Storm Surge

Every year, the US experiences an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and 6 hurricanes. Around the United States, including here in Wisconsin, this has already been a deadly weather season - and it's just getting started.

During January, February, and March of 2008, NOAA confirmed 350 tornadoes and, tragically, 112 deaths. When the April, May, and June statistics are finalized, the data will be staggering as literally thousands of tornadoes, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning strikes, hail, and floods continue to add to the toll.

How do we stay safe when we don't know when or where a natural disaster might strike? Although it's not always possible to stay out of the path of a storm, you can improve the odds of safely making it through if you know what to do before, during, and after it hits.

Before the Storm
At home, have a plan in place so everyone knows what to do and where to meet if heavy storms or tornadoes are possible. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and store protective coverings like blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses in your shelter space, ready to use. Put together a first aid kit and learn how to deal with traumas like bleeding, shock, broken limbs, and crush injuries.

All schools, shopping centers, nursing homes, hospitals, sports arenas, stadiums, mobile home communities and offices should have a tornado safety plan in place, with easy-to-read signs posted to direct everyone to a safe, close-by shelter area. Look for these signs and imagine how to stay calm and react appropriately when an event occurs.

If a thunderstorm is likely in your area:

• Postpone outdoor activities
• Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage, including any dead tree branches.
• Close windows and doors. Curtains can add some protection from flying glass.
• Unplug appliances, computers, and other electrical items that might be damaged by power surges.
• Avoid showering or bathing - plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.
• Cordless and cell phones are safe to use during storms; use a corded phone only for emergencies.
• Use a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for local updates.

Know the Signs of a Tornado
Weather forecasting science is great, but not perfect, and tornadoes can still occur without warning. Keep an eye on the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, watch for whirling dust or debris on the ground (with or without a funnel) under a cloud base or strong, persistent rotation in a cloud base. Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm probably indicate that power lines are being snapped by very strong wind.

Rain, wind, lightning, and hail characteristics vary from storm to storm, from one hour to the next, and even with the direction the storm is moving. Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift might indicate an unusually dangerous thunderstorm or a tornado, but these conditions are not always reliable predictors. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.

Keep track of ongoing severe weather reports, and act quickly if any tornado watches or warnings go into effect.

• In a house or apartment with a basement: Get in the basement under something solid like a heavy table or work bench, or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag - flying debris is the greatest danger during tornadoes. Stay away from the windows. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. In a worst-case scenario, they can fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.
• In a house or apartment with no basement: Go to the lowest floor, a small center room like a bathroom or closet, under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway. Avoid windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. Cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.) to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail. A bathtub might offer partial protection.
• In a building: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the structure, away from any glass. Crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped if the power is lost.
• In a mobile home: Get out! Even if the home is tied down, you're almost always safer outside. If your community has a tornado shelter or a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground, away from trees and cars, and protect your head.
• In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. Even though a car might protect you from rain and lightning during a thunderstorm, it could cause your death in a tornado or flood. If a tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you might be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to it. Otherwise, park the car as quickly and safely as possible and seek shelter in a sturdy building.
• In open country: Run to low ground away from any cars. Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards and flooding while offering little protection against flying debris.

After the Storm
Tornadoes that are tearing through densely populated areas can producing all kinds of loud noises at once, making a tremendous roar. The most common tornado sound is a continuous rumble, like a close train or a waterfall. A tornado can last from several seconds to more than an hour. Stay in shelter until you know it has passed.

Do not use matches or lighters in case there are leaking gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby. Keep away from broken or dropped power lines and any water with wires near it - you could be electrocuted by live lines that are still carrying electricity. Watch your step to avoid broken glass, nails, and other sharp objects. Stay out of any heavily damaged houses or buildings; they could collapse at any time.

Help those who are injured. Remain calm and alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews or local officials.

You can't stay safe from all storms, but you can stay smart about what to do if and when they strike.

Ongoing news, updated statistics, and additional safety and health information are available through web sites including the Storm Prediction Center's table of monthly tornado statistics, CDC Emergency Preparedness & Response, and the American Red Cross.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.