Takeaways from Texas — Weather Radios Save Lives

James Spann, a meteorologist with around 1.4 million followers on Facebook, has some takeaways from the flash flood in Texas which has claimed the lives of over 50 people, including some children who were at a Christian church camp.

A lot of left-wing news sites blamed President Donald Trump’s recent DOGE cuts on the National Weather Service. However, in fact, the NWS was on top of the flood, which struck late Thursday night and early Friday morning.

Mr. Spann notes that there were five people staffing the local NWS office that night instead of the usual two. He also notes:

—At 12:41 am local time, a flash flood watch for Kerr County (TX) that mentioned potential life-threatening conditions. A watch had also been issued earlier that afternoon.

—At 1:14 am, a warning was issued for Kerr County.

—At 5:34 am, a flash flood emergency was issued for Kerr County and the Guadalupe River.

—Similar flooding events along the Guadalupe River occurred in 1998, 1987, 1978, 1935, and 1921.

Since Alpha Media abruptly laid off all its live radio broadcasters in Missouri, including at KAAN, there is no radio station that we know of that monitors the weather all night and comes on the air in the event of severe weather. Worth County Textcaster will alert cell phone customers in the event of severe weather, and each town in Worth County has a storm siren that can be activated in the event of severe weather.

Mr. Spann said that the takeaway from the flash flooding in Texas was the importance of having an NOAA weather radio, which alerts people 24/7 in the event of severe weather. He noted that cell service was spotty in Guadalupe. However, an NOAA weather radio is not dependent on cell phone service to work.

A weather radio costs anywhere from $14 to $50 online.

Mr. Spann also noted the problem of false positives; many times, flash flood warnings and tornado warnings are issued that don’t materialize. However, emergency services people have always acted with the mentality that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Wednesday’s Storms Knocked Out Power, Spawned Four Tornadoes

Wednesday morning’s storms spawned four tornadoes near Kansas City and knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers. The storms passed through Sheridan and pelted the area for three hours before passing on.

The National Weather Service reported that four tornadoes touched down that morning. An EF-2 with 115 mph max wind touched down near Buckner (MO). An EF-1 developed on the west side of Lenexa (KS), and two smaller tornadoes spawned in Miami County (KS). There were also straight-line wind gusts and large hail associated with the storm.

Evergy reported that 80,000 customers lost power in the Kansas City area. More than 1,000 field personnel, including 650 lineworkers, were deployed to restore power. Power was restored Thursday.

Weather Patterns Predicted to Change for 2016

The National Weather Service has been releasing information regarding changing weather patterns this year. The weather pattern that we have been in is known as El Nino. There are indications that this is changing to La Nina.

An El Nino pattern is when the seas surface water is warmer at the Equatorial Pacific. A  La Nina pattern is when there is colder sea surface water at the Equatorial Pacific.

This change may bring on a hotter and drier summer growing season. Also, there is an increased risk of late spring frost and early fall frosts.

Forecasts have uncertainty and can change but should be considered when making plans for the coming 2016 growing season.  One may want to relook at risks and how to manage through risks.

For more information, contact Wayne Flanary at 660-446-3724 or Kurt Nagel at 816-776-6961, Extension Agronomists, University of Missouri Extension.

Punxsutawney Phil Forecasts Six More Weeks of Winter

Punxsutawney Phil, unfortunately, saw his shadow Sunday morning on Groundhog Day and went back into his hole for another six more weeks. The sun came out briefly in Sheridan between 8 and 9. That is a bad sign as it forecasts six more weeks of winter.

As of Sunday morning, new winter weather has already been forecast. A Winter Storm Watch was issued by the National Weather Service for the area starting Tuesday morning and running through midnight that day. Around 4-8 inches of snow was forecast along with this storm. After that, according to the Weather Channel, temperatures were forecast to drop to six below zero Wednesday night, stay in single digits on Thursday, and drop to one below Thursday night.

On Saturday, another snowstorm was forecast to come through the area, followed by a temperature drop to three below zero on Saturday night and one below on Sunday night. After Monday the 3rd, temperatures were not forecast to be above 24 at any time during the next 10 days.

This was not the only place where Phil saw his shadow. The Washington Post reported Sunday morning that he saw his shadow in DC as well.

The Super Bowl lucked out from the winter forecasts. Temperatures in New Jersey, where the Super Bowl is being played this year, were as high as 50 degrees. The New York area just missed out on snowstorms, which were forecast to hit the area Monday with 1-3 inches of snow.

Along with the cold weather, people can expect more of the flu. The Centers for Disease Control reports widespread activity for Missouri and most other states as of January 25th.

June 19-25 is Missouri Summer Safety Week

The State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the National Weather Service are promoting Missouri Summer Safety Week (June 19-25) to highlight the dangers caused by excessive heat and lightning. The goal of the summer weather safety campaign is to help keep people safe during the peak vacation and outdoor recreation season.

“Making sure that all Missourians are aware of the dangers involved with summer weather is a top priority,” said State Emergency Management Agency Director Paul D. Parmenter. “We already experienced temperatures in the mid 90s, and high humidity levels last week, and Missourians should pay attention to weather forecasts and be prepared to use caution when outdoors for the next 10 weeks, to help keep their families safe.”

In 2010, the Department of Health and Senior Services reported 17 heat-related deaths in Missouri, along with seven injuries and one death caused by lightning. June 19-25 is also National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Missouri DHSS has created an interactive online tool to help Missourian locate public cooling centers close to their homes. The site is http://gis.dhss.mo.gov/Website/coolingCenter/coolingCenter.html. Users can enter a zip code, city or county, and instantaneously find cooling center nearby.

Missourians should become familiar with the terms used to identify heat hazards:
· Heat Wave is a prolonged period of excessive heat, often combined with excessive humidity.
· Heat Index is a number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees.
· Heat Cramps are muscle pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
· Heat Exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim’s condition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heat stroke.
· Heat Stroke is a life-threatening condition. The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
· Sun Stroke is another term for heat stroke.
To prepare for extreme heat, you should:
· Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate spaces around the air condition for a tighter fit, if necessary.
· Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
· If you have central air conditioning, set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees.
· Change or clean your air-conditioning filter once a month.
· Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
· Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
· Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.)
· Keep storm windows up all year.
What to do during severe heat and heat emergencies:
· Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
· Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
· Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the evaporation rate of perspiration. Call 211 for the nearest location of a cooling center.
· Use exhaust fans and dehumidifiers when needed.
· Eat light, well-balanced meals at regular intervals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
· Drink plenty of water. Individuals who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, are on fluid-restricted diets, or who have problems with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
· Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
· Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
· Protect your face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Wear sunscreen.
· Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
· Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
· Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day; use the buddy system when working in extreme heat; and take frequent breaks.
If your home is not air-conditioned, use moving air to try to beat the heat:
· Open all windows early in the morning to get rid of heat and help cool the home.
· Keep the house closed during the hottest part of the day. Check indoor and outdoor thermometers to make sure that the indoor temperature is still cooler than outside. Later, open up the house so the cooler night air can lower inside temperatures.
· Use floor and ceiling fans as much as possible to circulate a cooling breeze. Also use window fans if not using air conditioning.
· Sleep in a cooler part of the residence, such as lower floors or the basement.
· Take showers and baths early in the morning or late at night.
· Use appliances and equipment that give off heat (iron, light bulbs, clothes dryer, hair dryer, etc.) only as needed and limit use to the early morning or at night, not during the middle of the day.
· Slow down and avoid physical exertion to avoid heat stress.
· Listen to radio and television for discomfort index warnings and keep in touch with others every day.
· If the residence becomes too warm, try to be in a cooler place during the hottest part of the day – a friend’s or neighbor’s home, a cooling center, senior center, shopping mall or library.
On average, about two people are killed by lightning in Missouri each year. Across the U.S., 73 percent of lightning deaths and injuries occur in June, July and August. Lightning can strike as much as 10 miles away from the rain area of a thunderstorm – about the distance that you are able to hear the thunder from a storm. While virtually all people take some protective actions during the most dangerous part of thunderstorms, many leave themselves vulnerable to being struck by lightning as thunderstorms approach, depart, or are nearby. Although some victims are struck directly by the lightning discharge, many victims are struck as the current moves in and along the ground.
Lightning safety tips while outdoors:
· Remember, lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the rain area. Go quickly inside a completely enclosed building before the storm arrives. Do not go to a carport, open garage, covered patio or open window. A hard topped, all metal vehicle also provides good protection
· If no shelter is available, do not take shelter under a tree. Avoid being the tallest object in the area. If only isolated trees are nearby, crouch down on the balls of your feet in the open, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.
· Get out of the water, off the beach, and out of small boats or canoes. Avoid standing in puddles of water even if wearing rubber boots.
· Do not use metal objects such as golf clubs, metal bats, fishing rods, or metal tools.
· Stop tractor work and heavy construction equipment, especially when pulling metal equipment.
Lightning safety tips while indoors:
· Stay there. The best protection from lightning is a house or other substantial building. However, stay away from windows, doors, and metal pipes.
· Do not use electric appliances during the storm. Turn off sensitive equipment such as televisions, VCRs, and computers.
· Telephone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the U.S. Do not make a call unless it is an emergency.

The National Weather Service has additional information about keeping safe in extreme heat, common heat disorders, the science of lightning and lightning safety for those involved in outdoor recreational activities, and National Lightning Awareness Week at www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=summerweathersafetyweek.

Tornado Spotter Training in Worth County

Worth County will have tornado spotter training at the Worth County Fairgrounds Building March 29th at 6:00 p.m. The program is different every year and everyone is welcome. The training is for the general firefighters as well as the firefighters.

Missouri’s annual state tornado drill postponed until Thursday, March 10

Due to the weather forecast calling for precipitation tomorrow, March 8, the National Weather Service has postponed Tuesday’s scheduled annual statewide tornado drill. The new date for the drill will be Thursday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. The weather forecast calls for sunshine on Thursday. The change to Thursday is for the entire state of Missouri.

The 37th annual statewide tornado drill is part of Missouri 2011 Severe Weather Awareness week, which runs from today through Friday, March 11.

Missouri’s 2011 Severe Weather Awareness Week has one goal: to save lives, as the threat for severe weather across the state transitions from snow and ice to severe thunderstorms and flooding.

“The state tornado drill is important because it reminds all of us to plan for weather emergencies that are a common threat across Missouri,” said State Emergency Management Agency Director Paul D. Parmenter. “The drill provides a designated time for schools, businesses and others to practice taking shelter when a tornado warning is issued.”

According to the National Weather Service, Missouri experienced 65 tornadoes in 2010, including multiple tornadoes on Dec. 31, which were responsible for five deaths and 13 injuries. Four of the five people killed were in mobile homes when the tornadoes struck.

The entire drill can be completed in 15 minutes. Once Missourians hear broadcast drill messages or outdoor warning sirens, they should practice seeking shelter. The safest shelter location is an interior room without windows in the lowest level of a building. Other safe locations for businesses and schools include basements, hallways, underneath staircases and designated tornado safe rooms. The drill is complete once everyone is accounted for in the designated shelters.

Statement from the Worth County Emergency Management Agency regarding the winter storm

Have just finished with a conference webinar with the National Weather Forecast and the substance of that information follows:

They are using terms such as “Historic” “Extreme”, etc. for this storm. As always, the path may change. They do not expect to do another conference call. They have provided two web-sites that will be updated about every 6 hrs. or so. They are as follows:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/briefing and

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=dss main

More freezing rain today with a lull this afternoon before the snow begins. The amount of snow for us looks to be 7.3” here and to the SE part of our county 10.3”. They expect it to begin with wet/heavy snow, going then to light fluffy snow. It will begin this evening and progress throughout tomorrow & tomorrow night. They recommend that people be where they want to be by tomorrow afternoon late because they may have to stay there for some time. They expect blizzard conditions with 30-40mph winds beginning Tuesday afternoon and a possible power outage because of the winds. Wind chills by Thursday will be -25 degrees below zero. They expect the wind to decrease to 15 to 20 mph late Wednesday morning.

If we need to establish shelters, we will open the school and the WCCC is available. My home phone number is (660)564-3514 and my cell is (660)582-0315.