Parkland officials offer tips for stormy weather
Prepare for the worst when Mother Nature strikes
With severe weather season underway, now is the time to understand the difference between watches, warnings and when you should be prepared to take action. September is Disaster Preparedness Month, a good time to review safety precautions at work and home. The key, say Parkland Health & Hospital System disaster preparedness officials, is to be weather aware and keep an eye to the sky.
“And with technology literally in the palm of your hands you’re just a click away from knowing when you or your family are in danger from approaching storms,” said Chris Noah, MS, CHSP, Parkland’s Director of Disaster Management. “Still, it’s important to know what the weather lingo means so you’re not caught off-guard when the skies turn fierce.”
Watches and warnings are the most frequently heard alarms this time of the year. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a watch means that the potential exists for the development of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes, depending on the specific type of watch issued. In the case of a tornado watch, this does not mean that a tornado has been seen or even indicated on radar, it just means that conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes in thunderstorms.
Similarly, a severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are just conducive for the development of severe weather, and does not indicate that severe weather has been reported. “While no immediate action is required for the issuance of a watch, everyone should keep up to date on the current weather and be prepared to seek shelter if necessary,” Noah said.
A warning, on the other hand, requires more immediate action and should be taken seriously. A severe thunderstorm warning indicates that severe weather is imminent in an area and is already occurring (based on either human observation or Doppler radar). A tornado warning can be thought of as a very specific severe thunderstorm warning, and means that a tornado has been either spotted by a human observer or indicated by Doppler radar.
“Once a tornado warning is issued in your area, you should take cover immediately,” Noah said, noting that it’s highly likely you could be impacted by the wind, rain or even flying debris. “And heed the warning of experts to take shelter. That doesn’t mean standing outside so you can video to post on social media. Get to a safe, secure place. Your life may depend on it.”
For those who may be away from home when a storm strikes, Noah said to look for areas away from glass and windows. Many office buildings, shopping malls, stadiums and airports have designated shelter areas where the general public can go until the storms pass. Similarly, hospitals including Parkland plan for and hold practice drills for what actions to take in the event of severe weather.
“If Parkland received confirmation of a tornado warning in the vicinity, staff is immediately notified and patients, visitors and others are quickly and safely moved away from glass and windows,” Noah said. “Patients are our number one priority and we continually train for disasters that we hope will never happen.”
Still, only Mother Nature knows what fury she will unleash. In 1957, a tornado ripped across Dallas and barely missed the hospital. Parkland’s staff took care of 175 emergency patients in two hours following the storm.
For additional tips on being weather aware, visit the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov. For information about services at Parkland, please visit www.parklandhospital.com.
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