND 1998...
PENNSYLVANIA WAS HIT BY 40 TORNADOES...SOME OF WHICH HAD WIND
SPEEDS OVER 200 MPH. 

WHAT DOES A TORNADO WATCH MEAN?
A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED
TO ALERT YOU TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP...AND THAT THEY MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A TORNADO WATCH FOR MANY
COUNTIES AND FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT A TIME.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED...
GO ABOUT YOUR NORMAL ACTIVITIES...BUT WATCH THE SKY AROUND YOU
FOR DEVELOPING STORMS. PERIODICALLY LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO
OR MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

KNOW WHICH COUNTY YOU LIVE IN...AND WHICH ONES BORDER YOUR
COMMUNITY. KNOW HOW TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE QUICKLY IF A WARNING 
IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA...OR IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH.

WHAT DOES A TORNADO WARNING MEAN?
A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN METEOROLOGISTS SPOT A DEVELOPING 
TORNADO USING DOPPLER RADAR...OR WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED 
BY TRAINED SKYWARN SPOTTERS. THE WARNING MEANS A TORNADO IS GOING 
TO MOVE THROUGH YOUR AREA SOON...SO YOU NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE 
ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE AND PROPERTY. 

TORNADO WARNINGS ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES ARE 
TYPICALLY FOR AREAS SMALLER THAN ONE COUNTY...AND FOR TIMES 
GENERALLY LESS THAN ONE HOUR.  WE TRY TO MAKE A SPECIFIC LIST OF 
TOWNS THAT MAY BE IN THE PATH OF THE TORNADO. WHILE NOT ALL 
COMMUNITIES CAN BE LISTED IN THE WARNING TO KEEP THE MESSAGE BRIEF 
AND TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT FAST...YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO HEAR IF 
COMMUNITIES OR LANDMARKS NEAR YOU ARE MENTIONED IN THE WARNING. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA...
THE KEY IS TO REMAIN CALM...BUT TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.  IF YOU ARE AT
HOME OR IN A SMALL BUILDING...GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN INTERIOR
ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. CLOSETS...BATHROOMS...AND OTHER INTERIOR
ROOMS OFFER THE BEST PROTECTION. AVOID WINDOWS AND GET UNDER
SOMETHING STURDY OR COVER YOURSELF WITH A MATTRESS.

IF YOU ARE IN A SCHOOL...HOSPITAL...OR SHOPPING CENTER...GO TO A 
PRE-DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. STAY AWAY FROM LARGE OPEN AREAS SUCH AS
GYMS OR AUDITORIUMS. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE TO YOUR CAR. IF YOU ARE IN A
HIGH-RISE BUILDING...GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR.

GET OUT OF MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES. THEY ARE EASILY TOSSED ABOUT BY 
STRONG WINDS IN AND NEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE SHELTER IN A SUBSTANTIAL 
STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SHELTER NEARBY...LIE FLAT IN A DITCH OR LOW
SPOT...WITH YOUR HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD. NEVER STAY INSIDE THE 
MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT:
WEATHER.GOV/PHI...ALL IN LOWER CASE.

...WEATHER SAFETY TOPICS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK...

TUESDAY...GENERAL THUNDERSTORM SAFETY.
WEDNESDAY...FLASH FLOOD SAFETY.
THURSDAY...RIVER FLOOD SAFETY.
FRIDAY...SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTERS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS YEAR'S SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.

$$