NOUS42 KCHS 220951
PNSCHS
SCZ040-042>045-047>051-201745-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
450 AM EST TUE MAR 4 2008

...SOUTH CAROLINA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH 
SATURDAY...

TORNADOES ARE CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE MOST VIOLENT STORMS 
THAT NATURE HAS TO OFFER.

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...TORNADOES 
ARE ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING HAZARDS FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. 
A TORNADO IS A VIOLENTLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR EXTENDING FROM A
THUNDERSTORM TO THE GROUND. IF THE COLUMN OF AIR IS OVER THE WATER...
IT IS CALLED A WATER SPOUT. IF THE COLUMN DOES NOT REACH THE
GROUND...IT IS CALLED A FUNNEL CLOUD.

BELOW ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT TORNADOES...

TORNADOES USUALLY MOVE FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST AT
AN AVERAGE FORWARD SPEED OF 30 MPH. HOWEVER...THEY HAVE
BEEN CLOCKED AS FAST AS 70 MPH. NO PLACE IS SAFE FROM TORNADOES.

OPENING WINDOWS ALLOWS DAMAGING WINDS TO ENTER THE STRUCTURE...
WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. INSTEAD...LEAVE WINDOWS ALONE AND
GO TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. TORNADOES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED
STATES ARE NORMALLY EMBEDDED IN HEAVY RAIN WHICH MAKES SPOTTING THEM
DIFFICULT.

TORNADOES CAN OCCUR ANY TIME OF YEAR. WHILE SPRING IS THE MOST ACTIVE
SEASON IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES...TORNADOES CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH
DECAYING TROPICAL SYSTEMS. IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2004...THE REMNANTS OF
HURRICANE FRANCES SPAWNED 20 CONFIRMED TORNADOES ACROSS SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA AND SOUTH-COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA.

BELOW ARE SOME GENERAL RULES OF SAFETY IN TORNADOES.

BEFORE THE STORM...DEVELOP A PLAN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR
HOME...WORK...SCHOOL...AND WHEN OUTDOORS. YOU SHOULD HAVE
FREQUENT DRILLS AND KNOW THE COUNTY WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED.

DURING A TORNADO...MOVE TO A PRE-DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA...SUCH AS A
BASEMENT OR A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. AVOID WINDOWS.

GET OUT OF AUTOMOBILES. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE MOVE TO A LOW-LYING AREA.
HOWEVER...MAKE SURE THE LOW-LYING AREA IS NOT SUBJECT TO FLOODING.
REMEMBER THAT MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADOES AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED.

$$