PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1230 AM EST MON MAR 14 2005

THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR NORTH CAROLINA.  IT IS
TIME TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

YOU CAN PREPARE FOR SEVERE WEATHER BY LEARNING THE SAFEST PLACES
TO BE WHEN AT HOME...WORK...SCHOOL...OR OUTDOORS. YOU SHOULD
UNDERSTAND BASIC TERMS AND DANGER SIGNS RELATED TO SEVERE
WEATHER. YOUR CHANCES OF STAYING SAFE ARE GREATER IF YOU HAVE A
PLAN...AND PRACTICE THE PLAN FREQUENTLY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS PROTECTING LIFE
AND PROPERTY. USING WEATHER BALLOONS...DOPPLER RADAR...SATELLITE
IMAGERY...AND REPORTS FROM STORM SPOTTERS...WE WATCH THE ATMOSPHERE
FOR SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN OUR AREA...A WATCH
IS ISSUED. WATCHES ARE ISSUED FOR TORNADOES...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
...AND FLOODS. WATCHES ARE ALSO ISSUED FOR WINTER STORMS AND
HURRICANES.

WATCHES ARE INTENDED TO HEIGHTEN PUBLIC AWARENESS SO YOU CAN GET
PREPARED. IF YOU ARE AWARE...YOU CAN PREPARE AND BE ALERT FOR
APPROACHING BAD WEATHER.

WHEN A SEVERE WEATHER EVENT IS IMMINENT OR ALREADY OCCURRING...THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A WARNING. WARNINGS INDICATE
IMMEDIATE DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY TO THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE
STORM.

TORNADO WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN A ROTATING FUNNEL CLOUD
TOUCHDOWN IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS ARE
ISSUED FOR STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS. FLASH FLOOD
WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN A DAM BREAK OR VERY HEAVY RAINS CAUSE
DANGEROUS RISING WATER. SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR
DANGEROUS STORMS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...GO TO
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY.PHP