WEATHER SAFETY

BEAU BENHARDT

Pictures obtained from N.O.A.A. web site.

Text obtained from the American Red Cross Weather Preparedness guide.

TEACHER PAGE

THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING

FACTS

-THE TYPICAL THUNDERSTORM IS 15 MILES IN DIAMETER

-LASTS AN AVERAGE OF 30 MINUTES

-1,800 THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR NEARLY EVERY MOMENT AROUND THE WORLD

-16 MILLION THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR A YEAR

ALL THUNDERSTORM S ARE DANGEROUS

THEY PRODUCE:

LIGHTNING

HEAVY RAINS

STRONG WINDS

HAIL

AND

TORNADOES

COST OF THUNDERSTORMS

LIGHTNING-AVG. 93 DEATHS & 300 INJURIES PER YEAR.

FLASH FLOODS- 140 FATALITIES PER YEAR.

WINDS- EXCEEDING 100 M.P.H.

HAIL- 1 BILLION IN DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND CROPS.

TORNADOES- 80 DEATHS AND 1,500 INJURIES PER YEAR.

WHO’S AT RISK ????LIGHTNING- PEOPLE WHO ARE : OUTDOORS, UNDER OR NEAR TALL TREES, IN OR ON WATER, ON OR NEAR HILLTOPS.

FLOODING- PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LOW LYING AREAS OR WHO DRIVE THROUGH WATER FLOWING ACROSS A ROAD.

TORNADOES- PEOPLE IN MOBILE HOMES, AND AUTOMOBILES.

LIGHTNING FACTS:

LIGHTNING RESULTS FROM A BUILDUP AND DISCHARGE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY.

YOUR CHANCES OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING ARE 1 IN 600,000.

THE AIR NEAR A LIGHTNING STRIKE IS HEATED TO 50,000 F.

THE RAPID HEATING AND COOLING OF AIR NEAR THE LIGHTNING CAUSES THUNDER TO OCCUR.

LIGHTNING TRUE OR FALSE

IF IT IS NOT RAINING, THEN THERE IS NO DANGER FROM LIGHTNING.

TRUE OR FALSE ?

FALSE

LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES OUTSIDE OF HEAVY RAIN, AND

MAY OCCUR AS FAR AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM ANY RAINFALL.

THE RUBBER SOLES OF SHOES OR RUBBER TIRES ON A CAR WILL PROTECT YOU FROM BEING STRUCK

BY LIGHTNING.

TRUE OR FALSE ?

FALSE

RUBBER SOLES ON SHOES OR RUBBER TIRES PROVIDE NO

PROTECTION. HOWEVER, THE STEEL FRAME OF A HARD-

TOPPED VEHICLE PROVIDES INCREASED PROTECTION

PEOPLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE AND SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED.

TRUE OR FALSE ?

FALSE

LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS CARRY NO ELECTRICAL CHARGE

AND SHOULD BE ATTENDED TO IMMEDIATELY.

IN YOUR JOURNAL LIST SOME SIGNS THAT A THUNDERSTORM IS

APPROACHING.

INCREASED WIND

FLASHES OF LIGHTNING

SOUND OF THUNDER

STATIC ON YOUR A.M. RADIO.

IN YOUR JOURNAL LIST SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

REMEMBER, IF YOU HEAR THUNDER YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.MOVE TO A STURDY BUILDING OR HARD TOP CAR.

GET OUT OF A BOAT AND AWAY FROM WATER.

DO NOT USE PHONE OR APPLIANCES.

DO NOT TAKE A BATH OR A SHOWER.

GET TO HIGH GROUND IF FLASH FLOOD IS POSSIBLE.

IN YOUR JOURNAL LIST WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTDOORS IN A THUNDERSTORM.

FIND A LOW SPOT AWAY FROM TREES, FENCES OR POLES.

IN WOODS TAKE SHELTER UNDER SHORTER TREES.

IF YOU FEEL YOUR SKIN TINGLE OR HAIR STAND ON END, SQUAT LOW TO THE GROUND ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET.

IF BOATING OR SWIMMING, GET TO LAND AND FIND SHELTER QUICKLY.

TORNADO FACTS

IN AN AVERAGE YEAR 800 TORNADOES ARE REPORTED NATIONWIDE.

80 DEATHS AND 1500 INJURIES OCCUR.

TORNADOES CAN OCCUR IN EVERY STATE IN THE U.S.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:

TORNADO WATCH- TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN YOUR AREA. REMAIN ALERT FOR APPROACHING STORMS.

TORNADO WARNING- A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED OR INDICATED BY WEATHER RADAR. MOVE TO PLACE OF SAFETY.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

DARK, OFTEN GREENISH SKY

WALL CLOUD LARGE HAIL

LOUD ROAR, LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN

IN YOUR JOURNAL LIST THOSE THINGS YOU SHOULD DO IF A TORNADO IS APPROACHING

IN YOUR HOME MOVE TO THE BASEMENT.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BASEMENT, MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

GET OUT OF CARS.

IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE OR IN A VEHICLE, LIE FLAT IN A NEARBY DITCH.

ABANDON MOBILE HOMES.

IT’S UP TO YOU!!!

EACH YEAR, MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED BY TORNADOES DESPITE ADVANCE WARNING.

YOU MUST MAKE THE DECISION TO SEEK SHELTER BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES.

THE

END

TEACHER PAGE:OBJECTIVE: 1) THE STUDENTS WILL GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE DANGERS THAT EXIST IN AND AROUND A THUNDERSTORM. 2) THE STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE AN AWARENESS OF WHAT TO DO IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THESE DANGERS.

ACTIVITY: THE STUDENT WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO LIST IN THEIR JOURNALS THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN A THUNDERSTORM, LIGHTNING, OR TORNADO THREATENS.

PROCESS: THE TEACHER WILL CLICK THROUGH EACH SLIDE, READING THE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO THE STUDENTS. ON THOSE SLIDES THAT REQUIRE THE STUDENTS TO WRITE IN THEIR JOURNALS, GIVE AT LEAST 3 MINUTES FOR THEM TO ANSWER. FOR TRUE OR FALSE QUESTIONS GIVE 20 SECONDS.