Tips from the Red Cross for Spring Weather

6/12/2019 (Permalink)

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Spring can sometimes bring some severe weather, which can mean heavy rain, flash flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes. The American Red Cross Offers safety steps to follow if you area is affected.

Follow these Life Saving Safety Tips:

Thunderstorm Safety Steps; Thunderstorms injure an average of 300 people every year and cause about 80 fatalities. Here are the top thunderstorm safety steps you should follow.

1. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to a safe shelter immediately.
2. As the storm approaches, take shelter in a building.
3. If you are driving, pull off the roadway and park. Stay in the car with the windows closed and turn on the emergency flashers. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside of the vehicle.
4. If you are inside, unplug appliances and avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Avoid taking a bath or shower, or running water for any other purpose.
5. If you are caught outside and cannot each a safe building, avoid high ground, water, tall, isolated trees and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are not safe.

Flooding; Heavy rains could fill rivers and streams, bringing flooding to the area. If your neighborhood is threatened with the possibility of flooding, here are some things you should do.

1. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice. When a flood or flash flood warning is issued by your area, head for higher ground and stay there.
2. Stay away from flood waters.
3. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of there quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
4. Keep children out of the water.
5. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.

If you would like to learn more about how to stay safe during a storm Visit the Red Cross Website: http://www.redcross.org/