000 NOUS42 KILM 290000 PNSILM NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-291200- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 700 PM EST THU FEB 28 2008 ...SEVERE WEATHER AWARNESS WEEK STARTS SUNDAY FOR THE CAROLINAS... THIS SUNDAY MARCH 2ND 2008 WILL MARK THE START OF SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. BELOW IS A DETAILED LIST OF WHAT TOPICS WILL BE COVERED EACH DAY. A TORNADO WARNING DRILL WILL BE DONE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AROUND 930 AM TUESDAY. A TORNADO WARNING DRILL FOR NORTH CAROLINA WILL BE DONE AROUND 930 AM WEDNESDAY. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ILM ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST SUN MAR 2 2008 ...THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS... TODAY WE WILL REVIEW SOME 2007 SEVERE WEATHER STATISTICS FOR THE CAROLINAS...AND WE WILL DISCUSS NOAA WEATHER RADIO. DURING 2007 IN SOUTH CAROLINA...THERE WERE ABOUT 450 THUNDERSTORM AND HIGH WIND EVENTS...CAUSING $4 MILLION IN DAMAGE...AND 12 INJURIES. ABOUT 7 LIGHTNING ACCIDENTS CAUSED $15 THOUSAND IN DAMAGE AS WELL AS 2 DEATHS...AND 4 INJURIES. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN HORRY COUNTY. THERE WERE 17 TORNADOES RESULTING IN $280 THOUSAND IN DAMAGE...ALONG WITH 1 DEATH...AND 14 INJURIES. DURING 2007 IN NORTH CAROLINA...THERE WERE ABOUT 344 THUNDERSTORM AND HIGH WIND EVENTS...CAUSING $10 MILLION IN DAMAGE AS WELL AS 1 DEATH...AND 9 INJURIES. ABOUT 15 LIGHTNING ACCIDENTS CAUSED $1.5 MILLION IN DAMAGE AS WELL AS 1 DEATH. THERE WERE 11 TORNADOES RESULTING IN $250 THOUSAND IN DAMAGE. NO INJURIES OR DEATHS WERE REPORTED. ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO RECEIVE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON SEVERE WEATHER IS TO LISTEN TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO. IT IS BROADCAST BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 24 HOURS A DAY. WEATHER WARNINGS AND FORECASTS ARE HEARD FIRST ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO. NOAA WEATHER RADIOS ARE AVAILABLE WHERE RADIOS ARE SOLD. WEATHER RADIOS WITH A WARNING ALARM CAN BE A LIFESAVER IN HOMES... SCHOOLS...HOSPITALS...CHURCHES...DAY CARE CENTERS...AND OTHER PRIVATE BUSINESSES. GET ONE WHICH IS ABLE TO WORK ON BATTERIES IN CASE OF A POWER FAILURE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TELL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABOUT NOAA WEATHER RADIO...AND REMEMBER THAT A WEATHER RADIO MAKES THE PERFECT GIFT TO LOVED ONES. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST MON MAR 3 2008 THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS. IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF DANGEROUS WEATHER. ON TUESDAY...AROUND 930 AM...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONDUCT A TORNADO WARNING DRILL FOR SOUTH CAROLINA WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TORNADO SAFETY PROCEDURES AND DEVELOP A PLAN. TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SAFETY. HERE ARE SOME KEY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM TERMS WHICH YOU SHOULD KNOW. A THUNDERSTORM IS RATED AS SEVERE WHEN IT CAUSES DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AT LEAST 58 MPH AND...OR PENNY SIZE HAIL 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER OR LARGER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR A LARGE AREA WHEN CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN DEVELOPMENT IS INDICATED BY DOPPLER RADAR OR REPORTED BY VOLUNTEER STORM SPOTTERS. A WARNING MEANS IMMEDIATE DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FOR THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM. BEFORE THE STORM...KNOW WHERE YOU WILL GO AND WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH. GET AWAY FROM WINDOWS...GO TO A LOWER FLOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUILDING. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. GO TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. MOVE TO A BUILDING OR CAR. AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES...UNPLUGGING THEM IF POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE IN A BOAT OR IN THE WATER...GET TO SHORE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE...AND SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST TUE MAR 4 2008 THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS. IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF DANGEROUS WEATHER. THIS MORNING...AROUND 930 AM...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONDUCT A TORNADO WARNING DRILL FOR SOUTH CAROLINA WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TORNADO SAFETY PROCEDURES AND DEVELOP A PLAN. ON WEDNESDAY MORNING...AROUND 930 AM...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONDUCT A TORNADO WARNING DRILL FOR NORTH CAROLINA WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TORNADO SAFETY PROCEDURES AND DEVELOP A PLAN. HERE ARE SOME KEY TORNADO-RELATED TERMS WHICH YOU SHOULD KNOW... A FUNNEL CLOUD IS A ROTATING FUNNEL-SHAPED CLOUD EXTENDING DOWNWARD...USUALLY FROM A THUNDERSTORM CLOUD...BUT NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. A TORNADO IS A FUNNEL CLOUD IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND...USUALLY EXTENDING FROM A THUNDERSTORM. A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR A LARGE AREA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT. A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BY A LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE GROUND OR DETECTED BY DOPPLER RADAR. IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA...OR IF YOU SEE OR HEAR A TORNADO...GET AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND MOVE TO SHELTER...SUCH AS AN INTERIOR ROOM...BATHROOM...CLOSET OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR... AND GET UNDER A STURDY PIECE OF FURNITURE. GET OUT OF AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR. INSTEAD...LEAVE IT IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...LIE FLAT IN A NEARBY DITCH OR DEPRESSION. CROUCH DOWN AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. MOBILE HOMES, EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION FROM TORNADOES AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORE SECURE SHELTER. IN SCHOOLS...AVOID LARGE AREAS SUCH AS AUDITORIUMS AND GYMNASIUMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST WED MAR 5 2008 THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS. IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF DANGEROUS WEATHER. THIS MORNING...AROUND 930 AM...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONDUCT A TORNADO WARNING DRILL FOR NORTH CAROLINA WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TORNADO SAFETY PROCEDURES AND DEVELOP A PLAN. A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR A LARGE AREA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT. A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BY A LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE WHEN A TORNADO HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE GROUND OR DETECTED BY DOPPLER RADAR. IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA...OR IF YOU SEE OR HEAR A TORNADO...GET AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND MOVE TO SHELTER...SUCH AS AN INTERIOR ROOM...BATHROOM...CLOSET OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR... AND GET UNDER A STURDY PIECE OF FURNITURE. GET OUT OF AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR. INSTEAD...LEAVE IT IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...LIE FLAT IN A NEARBY DITCH OR DEPRESSION. CROUCH DOWN AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. MOBILE HOMES, EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION FROM TORNADOES AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORE SECURE SHELTER. IN SCHOOLS...AVOID LARGE AREAS SUCH AS AUDITORIUMS AND GYMNASIUMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST THU MAR 6 2008 THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS. IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF DANGEROUS WEATHER. TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS LIGHTNING. LIGHTNING IS THE DISCHARGE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN A THUNDERSTORM... BETWEEN THUNDERSTORMS...AND BETWEEN A THUNDERSTORM AND THE GROUND. LIGHTNING AND THUNDER OCCUR WITH ALL THUNDERSTORMS. LIGHTNING KILLS NEARLY 100...AND INJURES MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE EACH YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY. MOST LIGHTNING CASUALTIES OCCUR IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. LIGHTNING CAUSES SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND FORESTS ANNUALLY. YOUR CHANCES OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WILL BE REDUCED BY FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY RULES... WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE STORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. GO TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY...SUCH AS A BUILDING OR CAR. IF YOU ARE IN A BOAT OR IN THE WATER...GET TO SHORE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE...AND SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES...UNPLUGGING THEM IF POSSIBLE. IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS AND NO SHELTER IS NEARBY...FIND A LOW SPOT AWAY FROM TREES...FENCES...AND POLES. MAKE SURE THE PLACE YOU PICK IS NOT SUBJECT TO FLOODING. IF YOU FEEL YOUR SKIN TINGLE OR YOUR HAIR STAND ON END...SQUAT LOW TO THE GROUND. PLACE YOUR HANDS ON YOUR KNEES WITH YOUR HEAD BETWEEN THEM. MAKE YOURSELF THE SMALLEST TARGET POSSIBLE...AND MINIMIZE YOUR CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. TO BE SAFE...WAIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER YOU LAST HEAR THUNDER BEFORE GOING OUTSIDE. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST FRI MAR 7 2008 THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS. TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS FLOODING...FLASH FLOODING...AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. HERE ARE SOME KEY FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD TERMS... A FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLASH FLOODING OR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN THE DESIGNATED WATCH AREA...SO BE ALERT. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS A CATASTROPHIC FLOOD FROM A DAM BREAK OR EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN POSES AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. WHEN YOU RECEIVE A FLASH FLOOD WARNING...IF ADVISED TO EVACUATE...DO SO IMMEDIATELY. MOVE TO A SAFE AREA BEFORE ACCESS IS CUT OFF BY A FLASH FLOOD. A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT HEAVY RAIN IS CAUSING DANGEROUS PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...OR CREEKS OR RIVERS ARE RISING OUT OF THEIR BANKS. WHILE THE FLOODING IS NOT IMMEDIATELY LIFE THREATENING... MOTORISTS AND INTERESTS IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD AVOID FLOODING. AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR RAIN CAUSING PONDING...MAINLY ON ROADWAYS THAT REQUIRES CAUTION BY MOTORISTS AND OTHER INTERESTS. BEFORE A FLOOD...HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO...KNOW YOUR FLOOD RISK AND ELEVATION ABOVE RIVER FLOOD STAGE. DO YOUR LOCAL STREAMS OR RIVERS FLOOD EASILY? IF SO...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE. KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES. DURING A FLOOD...AVOID AREAS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN FLOODING. IF YOU COME UPON A FLOWING STREAM WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD...STOP! THE DEPTH OF WATER IS NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS. THE ROAD BED MAY BE WASHED OUT...AND YOU COULD BECOME STRANDED OR TRAPPED. CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER PLAY AROUND HIGH WATER OR STORM DRAINS. DO NOT VISIT DISASTER AREAS. YOUR PRESENCE MIGHT HAMPER RESCUE AND OTHER EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. KEEP A NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT READY TO USE. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP ************************************************************************** PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC 500 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008 THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAROLINAS. TODAY WE DISCUSS PUBLIC REPORTS. YOU CAN BE A GREAT HELP IN THE WARNING PROCESS BY PASSING ON INFORMATION ABOUT DANGEROUS WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR 911 CENTER AND ASKING THAT THEY RELAY IT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. HERE ARE TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN RELAYING INFORMATION... TELL WHERE...WHEN...AND WHAT WAS OBSERVED. IF HAIL WAS OBSERVED... DESCRIBE THE SIZE OF THE HAIL BY COMPARING IT TO A COIN...GOLF BALL...OR SOME OTHER OBJECT. REPORT ANY DAMAGE FROM WIND...HEAVY RAIN...OR HAIL. REPORT FLOODING AND ITS LOCATION. MARINERS SHOULD REPORT WATERSPOUT SIGHTINGS AND OTHER SEVERE WEATHER TO THE COAST GUARD AND REQUEST THAT THE REPORT BE RELAYED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. REMEMBER...QUICK ACTION AND ACCURATE REPORTING OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL HELP SAVE LIVES. FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP $$ HEDEN