[TNham] February 22-28 designated "Severe Weather Awareness Week" in TN

[Greg Williams]

 Governor Phil Bredesen has proclaimed February 22 - 28, 2004 as "SEVERE
WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK" in Tennessee. The National Weather Service,
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and other supporting organizations
ask your help in providing the public with information about severe weather
safety. Advanced planning and increased awareness will help Tennesseans
survive these deadly storms.
Throughout the week, the National Weather Service, Tennessee Emergency
Management Agency and other supporting groups will conduct educational
activities and drills to help people prevent injuries and deaths from
tornadoes, damaging winds, flash floods, lightning, and hail. Each day of
the week focuses on a specific type of severe weather or on the warning and
drill system.

Monday, February 23, begins the work week with a look at Severe
Thunderstorms. Damaging winds from severe thunderstorms are much more
frequent than tornadoes in the Southeast U.S. These straightline winds can
reach well over 100 miles an hour and can be devastating.

Tuesday, February 24, will focus on lightning, one of the underrated
killers. All thunderstorms have lightning and this hazard can be deceptively
deadly.

Wednesday, February 25, will emphasize Tornado Safety. Over and over again,
people survive tornadic weather by knowing weather safety rules and taking
appropriate and timely actions. A state-wide tornado drill will be conducted
on this day. Schools and state, county, and other interested agencies are
encouraged to participate and help everyone learn life saving rules. Friday
will be the alternate drill day if adverse weather is expected on Wednesday.

Thursday, February 26, draws attention to hazards of Flooding and Flash
Floods. Flooding is the number one weather killer in the United States.
Flash Floods are most prevalent in the east half of Tennessee while River
Flooding is more common in the western sections.

Friday, February 27, will be the NOAA Weather Radio and Emergency Alert
System Day.

Saturday, February 28, will highlight SKYWARN (Amateur Radio Volunteers) and
the Emergency Managers Weather Information System (EMWIN).

Please contact one of the National Weather Service Offices listed below if
you need more information.

Memphis.............................Scott
Cordero.............................. (901) 544-0411
Memphis.............................James
Duke................................. (901) 544-0407
Nashville.............................Jerry
Orchanian.......................... (615) 754-4634
Nashville.............................Larry
Vannozzi........................... (615) 754-4634
Morristown.........................Howard Waldron.........................
(423) 586-8706
Morristown.........................Jerry
McDuffie............................. (423) 586-6429

Go to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mrx/skywarn/awareness/swaw2004.pdf to download
the information packet.  It is a PDF file, and Adobe Acrobat Reader is
required.


Greg Williams
k4hsm@lock-net.com

Tis often better to be silent and thought a fool rather than to speak and
remove all doubt.
No trees were destroyed in the sending of this contaminant-free message
We do concede, a significant number of electrons may have been
inconvenienced.