A tropical wave (Invest 97L) near the east coast of Puerto Rico has became more organized overnight last night but was hardly noticed as storm reports flew into the tracking center from Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. We estimated that we spent over 4 hours on the phones with firefighters and spotters during the storms that inundated Central Illinois yesterday.
That’s a lot of activity all at once, and we often times become victims of what we call “radar fatigue”. This is not a medical term, but rather a term we created a few years ago during the hurricanes of 2005. What we are referring to is that complacency that is caused by storms that just seem to never go away. After hours of watching these storms and having them pound your town, the next one causes you to become weary and eventually many just stop watching.
It is a dangerous situation.
Last night, several folks that had been tracking and chasing these storms all day reached a point where they just wanted rest. Residents in areas already hit three or four times were simply turning off the computer and television assuming that there could not possibly be more.
With a stationary front in place in the Midwest and the systems presently working the country, it is important that despite the poundings, we stay alert. Storms kept us awake all night here in Illinois and we eventually woke to more warnings and watches already being issued for parts of the country.
Now, with that said, let’s talk about something else…
Summer is a time for beach parties, camping and Vacation Bible Schools. Last night, we received a call from a volunteer at a Vacation Bible School that was getting ready to release the children to go home. Rotation had been spotted by trained spotters, hail was over 1” in surrounding communities and the rain was torrential.
The town was in a Thunderstorm Warning.
Despite our advice to keep the children a bit longer and add one more indoor activity to the night’s events rather then sending them home, the church released the children.
Now, we realize that most of the children had rides and the parents were waiting, but what of the children that did not have rides? What of the folks now driving home?
We spoke to the leadership at the church and found that there was no written plan, no policy that had ever been communicated to volunteers and staff before the event began.
We need to have plans.
Whether you are a church or civic organization, a library or a restaurant, nothing will protect you, your property, your employees and your future like a written disaster plan.
Think of the possibilities last night held for anyone on the road…there were tornadoes, large hail, extreme flooding and high winds.
Folks, last night two people were struck by lightning during these storms.
As the severe weather continues to sweep the country, and more could be on its way as the Gulf lights up again, let’s talk plans.
REFERENCE POINT:
(From National Weather Service)
THUNDERSTORM WARNING
This is issued when either a severe thunderstorm is indicated by the WSR-88D radar or a spotter reports a thunderstorm producing hail 3/4 inch or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour; therefore, people in the affected area should seek safe shelter immediately. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning. Lightning frequency is not a criteria for issuing a severe thunderstorm warning. They are usually issued for a duration of one hour. They can be issued without a Severe Thunderstorm Watch being already in effect.
The National Weather Service advises that when you hear thunder or see lightning to quickly move indoors or into a hard topped vehicle and remain there until well after the storm has passed.
