HANCOCK COUNTY — Because tornadoes and the severe storms that spawn them are so unpredictable, families should make safety plans before storms approach.
That’s the message from emergency planners, who warn that tornadoes, once on the ground, can move quickly and change direction in an instant. That’s no time, experts say, to be formulating a plan to stay safe. To promote attention to such planning, emergency management officials this week are observing Severe Weather Preparedness Week this week. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and Hancock County Emergency Management recommend Hoosiers use the occasion to plan ahead for extreme weather.
“The biggest thing people can do is to be prepared for anything,” said Misty Moore, director of Hancock County emergency management. She recommends that families should build a disaster preparedness kit, identify shelter and practice emergency plans this week.
To start with, every kit should have things like a flashlight with extra batteries; food and water for three days; first-aid items; pet food; important documents; and cash.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryHaving a dependable weather radio is a good idea as well. Officials with the Hancock County 911 Center are handing out free weather radios this week to encourage people to be proactive. Anyone wanting a free weather radio can email the center at [email protected] and then visit the center, 640 S. Franklin to pick one up.
March, April and May are the most severe tornado months, according to state weather experts. Tornadoes can occur at any hour of the day or night, but because of the meteorological combinations that create them, most tornadoes form during the warmer hours of the day, from 3 to 9 p.m.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a great time to start thinking about the increased potential for dangerous weather and flooding in Indiana during the spring and summer, said Joseph Nield a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.
“We want to remind people to be thinking of safety steps not just the day of an event, but at all times,” Nield said.
Identifying suitable shelter is probably the most important thing a family can do now, officials say.
For residents living in mobile homes or similar structures, they should locate a safe shelter in advance. For people living in homes or apartment buildings, residents should take shelter in the lowest level of the building, away from windows and doors.
“The basic rule of thumb is get in, get down and cover up,” Nield said.
Flooding also threatens Hoosiers during the spring months. Driving on flooded roadways can often place people and emergency crews in unnecessary danger, officials said. An adult can be knocked down and swept away in as little as six inches of rushing water. Eighteen to 24 inches of water can carry away an SUV, officials say. That’s why people should never try to navigate a flooded roadway.
To learn more about preparing for severe weather, visit GetPrepared.in.gov.
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Ten important items to include in a household disaster preparedness kit include:
1. Food and water for three days (include one gallon of water per person, per day)
2. Battery-operated, all-hazard radio (receives more than 60 types of emergency alerts)
3. Flashlight
4. Extra batteries for radio and flashlight, if needed
5. First-aid kit
6. Extra clothing, sturdy shoes, rain gear, blankets and personal hygiene items
7. List of emergency phone numbers
8. Important documents (copies of photo ID, social security card, insurance and banking information)
9. Cash (small bills. Power outages can limit ability to use ATMs and credit cards)
10. Special items (baby formula, insulin, life-sustaining medication, pet supplies)
Source: Hancock County Emergency Management
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Indiana occasionally falls in the path of deadly storms. Here’s a look at some of the worst tornadoes:
Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965: At least 10 tornadoes and a number of lesser storms roared across the northern part of the state, killing 137 people.
March 18, 1925: 74 people were killed in southwest Indiana. Fifty deaths occurred in the town of Griffin in Posey County. The tornado all but destroyed the town.
April 3, 1974: A “super cell” storm struck the Midwest and southern states. This series of storms produced 148 tornadoes across 13 states. Twenty-one tornadoes touched down in Indiana, causing damage in 39 counties. The death toll in the state was 47, with nearly 1,000 people hospitalized with storm-related injuries.
June 2, 1990: The largest-ever outbreak of tornadoes hit Indiana: 37 tornadoes ripped across 31 counties, killing 8 people.
September 20, 2002: A series of severe storms struck 32 counties and resulted in a presidential disaster declaration. One of the tornadoes caused the second longest track in Indiana’s history.
Source: www.in.gov
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The Indiana Department of Homeland security recommends that families discuss what to do in the event of a disaster. Here are some things to do to ensure your family is prepared:
Take household members to the location they would move to in severe weather. Ideally, that would be a basement. If a basement is not available, go to an interior room with no windows on the lowest level of the house. Storm cellars also offer excellent protection.
Practice moving under a sturdy table or desk, or covering up with pillows, blankets, coats or a mattress to protect against flying debris.
Walk through potential evacuation routes, both from the home and the neighborhood.
Conduct a family drill in which children pretend to call 911 and calmly talk with an emergency dispatcher (a family member or friend can be on the other end of the line, requesting appropriate information).
Source: Indiana Department of Homeland Security
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