HOUSTON — The KHOU 11 Weather Team is here to keep you weather smart during Severe Weather Awareness Week.
The week runs from March 6 to 10 and focuses on a different theme each day. Here's the breakdown:
- Monday - Heat
- Tuesday - Severe Thunderstorm
- Wednesday - Tornadoes
- Thursday - Flooding
- Friday - Beach Safety
Tornadoes - Wednesday
Today's theme of Severe Weather Awareness Week is Tornado safety. As we saw in January, Southeast Texas is no stranger to tornadoes, some of which are occasionally strong.
It is important to know 1) how you receive warnings and 2) where to go if a tornado is headed your way. While the exact location for shelter may vary from location to location, the general idea is the same: the lowest level and most interior part of any structure is always the safest spot.
Some key points to remember while at home during a tornado warning are to stay away from windows and doors, especially garage doors. Attached garages are typically weak points for homes because garage doors can blow in, allowing air to rush in and compromise the walls and roof of a home. If you don't have a basement, go to the ground floor of your home and put as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Whether it be a closet, bathroom, or even an interior hallway any interior space will be the safest spot.
In a high-rise building, the same principles apply but the safe spots may look different. Staying away from windows is key, an interior room is the safest spot, and interior stairwells can also offer good insulation from the outside.
It's crucial to have multiple ways to get warnings during severe weather events. Cell phones, NOAA weather radios, outdoor sirens, and television/radio reports are all ways that the National Weather Service transmits emergency weather warnings to the public.
During the day, cell phones have become the most reliable source for warning information. However, at night NOAA weather radios may act as a better alternative. With the volume turned up on a night with severe weather, these radios can wake you up, allowing you to find shelter if a storm is headed your way.
Outdoor sirens are not as common in Southeast Texas as they are in other parts of the country. These are not as reliable because they are only meant to be heard while outdoors. Additionally, they must be manually activated in many cases, which could lead to a delay in the warning. If you're somewhere and you hear a tornado siren sound, quickly find shelter and seek out additional, detailed information.
Flooding - Thursday
There's a saying you'll hear meteorologists explicitly repeating during heavy rain events. That saying is 'Turn Around, Don't Drown', and remembering that could save your life in a flash flooding event.
Typically flooding events are brought on by slow-moving thunderstorms or storm systems that produce immense amounts of rainfall over a short period of time.
It's surprising to learn that all it takes is 6" of fast-moving water to sweep you off your feet.
In your vehicle, only a foot of fast-moving water to lift and move your sedan. In a truck, well that only takes 18"-24" of fast-moving water to lift.
That amount of water can build up at an astonishingly fast pace, some would say in a flash. There you have a flash flood emergency.
As with other topics we've discussed this week. Always listen for weather alerts on impending inclement weather. For flooding events that may first come as a 'watch' this means that conditions are favorable to produce flooding rains in a short amount of time. When flooding is already occurring and observed, a 'warning' will be issued. This is the time you need to take action and seek higher ground and stay off the roadways in the warned areas.
Beach Safety - Friday
With the start of Spring Break underway this weekend it is smart to get reacquainted with the various threats at the waterfront.
This includes understanding the various beach flags that represent risks out on the water.
Rip currents are also a hazards you should be aware of.
