KANSAS
CITY, Mo. ¾
With
the arrival of the outdoor recreation season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Kansas City District reminds outdoor enthusiasts and recreationalists to be
weather aware when visiting Corps lakes and recreation areas.
The
National Weather Service advises the public that the best protection from
weather-related injury or death is to monitor the weather and postpone or
cancel outdoor activities when inclement weather is in the forecast.
“Being
aware of changing weather conditions can help ensure the safety of each and
every one of our visitors,” said Heath Kruger a natural resources management
specialist with the Kansas City District. “We want to remind visitors to check
the forecast when participating in outdoor activities. If the forecast calls
for severe weather, make sure adequate shelter is readily available.”
In
fact, Kruger said that shelter is the safest option for surviving lightning,
flash floods and tornados, the three most dangerous conditions visitors
encounter.
Following
are safety tips from the NWS for these severe weather conditions:
Lightning
Safety
-
Just
remember When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.
-
Find a
safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder.
-
If caught
in an open area, crouch down in a ball-like position (feet and knees together)
with head tucked and hands over the ears to create minimal contact with the
ground.
-
Do not
lie down - lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that
can be deadly from more than 100 feet away. Crouching is the best combination
of being low and touching the ground as little as possible.
Flood
Safety
-
Remember Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
-
After a
storm that produces heavy rainfall flash flooding can occur.
-
Avoid
driving or wading through hazardous flood water.
-
Drowning
can result from driving through water.
-
As little
as six inches of fast-moving flood water may cause a motorist to lose control
of the vehicle and as little as two feet of water can carry most cars away.
Tornado
Safety
Some
tornadoes strike rapidly, without time for a tornado warning, and sometimes
without a thunderstorm in the vicinity. When watching for rapidly emerging
tornadoes, it is not always possible to see a funnel: clouds or rain may block
the view. The following weather signs may mean a tornado is approaching:
-
A dark or
green-colored sky.
-
A large,
dark, low-lying cloud.
-
Large
hail.
-
A loud
roar that sounds like a freight train.
In
the event of these weather conditions, take cover immediately, and keep tuned
to local radio station or a NOAA weather radio channel.
If
caught outdoors in a tornado and there is no adequate shelter immediately
available:
The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District reminds everyone to have an
emergency plan in place for each of these hazardous weather conditions. Public
safety is the number one priority of the Corps of Engineers. When visiting a
Corps lake, play it safe, have a fun and enjoyable experience and go home safe.
Visit
weather.gov, weather.gov/lighteningsafety and weather.gov/floodsafety for more
safety tips and information.
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