Viewer Tip: This is good time to remember some basic weather safety tips that will keep you and your family safe.

• Heat: Even when the outside temperature is relatively mild (about 70 degrees) the temperature inside a sealed car can rise quickly – up to 40 degrees in 60 minutes. Please don’t leave kids or pets alone in a car, even for a few minutes.
• Floods: As winter snow melts and rain falls, floods will occur in some parts of the country. Remember the National Weather Service’s advice to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” Never cross flooded roads or pathways in a car or on foot – find another, safe route.
• Lightning: If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike. The only safe place when lightning is nearby is inside a substantial building or a metal-topped vehicle.

This information is provided by the American Meteorological Society, a partner in National Public Health Week.

Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and your family stay safe should severe weather occur in your community. Some of the items that should be included in an emergency kit are:

• First-aid kit
• Extra prescription medications, glasses, hearing aids and other important medical supplies
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person per day
• Coolers for food/ice, paper plates, plastic utensils, a can opener and a knife
• Tools such as a fire extinguisher, duct tape and rope
• Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothing
• Toiletries and personal hygiene supplies
• Don’t forget to plan for pets! They will need food, water and medication, too.

Find a family emergency kit checklist and other Severe Weather Awareness resources at http://www.mcready.org/info.html and http://www.srh.weather.gov/oun/?n=swaw.

Season: Winter

(Source: Norman, OK National Weather Service Forecast Office.  “Oklahoma Severe Weather Awareness.” http://www.srh.weather.gov/oun/?n=swaw)

Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and your family stay safe should severe weather occur in your community. Some of the items that should be included in an emergency kit are:

• First-aid kit
• Extra prescription medications, glasses, hearing aids and other important medical supplies
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person per day
• Coolers for food/ice, paper plates, plastic utensils, a can opener and a knife
• Tools such as a fire extinguisher, duct tape and rope
• Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothing
• Toiletries and personal hygiene supplies
• Don’t forget to plan for pets! They will need food, water and medication, too.

Find a family emergency kit checklist and other Severe Weather Awareness resources at http://gohsep.la.gov/.

Season: Winter

(Source: Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. “Emergency Kit.” http://www.getagameplan.org/planFamily.htm)

Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and your family stay safe should severe weather occur in your community. Some of the items that should be included in an emergency kit are:

• First-aid kit
• Extra prescription medications, glasses, hearing aids and other important medical supplies
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person per day
• Coolers for food/ice, paper plates, plastic utensils, a can opener and a knife
• Tools such as a fire extinguisher, duct tape and rope
• Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothing
• Toiletries and personal hygiene supplies
• Don’t forget to plan for pets! They will need food, water and medication, too.

Find a family emergency kit checklist from the American Red Cross at: http://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html.

Season: Winter

(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service, Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services. “Severe Weather Events Calendar.” http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/severeweather/severewxcal.shtml; American Red Cross. “Disaster Supplies Kit.” http://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html)

Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and your family stay safe should severe weather occur in your community. Some of the items that should be included in an emergency kit are:

• First-aid kit
• Extra prescription medications, glasses, hearing aids and other important medical supplies
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person per day
• Coolers for food/ice, paper plates, plastic utensils, a can opener and a knife
• Tools such as a fire extinguisher, duct tape and rope
• Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothing
• Toiletries and personal hygiene supplies
• Don’t forget to plan for pets! They will need food, water and medication, too.

Find a family emergency kit checklist from the American Red Cross at: http://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html.

Season: Winter

(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service, Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services. “Severe Weather Events Calendar.” http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/severeweather/severewxcal.shtml; American Red Cross. “Disaster Supplies Kit.” http://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html

Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and your family stay safe should severe weather occur in your community. Some of the items that should be included in an emergency kit are:

• First-aid kit
• Extra prescription medications, glasses, hearing aids and other important medical supplies
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person per day
• Coolers for food/ice, paper plates, plastic utensils, a can opener and a knife
• Tools such as a fire extinguisher, duct tape and rope
• Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothing
• Toiletries and personal hygiene supplies
• Don’t forget to plan for pets! They will need food, water and medication, too.

Find a family emergency kit checklist from the American Red Cross at: http://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html.

Season: Winter

(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service, Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services. “Severe Weather Events Calendar.” http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/severeweather/severewxcal.shtml; American Red Cross. “Disaster Supplies Kit.” http://6l3zyr.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html)

Viewer Tip: Consider building or updating your family emergency preparedness kit this week.  Having supplies set aside will help ensure you and your family stay safe should severe weather occur in your community. Some of the items that should be included in an emergency kit are:

• First-aid kit
• Extra prescription medications, glasses, hearing aids and other important medical supplies
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-operated radio and NOAA Weather Radio
• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person per day
• Coolers for food/ice, paper plates, plastic utensils, a can opener and a knife
• Tools such as a fire extinguisher, duct tape and rope
• Blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and extra clothing
• Toiletries and personal hygiene supplies
• Don’t forget to plan for pets! They will need food, water and medication, too.

Find a family emergency kit checklist and other Severe Weather Awareness resources at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/weather_aware_severe.htm.

Season: Winter

(Source: Texas Department of Public Safety. “Severe Weather Awareness.” http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/weather_aware_severe.htm)

Viewer tip: Know your rip current risk.  The National Weather Service distributes rip current outlook forecasts which are available online, through the media, and even on the radio.  When you do hit the beach, don’t swim in areas that are not protected by life guards, and make sure you know how survive if caught in rip current.

Learn how to escape a rip current at NOAA’s National Weather Service Rip Current Safety web site: www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

Season: Summer

(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service. “Rip Current Safety.” http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/)

Viewer Tip: Rip currents can pull you away from shore quickly and without warning.  Always check the local beach forecast before heading out, and ask lifeguards about water conditions.  In Florida, there is a universal beach flag system to indicate rip current risk – red indicates high hazard, yellow indicates moderate hazard, and green indicates low hazard. If you’re not sure about the condition of the water, don’t go out!
 
Learn more about rip currents at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.  Learn more about Florida’s flag system at www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp/programs/flags.htm.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: NOAA National Weather Service, “East Central Florida Rip Current Program,” http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/ripinit.html)

Viewer Tip: Rip currents can pull you away from shore quickly and without warning.  Always check the local beach forecast before heading out, and ask lifeguards about water conditions.  If you’re not sure about the condition of the water, don’t go out!

Learn more about rip currents at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: NOAA National Weather Service, “Break the Grip of the Rip,” www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov)

Viewer Tip: When a “high” risk of rip currents is reported, it means that wind and wave conditions are conducive to the formation of rip currents, and conditions are dangerous for anyone entering the water — even experienced swimmers.  Before you head out, always check your beach forecast, and listen to instructions from lifeguards.  You can find the National Weather Service’s Surf Zone Forecasts for many beaches at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: National Weather Service. “Rip Current Safety.” http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/)