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Health & Fitness

Be a Force of Nature in Northfield Township during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

During National Severe Weather Preparedness Week Know your risk. Take action. Be an example.

March 3rd-9th is National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Know your severe weather risk and take action in order to be prepared. You can also Be a Force of Nature in Northfield Township during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week as well. Being a Force of Nature goes beyond taking
appropriate preparedness action. It’s about inspiring others to do the same.

The following are some of the pertinent conclusions of a longitudinal study of significant tornadoes that occurred in the Chicago area between 1855 and 2008.

The Chicago metro area, including the city of Chicago,is prone to being struck by significant tornadoes, and sometimes violent tornadoes.

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Tornadoes are most common in spring with a secondary peak in late summer through mid fall.

Tornadoes are most frequent from early afternoon through the evening, with the peak around 5:00 to 6:00 PM.

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The Chicago area is overdue for a major tornado. An entire generation of Chicagoans has been born since the last violent tornado, and many more have transferred to the area from other parts of the country and other parts of the world, and have not experienced a major tornado here. This poses the danger of a vulnerable and unprepared population. Areas that were once open farm fields have been developed, putting more people in harms way.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issues tornado forecasts nationwide. Warnings come from each local NWS office.

What is a tornado watch?

A tornado watch defines an area shaped like a parallelogram, where tornadoes and other kinds of severe weather are possible in the next several hours. It does notmean tornadoes are imminent, just that you need to be alert, and to be prepared to go to safe shelter if tornadoes do happen or a warning is issued. This is the time to turn on local TV or radio, turn on and set the alarm switch on your weather radio, make sure you have ready access to safe shelter, and make your friends and family aware of the potential for tornadoes in the area.

What is a tornado warning?

A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation which can spawn a tornado. When a tornado warning is issued for Northfield Township communities or northern Cook County, take immediate safety precautions.

WHAT TO DO...

At home, have a family tornado plan in place, based on the kind of dwelling you live in. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Have a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster. Flying debris is the greatest danger in tornadoes; so store protective coverings (e.g., mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc) in or next to your shelter space, ready to use on a few seconds' notice. When a tornado watch is issued, think about the drill and check to make sure all your safety supplies are handy. Turn on local TV, radio or NOAA Weather Radio and stay alert for warnings.

In a house with a basement:

Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you. Head protection, such as a helmet, can offer some protection also.

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment:

Avoid windows.Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a
stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail. A bicycle helmet can offer some protection against head injury.

In a vehicle:

Either leave the vehicle for sturdy shelter or drive out of the tornado's path. When the traffic is jammed or the tornado is bearing down on you at close range, your only option may be to park safely off the traffic lanes, get out and find a sturdy building for shelter, if possible. If not, lie flat in a low spot, as far from the road as possible (to avoid flying vehicles). If the tornado starts to hit your car, get as low as you can while staying in your seatbelt, leaning down and away from the windows and windshield as far as possible.

You can also Be a Force of Nature in Northfield Township during National

Severe Weather Preparedness Week
as well. Being a Force of Nature goes beyond taking appropriate preparedness action. It’s about inspiring others to do the same.

I’m asking Northfield Township residents not only to be prepared, but to Be a Force of Nature and share your story with your family and friends. Encourage your socialnetwork to act by texting, tweeting, or posting a Facebook status update about how you developed and practiced your Family Tornado Plan, and the actions you took to become better prepared.

 

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