North Carolina

 Emergency Management Division

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Emergency Management Division

www.lewisvilleweather.com

 

 

 SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS 

 Citizens should be prepared for potentially damaging weather in North Carolina that can strike

 at any time. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, lightning strikes, snow and ice storms have caused 

 power outages, property damage, environmental destruction, and interruptions in food and  

 water supplies.

 

 The best time to assemble a three-day emergency supply kit is well before you will ever need it.

 Most people already have these items around the house and it is a matter of assembling them

 now before an evacuation order is issued. Stocking up now on emergency supplies can add to

 your family's safety and comfort during and after a disaster. Visit this N.C. Emergency 

 Management weblink to view information regarding emergency supply kit contents.

 

 Preparation includes having adequate insurance and being prepared to make a claim in the

 event of storm damage.

 

 Thunderstorms

 

 A thunderstorm is formed from a combination of moisture, rapidly 

 rising warm air and a force capable of lifting air such as a warm

 and cold front, a sea breeze or a mountain. All thunderstorms   

 contain lightning. Thunderstorms may occur singly, in clusters or

 in lines. Thus, it is possible for several thunderstorms to affect 

 one location in the course of a few hours. Some of the most 

 severe weather occurs when a single thunderstorm affects one

 location for an extended time.

 IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER, YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE. SEEK SAFE SHELTER

 IMMEDIATELY!

 

A severe thunderstorm watch is issued by the National Weather Service when the weather conditions are such that a severe thunderstorm (damaging winds 58 miles per hour or more, or hail three-fourths of an inch in diameter or greater) is likely to develop. This is the time to locate a safe place in the home and tell family members to watch the sky and listen to the radio or television for more information.

 

A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. At this point, the danger is very serious and everyone should go to a safe place, turn on a battery-operated radio or television, and wait for the "all clear" by the authorities.

 

 Lightning

 

 Lightning is an electrical discharge that results from the buildup of positive and negative charges

 within a thunderstorm. When the buildup becomes strong enough, lightning appears as a "bolt."

 This flash of light usually occurs within the clouds or between the clouds and the ground. A bolt

 of lightning reaches a temperature approaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a split second.

 The rapid heating and cooling of air near the lightning causes thunder.

  • If you are outside, move inside to a building or a vehicle like your car or truck and keep the  windows totally shut. Stay away from water, open spaces and high ground.  Move away from electric fences, any machinery, motors. Unsafe areas outside include near trees or under a canopy.

  • If you are unable to get inside a building or a vehicle when lightning is striking, you should crouch down with your feet together at least 15 feet away from other people.

  • If you are indoors, avoid proximity to doors and windows and stay off the telephone. 

  • Additional lighting safety information can be found by clicking on this web page:
    www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm

 Hail


 Hail is produced by many strong thunderstorms. Hail can be smaller than a pea or as large as a

 softball and can be very destructive to plants and crops. In a hailstorm, take cover immediately.

 Pets and livestock are particularly vulnerable to hail, so bring animals into a shelter.

 

 Flooding

 

 Flash floods can strike any time and any place with little or no warning. In flat terrain, distant 

 rain may be channeled into gullies and ravines. During a major rain storm, many of Lewisville

 roadways may become flooded. Two primary flood areas are Grapevine Road at Conrad Road

 and Williams Road near Cresthaven Road. Observe these flood safety rules. They could save

 your life.

  • Keep alert for signs of heavy rain (thunder and lightning), both where you are and upstream. Watch for rising water levels.

  • Know where high ground is and get there quickly if you see or hear rapidly rising water.

  • Be especially cautious at night. It's harder to recognize the danger then.

  • Do not attempt to cross flowing water which may be more than knee deep. If you have doubts, don't cross.

  • Do not try to drive through flooded areas.

  • If your vehicle stalls in a flooded area, abandon it and seek higher ground immediately.

  • During threatening weather listen to commercial radio or TV, or NOAA Weather Radio for Watch and Warning Bulletins.

 Click to view the N.C. Emergency Management Flood Maps online to see if you live in a

 flood plain.

 

 Tornados

 

 In North Carolina, tornadoes can occur with little or no warning throughout the year.  The peak  

 season, however, is March through May. 

 If you were to see a tornado approaching, you would only have a short time to make life-or-

 death decisions.  Knowing the basics of tornado safety, planning ahead and holding an

 annual tornado drill lowers the chance of injury or  death if a tornado were to strike in

 your community.

 Identify Safe Areas:

  • At Home
    Seek shelter on the lowest possible floor or in the basement. Under the stairs or in a bathroom or closet are good shelter spots. Do not open or close windows, stay away from them. Crouch on the floor in the egg position.

  • At Work
    Seek shelter on the lowest possible floor or a basement, if there is a basement. Stairwells, bathrooms and closets are good spots. Stay away from windows. As a last resort, crawl under your desk.

  • At School
    Seek shelter in interior hallways, small closets and bathrooms. Stay away from windows. Get out of mobile classrooms. Stay out of gymnasiums, auditoriums and other rooms with a large expanse of roof. Bus drivers should be alert for bad weather on their routes.

  • At The Mall
    Seek shelter against an interior wall. An enclosed hallway or fire exit leading away from the main mall concourse is a good spot. Stay away from skylights and large open areas.

 A Tornado Watch means conditions are right for tornado formation. A Tornado Warning

 means a tornado has actually been sighted.
 

 Danger signs include:

  • If there is a watch or warning posted, falling hail should be considered as a real danger sign.

  • An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado, even if a funnel is not visible.

  • Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.

  • Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

 Visit N.C. Emergency Management and Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Emergency

 Management websites for more information regarding severe weather and disaster

 preparedness.