dale farley
03-08-2013, 11:23 PM
Before heading out this travel season, make sure you have a plan and know what to do if you encounter severe weather.
By Chris Dougherty
June 2012
http://www.fmcmagazine.com/plugins/content/fboxbot/thumbs/midland-weather-radio_200x135_ad7fc79136ee8b8f84889faf53107068.jpg (http://www.fmcmagazine.com/images/stories/fmcfeatures/june2012/midland_weather_radio.jpg)
It’s easy to forget the world we live in as we relax during our travels, but ignoring a dangerous weather situation can have devastating results. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to prepare for emergencies, and a little bit of planning can save your life.
Thunderstorms
We all know about thunderstorms, so why worry about them? All thunderstorms are dangerous. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), 1,800 thunderstorms occur at any moment around the world. That’s 16 million each year, and 100,000 in the United States alone!
Thunderstorms can produce the following:
Lightning — This natural phenomenon causes nearly 60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year, and accounts for more than $1 billion in insured losses each year. Lightning occurs with all thunderstorms and is directly related to the sound of the thunder. Remember, if you are outdoors and can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning.
Tornadoes — Twisters cause an average of 60 to 65 fatalities each year and 1,500 injuries. Winds in excess of 200 mph are common with tornadoes, which also carry a large amount of debris.
Straight-line winds — The straight-line winds, resulting from downdraft bursts, can exceed 125 mph and can be just as destructive as a tornado.
Flash floods and flooding — Believe it or not, flash flooding is the number one killer associated with thunderstorms. Flash floods can occur with little warning and are especially hazardous in low-lying areas.
Hail — These ice stones cause more than $1 billion in damage each year. Hail can be as large as 5 inches in diameter, fall at speeds of up to 100 mph, and do extensive damage to a motorhome’s roof, awning, etc. Following a hailstorm, inspect your motorhome for damage and quickly make the necessary repairs to avoid water damage from leaks.
Thunderstorms occur primarily in the spring and summer and are the result of moist, unstable air colliding with a cold front, warm front, sea breezes, mountains, or the sun’s heat, which results in lift. Moisture is drawn upward into the atmosphere, sometimes as high as 12 miles. As it cools, it condenses and freezes, and when the weight of the frozen moisture overcomes the updraft, it falls. When the super-cooled liquid water particles (snow, ice pellets, and ice crystals) rub against each other near the freezing line in the atmosphere, the friction produces an electrical charge. When opposite charges meet, lightning results. The thunder is the sound of super-heated air expanding away from the lightning at the speed of sound.
Floods And Flash Floods
As noted, the number one storm-related killer is flash flooding. Flash floods occur rapidly, generally within six hours after the storm, and are usually the result of heavy rainfall. But they also can be caused by ice jams, levee or dam failures, etc. This is different from a flood, which occurs more slowly (more than six hours) and is the result of abnormally high water flow.
According to the NWS, more than half of all flood-related deaths occur when a vehicle is driven into the floodwaters. If you see water crossing the roadway, don’t drive into it; turn around.
Be especially vigilant in low-lying campgrounds, such as those along rivers and creeks. In a flash-flood situation, you could find yourself in trouble very quickly.
What You Can Do
Being prepared is the best thing anyone can do prior to an emergency. If you know where to go and what to do before a disaster strikes, you’ll be able to react quickly, which could save your life.
As motorhome travelers, we venture into areas we may not be familiar with, so it can be hard to know where to go in the event of an emergency. Campground owners should be able to advise you on emergency procedures when you check in. Questions you should ask the campground owner and yourself include the following:
Where is the nearest storm shelter? The campground may or may not have a storm or tornado shelter. If it does, know how to get there. If not, consider your other options. Your motorhome is not the place to be in a tornado or flood event.
What county am I in? Where’s the nearest city? What’s the address here? Do you use 9-1-1 for emergencies? For those who work in emergency services, this is called situational awareness. Know where you are and how to get out of the area. Knowing the name of the county is important if watches or warnings are issued, since these are assigned by county.
X-What local radio and TV stations should I watch or listen to if there’s an emergency? Most campgrounds give you a list of their cable stations, but try to find out about over-the-air broadcasting as well so you can keep track of the local weather information.
Do I have what I need if I am cut off from civilization for a while? Is there enough food, water, medications, and clothing for everyone in the motorhome? Will there be a source of heat and shelter?
One of the most important pieces of equipment to have as a motorhome traveler is an all-hazards (weather) radio with Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) technology. Used for NWS announcements, the S.A.M.E. system also is employed by the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is what you see on your TV or hear on the radio. According to the NWS, “NWR (NOAA Weather Radio) S.A.M.E. provides, in a digital format, specific, timely information on the nature and location of a threat to the safety of those most immediately at risk from severe weather or other hazards. Its greatest value is to significantly improve the automatic selection and distribution of messages about events that threaten people and/or property.” More information about S.A.M.E. can be found at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm).
A number of styles, makes, and models of weather radios are available. However, newer portable, travel-friendly models, such as the Midland HH54VP2, are ideal for RVers. These radios are relatively simple to program and operate, and they can be programmed to issue alerts only for the area that you are in (by county name). This feature is particularly nice for motorhome owners, as is the radios’ portability, since they are easy to take along on adventures away from the RV.
The only caveat is that S.A.M.E. radios MUST be programmed for the area you are currently in and changed when you move. In the case of the Midland HH54VP2, it does have a travel scan mode that will find the strongest signal and lock on to it. Any of the radios can be left in an “all area” mode, which will allow them to alarm when any S.A.M.E. signal or alert is received. Again, however, a local weather radio channel must be selected, and adequate reception must exist. An option with some radios, such as the Midland WR-120, is that they can be installed in the RV with an external antenna for better reception and wired to work off the coach batteries.
There are two other things you will need with your S.A.M.E. radio. First, you have to know where you are. S.A.M.E. codes are listed by county or parish. A county map, available on most state Web sites, can help with this, or just ask the campground folks. Second is a list of S.A.M.E. codes for the areas in which you’re traveling. These can be found on the NWS Web site, or simply by doing a Google search for S.A.M.E. codes. The instructions that came with your radio will show you how to program it. Again, I can’t stress how important it is to properly program and reprogram the radio. If it isn’t tuned to a local channel, or doesn’t have the proper S.A.M.E. codes, it won’t alert you.
The National Weather Service has created Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning ... A Preparedness Guide that includes all types of information about these weather conditions and how to be ready in the event of severe weather. Visit www.nws.noaa.gov/om/severeweather/resources/ttl6-10.pdf (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/severeweather/resources/ttl6-10.pdf) to download the guide.
Conclusion
The potential for severe weather or an emergency always exists, so it’s important to be prepared. Make sure that wherever you are, you have a plan and know where to go if severe weather strikes or threatens. Postpone activities if thunderstorms are forecast, and consider altering your plans to accommodate the weather. Monitor the weather and look for signs of deteriorating weather conditions, lightning, thunder, wind, etc. Have your weather/S.A.M.E. radio with you all the time, and have it programmed properly. When severe weather is imminent, don’t wait! Get to a safe place. If you see lightning or hear thunder, go inside. If you can’t get into a substantial building, find shelter in a hard-topped metal vehicle, close all the windows, and stay there until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. Also, if you hear thunder, don’t use a corded phone. Cordless and wireless phones are fine, though. Don’t use plumbing during a thunderstorm
By Chris Dougherty
June 2012
http://www.fmcmagazine.com/plugins/content/fboxbot/thumbs/midland-weather-radio_200x135_ad7fc79136ee8b8f84889faf53107068.jpg (http://www.fmcmagazine.com/images/stories/fmcfeatures/june2012/midland_weather_radio.jpg)
It’s easy to forget the world we live in as we relax during our travels, but ignoring a dangerous weather situation can have devastating results. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to prepare for emergencies, and a little bit of planning can save your life.
Thunderstorms
We all know about thunderstorms, so why worry about them? All thunderstorms are dangerous. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), 1,800 thunderstorms occur at any moment around the world. That’s 16 million each year, and 100,000 in the United States alone!
Thunderstorms can produce the following:
Lightning — This natural phenomenon causes nearly 60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year, and accounts for more than $1 billion in insured losses each year. Lightning occurs with all thunderstorms and is directly related to the sound of the thunder. Remember, if you are outdoors and can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning.
Tornadoes — Twisters cause an average of 60 to 65 fatalities each year and 1,500 injuries. Winds in excess of 200 mph are common with tornadoes, which also carry a large amount of debris.
Straight-line winds — The straight-line winds, resulting from downdraft bursts, can exceed 125 mph and can be just as destructive as a tornado.
Flash floods and flooding — Believe it or not, flash flooding is the number one killer associated with thunderstorms. Flash floods can occur with little warning and are especially hazardous in low-lying areas.
Hail — These ice stones cause more than $1 billion in damage each year. Hail can be as large as 5 inches in diameter, fall at speeds of up to 100 mph, and do extensive damage to a motorhome’s roof, awning, etc. Following a hailstorm, inspect your motorhome for damage and quickly make the necessary repairs to avoid water damage from leaks.
Thunderstorms occur primarily in the spring and summer and are the result of moist, unstable air colliding with a cold front, warm front, sea breezes, mountains, or the sun’s heat, which results in lift. Moisture is drawn upward into the atmosphere, sometimes as high as 12 miles. As it cools, it condenses and freezes, and when the weight of the frozen moisture overcomes the updraft, it falls. When the super-cooled liquid water particles (snow, ice pellets, and ice crystals) rub against each other near the freezing line in the atmosphere, the friction produces an electrical charge. When opposite charges meet, lightning results. The thunder is the sound of super-heated air expanding away from the lightning at the speed of sound.
Floods And Flash Floods
As noted, the number one storm-related killer is flash flooding. Flash floods occur rapidly, generally within six hours after the storm, and are usually the result of heavy rainfall. But they also can be caused by ice jams, levee or dam failures, etc. This is different from a flood, which occurs more slowly (more than six hours) and is the result of abnormally high water flow.
According to the NWS, more than half of all flood-related deaths occur when a vehicle is driven into the floodwaters. If you see water crossing the roadway, don’t drive into it; turn around.
Be especially vigilant in low-lying campgrounds, such as those along rivers and creeks. In a flash-flood situation, you could find yourself in trouble very quickly.
What You Can Do
Being prepared is the best thing anyone can do prior to an emergency. If you know where to go and what to do before a disaster strikes, you’ll be able to react quickly, which could save your life.
As motorhome travelers, we venture into areas we may not be familiar with, so it can be hard to know where to go in the event of an emergency. Campground owners should be able to advise you on emergency procedures when you check in. Questions you should ask the campground owner and yourself include the following:
Where is the nearest storm shelter? The campground may or may not have a storm or tornado shelter. If it does, know how to get there. If not, consider your other options. Your motorhome is not the place to be in a tornado or flood event.
What county am I in? Where’s the nearest city? What’s the address here? Do you use 9-1-1 for emergencies? For those who work in emergency services, this is called situational awareness. Know where you are and how to get out of the area. Knowing the name of the county is important if watches or warnings are issued, since these are assigned by county.
X-What local radio and TV stations should I watch or listen to if there’s an emergency? Most campgrounds give you a list of their cable stations, but try to find out about over-the-air broadcasting as well so you can keep track of the local weather information.
Do I have what I need if I am cut off from civilization for a while? Is there enough food, water, medications, and clothing for everyone in the motorhome? Will there be a source of heat and shelter?
One of the most important pieces of equipment to have as a motorhome traveler is an all-hazards (weather) radio with Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) technology. Used for NWS announcements, the S.A.M.E. system also is employed by the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is what you see on your TV or hear on the radio. According to the NWS, “NWR (NOAA Weather Radio) S.A.M.E. provides, in a digital format, specific, timely information on the nature and location of a threat to the safety of those most immediately at risk from severe weather or other hazards. Its greatest value is to significantly improve the automatic selection and distribution of messages about events that threaten people and/or property.” More information about S.A.M.E. can be found at www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm).
A number of styles, makes, and models of weather radios are available. However, newer portable, travel-friendly models, such as the Midland HH54VP2, are ideal for RVers. These radios are relatively simple to program and operate, and they can be programmed to issue alerts only for the area that you are in (by county name). This feature is particularly nice for motorhome owners, as is the radios’ portability, since they are easy to take along on adventures away from the RV.
The only caveat is that S.A.M.E. radios MUST be programmed for the area you are currently in and changed when you move. In the case of the Midland HH54VP2, it does have a travel scan mode that will find the strongest signal and lock on to it. Any of the radios can be left in an “all area” mode, which will allow them to alarm when any S.A.M.E. signal or alert is received. Again, however, a local weather radio channel must be selected, and adequate reception must exist. An option with some radios, such as the Midland WR-120, is that they can be installed in the RV with an external antenna for better reception and wired to work off the coach batteries.
There are two other things you will need with your S.A.M.E. radio. First, you have to know where you are. S.A.M.E. codes are listed by county or parish. A county map, available on most state Web sites, can help with this, or just ask the campground folks. Second is a list of S.A.M.E. codes for the areas in which you’re traveling. These can be found on the NWS Web site, or simply by doing a Google search for S.A.M.E. codes. The instructions that came with your radio will show you how to program it. Again, I can’t stress how important it is to properly program and reprogram the radio. If it isn’t tuned to a local channel, or doesn’t have the proper S.A.M.E. codes, it won’t alert you.
The National Weather Service has created Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning ... A Preparedness Guide that includes all types of information about these weather conditions and how to be ready in the event of severe weather. Visit www.nws.noaa.gov/om/severeweather/resources/ttl6-10.pdf (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/severeweather/resources/ttl6-10.pdf) to download the guide.
Conclusion
The potential for severe weather or an emergency always exists, so it’s important to be prepared. Make sure that wherever you are, you have a plan and know where to go if severe weather strikes or threatens. Postpone activities if thunderstorms are forecast, and consider altering your plans to accommodate the weather. Monitor the weather and look for signs of deteriorating weather conditions, lightning, thunder, wind, etc. Have your weather/S.A.M.E. radio with you all the time, and have it programmed properly. When severe weather is imminent, don’t wait! Get to a safe place. If you see lightning or hear thunder, go inside. If you can’t get into a substantial building, find shelter in a hard-topped metal vehicle, close all the windows, and stay there until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. Also, if you hear thunder, don’t use a corded phone. Cordless and wireless phones are fine, though. Don’t use plumbing during a thunderstorm