PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EST WED FEB 23 2005

TORNADOES ARE CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE NATURES MOST VIOLENT
STORMS.

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...
TORNADOES ARE ONE OF THE MOST POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING THREATS
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.

SOME FACTS ABOUT TORNADOES.

TORNADOES USUALLY MOVE FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST AT
AN AVERAGE FORWARD SPEED OF 30 MPH ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN
CLOCKED AS FAST AS 70 MPH. NO PLACE IS SAFE FROM TORNADOES. OPENING
WINDOWS ALLOWS DAMAGING WINDS TO ENTER THE STRUCTURE AND CAN
SHATTER...CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. LEAVE WINDOWS ALONE. INSTEAD 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. THE YEAR 2004 SAW 20
TORNADOES IN SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND 15 TORNADOES IN SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA. IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2004...THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE FRANCES
ALONE SPAWNED 20 CONFIRMED TORNADOES ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND 
SOUTH-COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA. 

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 LIE FLAT IN A
NEARBY DITCH OR CULVERT. MAKE SURE THE PLACE IS NOT SUBJECT TO
FLOODING. REMEMBER THAT MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER
LITTLE PROTECTION FROM TORNADOES AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED.

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