SEVERE WEATHER PREPARDNESS
Thunderstorm Safety Tips for Point Venture Residents
Severe Thunderstorm Watch - tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning – is issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
 | Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder. |
| Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm. |
| Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). |
| Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. |
| Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage. |
| Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades, or curtains. |
| Avoid showering or bathing. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity. |
| Use a corded telephone only for emergencies. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use. |
| To avoid damage from power surges, unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioning. |
Avoid the following:
| Natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area |
| Hilltops, open fields, the beach, or a boat on the water |
| Isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas |
| Anything metal—tractors, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles |
During a thunderstorm:
| In a forest, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. |
| In an open area, go to a low place such as a ravine. Be alert for flash floods. |
| If you are on open water, get to land and find shelter immediately. |
| If your hair stands on end (indicates that lighting is about to strike), squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands over your ears with your head between your knees. Make yourself a small target. |
Use your
battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials.