Are you Prepared for Severe Weather?

8/1/2018 (Permalink)

Unexpected emergencies like severe weather call for immediate action.

SERVPRO of Western O'Fallon/Wentzville knows immediate reaction to the disaster is important to helping you get your life back to normal. Though our atmosphere has been calm over the St. Louis area, we can't turn a blind eye to living on the edge of tornado alley. Missouri often faces severe weather due to its position in the country. The Midwest region is in a location where warm fronts and colds fronts often meet, creating severe weather patterns from time to time.

What is a thunderstorm exactly? A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following:

• Hail (one inch or greater)
• Winds in excess of 58 mph 
• Structural wind damage 
• Tornado

What should you do during a thunder storm? 

• Use a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials. 
• Avoid contact with corded phones. Use a corded telephone only for emergencies. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use. 
• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage. 
• Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity. 
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Avoid natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area. 
• Avoid hilltops, open fields, the beach or a boat on the water.
• Take shelter in a sturdy building. Avoid isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas. 
• Avoid contact with anything metal—tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles. 
• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

After the storm is over

• Never drive through a flooded roadway. 
• Stay away from storm-damaged areas to keep from putting yourself at risk from the effects of severe thunderstorms. 
• Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or to local radio and television stations for updated information or instructions, as access to roads or some parts of the community may be blocked. 
• Help people who may require special assistance, such as infants, children and the elderly or those with access or functional needs.
• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately. 
• Watch your animals closely. Keep them under your direct control. 
• If you have storm damage to your home or property, call your SERVPRO of Western O'Fallon/Wentzville at (636)856-9700. Timely mitigation is key to minimize secondary damages caused by severe storms