TORNADO   SAFETY   RULES 

The City of Salem Department of Emergency Management  Encourage You To Be Prepared  For Tornadoes Before They Occur!

We currently have no Public Tornado Shelter....you should make arrangements before the Tornado Warning to seek a place of safety.

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK   FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2010

NOAA WEATHER RADIO STREAMING LIVE ON OUR HOME PAGE!

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH AREA-KEEP INFORMED OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. THESE STORMS CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY SO THERE MAY BE OCCASIONS WHEN ADVANCE WARNING IS NOT POSSIBLE.

  A TORNADO WARNING MEANS A TORNADO HAS BEEN SPOTTED OR INDICATED BY RADAR. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OR NEAR THE TORNADO-TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RULES:

  1) IN OPEN COUNTRY-FIND A DITCH-CULVERT OR OTHER LOW AREA AND LAY DOWN FLAT. COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS FOR PROTECTION.

  2) IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS-GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO A SMALL ALL-INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR LIKE A HALL OR BATHROOM CLOSET. USE HEAVY FURNITURE FOR SHELTER OR COVER YOURSELF WITH A MATTRESS OR BLANKET.

  3) IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES-ABANDON IT AND GO TO A SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE OR PLACE OF SAFETY. NEVER TRY AND OUT RUN A TORNADO BY AUTOMOBILE.

  4) IN SCHOOLS...HOSPITALS...FACTORIES OR SHOPPING CENTERS-GO TO PRE DESIGNATED SHELTER AREAS. INTERIOR HALLS ON THE LOWEST LEVELS ARE USUALLY THE BEST. STAY AWAY FROM GYMNASIUMS OR AUDITORIUMS. AVOID ALL OUTSIDE WALLS AND WINDOWS.

  THE KEY TO TORNADO SURVIVAL IS TO BE PREPARED AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED OR WHEN YOU FEEL THREATENED. REMEMBER-THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE DURING A TORNADO EVENT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

  IT IS CRITICAL THAT SOMEONE AT HOME, WORK, OR WHEREVER PEOPLE GATHER, MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DAY!  MANY TORNADOES OCCUR AT NIGHT.  USE WEATHER ALERT RADIO, LOCAL TV AND RADIO, OR THE INTERNET TO MONITOR WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR YOU AREA.  DON'T RELY COMPLETELY ON OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS - ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ASLEEP!

  WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PURCHASE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO.  THE TRANSMITTER THAT ACTIVATES THE WARNING RADIO IS LOCATED SOUTH OF SALEM, WE HAVE A STRONG SIGNAL ON ALL WEATHER RADIOS IN THIS AREA.  PLEASE DO NOT DEPEND ON OUTDOOR SIRENS FOR TORNADO WARNINGS IF YOU ARE INDOORS!  OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS ARE FOR OUTDOOR WARNING ONLY!