HomeMy WebLinkAboutTornado & Severe Weather Reporting 1974 BRAZOS COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE
APRIL 1974
TORNADO & SEVERE WEATHER REPORTING
TORNADOES
If you actually spot a tornado, your report must be accurate and
specific. Your warning center needs to know:
(1) WHETHER IT IS ON THE GROUND (TORNADO VORTEX) OR ALOFT
FUNNEL CLOUD.
(2) LOCATION -- BE VERY ACCURATE ABOUT THIS. GIVE FULL
INFORMATION AND ESTIMATE DISTANCE FROM TOWN IF IN RURAL
AREA.
(3) GENERAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
(4) ESTIMATED SPEED OF TRAVEL. (most of them move from 35
to 50 mph. However, some have ranged from stationary
to 68 mph.)
(5) LIFE OR PROPERTY DAMAGE HAZARD. If you have seen property
damage, state so and whether or not you have reason to
believe there is a serious injury.
(6) IDENTIFY YOURSELF. If you are at a telephone - give your
number.
DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD!
REPORT A FUNNEL CLOUD ONLY IF YOU ARE SURE THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE.
Many cloud bases are ragged in ways that, when viewed from certain
angles, make them appear to be tornadic.
REPORT EVERY POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED TORNADO AND ITS ESTABLISHED
TRACK. Even though the projected track is outside your area of
responsibility, a warning must be issued to other areas that are
threatened.
KEEP YOUR STATION AS LONG AS YOU CAN. IF YOU MUST LEAVE TO TAKE
COVER, DO SO. IF YOU LOSE SIGHT OF THE VORTEX, ADVISE THE CENTER.
SEVERE WEATHER
(1) REPORT HAIL (GIVE APPROXIMATE SIZE AND INTENSITY)
(2) REPORT STRAIGHT LINE DAMAGING WINDS. (REPORT DAMAGE
OBSERVED TO TREES & STRUCTURES).
BRAZOS COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE APRIL 1974
TORNADO SAFETY RULES AND PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
FOR SCHOOLS
1. The school system or group should develop a plan for internal
dissemination of Watches and Warnings of tornadoes and severe
thunderstorms, based. on assignment of a key person and alternate(s)
supplied with a communications channel or emergency telephone
numbers to key persons in all facilities.
2. All facilities should be inspected, and shelter areas selected
and marked.
3. Special "tornado alarm" signals should be established to warn all
occupants of the facilities. A secondary system should be avail-
able in case of power failure before a storm strikes.
4. A system of supplemental tornado /severe thunderstorm spotters
(teachers, administrative or maintenance employees, or reliable stu-
dents) should be established, ready for activation whenever a Watch
or Warning is announced or when severe weather conditions appear
to be approaching the area.
5. Procedures should be established in each facility for monitoring of
radioe and television receivers for additional severe weather informa-
tion during threats.
6. Procedures should be established for use or non -use of school buses
during conditions of Watch and Warning; and drivers should be drilled
in measures to be taken to provide for occupants to take cover in a
shelter, ditch, or ravine if the bus is caught in the open by a
severe storm.
7. Pre - season and periodic in- season severe weather drills should be
helm at all facilities to ensure that staff and students will all
respond properly when an actual tornado or severe thunderstorm
approaches the facility.
8. Plans should be made to protect participants and those in group
attendance at affairs such as sporting events (in gymnasiums or in
the open) or school plays by reliable supplemental spotters, ample
advance warning, and dismissal with take- shelter instructions if any
danger appears imminent. Gymnasiums and auditoriums with wide-span
roofs are unsafe in such situations. To the extent possible, plans
should be made to shelter as many people as possible in safe areas,
such as in passage tunnels or under solid stands of playing fields,
basements or inner hallways of buildings, and otherwise as indicated
under general safety rules.
BRAZOS COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE
APRIL 1974
SEVERE WEATHER NOTES
WEATHER WATCH: (Weather Advisory), A certain type of severe weather,
(thunderstorms, gusty winds, heavy snow, tornados) is expected to
form or occur.
WEATHER WARNING: A specific type of severe weather has formed and is
presently moving into an area.
HURRICANE BULLETIN: This may consist of either a Weather Watch or Weather
Warning. Will be called bulletin if no proximity to land.
TORNADO ADVISORIES
TORNADO WATCH: Tornadoes are expected to develop. Listen for weather
advisories.
TORNADO WARNING: A tornado has actually been sighted or indicated by
radar. Seek shelter immediately and listen for further advisories.
CONVERSION CHART
Knots (nautical miles) to miles per hour (Multiply knots by 1.152 to
get MPH)
KNOTS MPH
00 00
05 5.75
10 11.50
15 17.25
20 23.00
25 28.75
30 34.50
35• 40.25
40 46,00
45 51.75
50 57.50
55 63.25
60 69.00