Stay alert during severe weather season

Spring 2023 has already shown to be a busy season for severe weather. While Severe Weather Preparedness month falls each year in March, people in the Midwest should always be aware of the watches and warnings that could affect them, and have a plan to take action when April showers—not to mention May, June, July, and the rest of the year—gets a little nasty.

“This has been a very active start to the severe weather season and with the events which occurred a couple of weeks ago it sends a reminder that Mother Nature can be very unpredictable,” Josh Bolatto, Coordinator for Braidwood Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA), explained. “It is unusual to see a level 4 or 5 severe weather forecast issued by the Storm Prediction Center for our area and only happens maybe once or twice a year, if that. With both events, we were placed under a level 4 with a level 5 just out to the west of us, so that is something worth keeping in mind. Even though people associate the severe weather season with spring, summer and into the fall, it has been proven that severe thunderstorms can occur at any time of the year, even during the winter months. Severe weather preparedness is extremely important.”

In an effort to get the word out on the impotance of preparing for severe weather throughout the year, Free Press Newspapers asked Bolatto to answer some storm prep questions. Here are some of those important tips and tricks for staying safe when the weather turns bad:

What should people know about watches, warnings, and how they differ?

When a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch is issued, it means that all the conditions are right for the potential development of severe storms or tornados. When a watch is issued, that is the time to make sure you are ready in case things start to develop and conditions become worse. Making sure you know where to go if you need to shelter, your emergency kits are ready and your multiple ways to receive weather warnings are in place.

In our area, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings or Tornado Warnings are issued by our local NWS forecast office located in Romeoville and means that Severe Thunderstorms or Tornados are impacting or will soon be impacting a certain area.

My favorite way to remember the difference between the two is with the meme “Taco Watch and Taco Warning.”Taco Watch means that we have all the ingredients that we need to make tacos. Taco Warning means that we are having tacos… right now. There’s all sorts of different memes out there but that one is my favorite.

What kind of severe weather is most common to this area?

The Midwest seem to get quite the mixed bag of severe weather. From high winds, heavy rains and large hail to tornados and microbursts. That’s just one of those things that comes along with living in an area that sees the types of climate variations that we have to deal with. Luckily for us here in town, we haven’t really seen any major impacts from tornados like our neighbors to the west have. We’ve come close a few times, but nothing like what they’ve seen in the Coal City and Diamond communities. We did have some impacts from the 2013 and 2015 tornados, but not like they did.

According to some statistics from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Illinois ranks fourth in the United States for the most tornadoes per square mile. The majority of Illinois tornadoes have occurred between April 1 and June 30 and between the hours of 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. However, tornadoes have occurred every month of the year at all hours of the day. Nearly 20% of all tornadoes in Illinois occur after dark and on average, 53 tornadoes occur each year in Illinois. In Illinois since 1950, 78% of tornadoes have been weak with wind estimated less than 110 mph, and 21% of tornadoes have been strong with wind estimated between 110-167 mph.

Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, damaging winds, lightning, hail and/or heavy rain. Wind gusts from severe thunderstorms can do as much or more damage than many tornadoes. Extended power outages, downed trees and extensive damage to roofs, doors and windows can occur from straight line wind gusts or downbursts of wind.

If there was a "number one" rule of severe weather preparedness, what would it be?

Always have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts. Some people may not like all the bells and whistles going off at the same time, but it is necessary in order to ensure that you are able to receive the alert in the event that one of those methods are down.

Multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts include

• A weather alert radio with a battery backup, a tone-alert feature and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology that automatically alerts you when a watch or warning is issued for your county. Make sure you know the name of the county you live in, and the counties you travel through along with knowing your geographical location.

• Text or weather app alerts to your phone

• Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEAS) notifications (must be enabled on a cellular device in order to receive notifications)

• Facebook posts (good for following storm development but not the number one way of receiving a warning)

• Local media coverage (Power outages can disrupt this)

How should families plan for severe weather, ie, what should they keep in their basements or in their cars?

Being prepared is half the battle when it comes to recovery from severe weather impacts. The better prepared you are before a storm, the better you will be able to deal with the impacts. Whether it’s at home or work, knowing how you need to react in a situation is key. For severe weather, knowing where you will be able to seek shelter is very important and ensuring that all members of your family or your co-workers know where to go is also vital.

A disaster of any kind may interfere with normal supplies of food, water, heat and other day-to-day necessities. It is important to keep a stock of emergency supplies on hand that will be sufficient to meet your family’s needs for at least a three-day period. It is important to update your kit regularly. You should replace the water supply and any food that may have reached its use by or expiration date. An easy way to remember is to use Daylight Savings Time, so that when you change your clocks, you also update your kits.

IEMA recommends that an emergency supply kit should include the following:

• A battery-powered radio, weather alert radio and flashlights, with extra batteries
• Bottled drinking water: one gallon per day per person with at least a three-day supply for each person in your household
• At least a three-day supply of canned or sealed foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking
• First-aid kit and manual
• Non-electric can opener and utility knife
• Mess kits or other basic eating and cooking utensils
• Paper towels, toilet paper, soap and detergent
• Household laundry bleach (unscented)
• A blanket or sleeping bag for each member of the family
• One change of clothing and footwear per person
• Fire extinguisher
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Signal flare, matches and whistle
• Cell phone and car charger
• An extra set of car keys, credit card and cash
• A list of family physicians
• Medications or special foods needed by family members, such as insulin, heart medication, dietetic food and baby food. Do not store these items in your kit for a long period of time but add at the last minute.
• If needed, formula, diapers and bottles
• Denture needs, extra eye glasses and contact lens supplies
• You can store additional water by filling bathtubs and sinks with water if an emergency is declared. Clean water is also available in toilet tanks, presuming chemicals and other cleaning agents are not used in the water tank.
• Face Mask for each member of your family
• Hand Sanitizer

If you have pets, include the following items in your kit:
• Identification collar and rabies tag
• Pet carrier or cage
• Leash
• Medications
• Newspaper, litter and trash bags for waste
• Two-week supply of food and water
• Veterinary records (necessary if your pet has to go to a shelter)

If I don't have a basement, what do I do in the event of a tornado warning?

Determine the best location in your home and workplace to seek shelter when threatened by a tornado. A basement or cellar will usually afford the best protection. If an underground shelter is not available, identify an interior room or hallway on the lowest level. The best areas are closets, small interior hallways and bathrooms without windows. If you live in a mobile home, identify a safe shelter outside of your mobile home such as a neighbor or friend’s house or a nearby public building. Half of all tornado fatalities occur in mobile homes, even though they only account for about seven percent of all residences. Conduct periodic tornado safety drills at home and work. Decide how and where everyone will gather prior to and after the storm.

What are the best ways to stay up to date on severe weather?

It is critical that someone at home, work or wherever people gather monitors weather conditions, regardless of the time of day. Monitor watches and warnings in your areas using a weather alert radio, cell phone app, local TV, local radio or the Internet. If it is safe to do so, contact family members and friends when you become aware of a severe thunderstorm and/or lightning that may threaten them. Check the weather forecast before leaving for extended outdoor periods and postpone plans if severe weather is imminent.

What are the top things to keep in mind when riding out severe weather (ie, don't go check it out when the sirens start, something midwesterners really love to do)?

Yes, it’s true… Midwesterners do have a tendency to do the exact opposite of what they should be doing when outdoor warning sirens go off.

When the outdoor warning sirens go off, go immediately to your predetermined shelter, such as a storm cellar, basement or the lowest level of the building. In a basement, go under the stairs, under a heavy piece of furniture or a work bench. Stay there until the danger has passed. If in a mobile home, get out and seek shelter elsewhere, well before the storm arrives as a mobile home can overturn very easily. If there is not a substantial shelter nearby, go to a low-lying area and shield your head with your hands. If there is no basement, go to an interior hallway or a small interior room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Stay away from outside windows and walls as they may be penetrated by high speed, wind-borne debris. Get under a piece of sturdy furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table, and hold onto it. If sturdy furniture is not available, make yourself the smallest target possible. Squat low to the ground. Put your head down and cover your head and neck with your hands. Use pillows, mattresses or cushions to protect your head and neck.

Editor’s Note — This is the first of a two-part series on severe weather safety. Thanks to Josh Bolatto and his thorough discussion on severe weather safety.