Severe weather warnings should be taken seriously
The storm which hit Warren County on Wednesday afternoon and ripped through a trailer should be cause for alarm. The young couple which was inside the trailer when the storm hit is truly fortunate to be alive today.
That same storm claimed a man’s life in Cookeville and moved to parts of Georgia where six more people were killed and over a hundred more injured by a tornado which touched down.
Since 1950, Warren County has seen nine confirmed tornadoes and numerous severe thunderstorms which have exacted thousands of dollars in damage to the Nursery Capital. The last local fatality due to a tornado occurred in 1974.
Given the dangers presented by severe storms, the local contingent of the Emergency Management Agency has designed and installed a warning device to give local residents advance warning of severe weather.
One tool is an early warning siren, audible throughout most parts of McMinnville. This siren is sounded when a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service. Citizens are urged to heed the warning siren which were installed to give people more time to take cover. While not every sound of the emergency siren means a tornado has been sighted on the ground, the siren does mean there is potential for damaging – and potentially deadly – weather.
In recent years, advances in Doppler Radar technology has allowed meteorologists to pinpoint, almost to the exact minute, the location of potentially damaging storms including tornados. The technology, meteorologists hope, will save lives by giving people time to take safety measures.
While severe thunderstorms and tornados are two of the most potentially deadly natural disasters, local residents should also be on the lookout for floods. Those in low-lying areas prone to flooding should take special notice when flash floods are predicted and be prepared to head for higher ground.
In addition, motorists should also be cautious in cases of flood alerts. During heavy rains, road can become hazardous due to localized flooding. At night, flooded portions of roads are nearly impossible to see, meaning motorists should use an extra measure of care when traveling the highways during flood alerts.
One thing for certain is severe weather warnings should not be taken lightly. If you realize a thunderstorm is about to hit and hear tornado warnings issued, the best bet is to take immediate cover. Fierce winds can strike in a moment’s notice and by then there is not enough time to react.
Be smart and take appropriate action. If you know severe weather is in the area, don’t take it lightly. Take cover and be prepared.