Wholesale Surveillance

Here are some more information for Warning Yard:

My View of the Tornado Warning in San Diego

I was amazed when I turned on the news channel today. Last week it was the Haiti Disaster which wiped out over 100,000 people. Then I turn on the news and hear tornado alerts not just for Oceanside, but for Carlsbad, Fallbrook and San Diego. For a brief second I think to myself, is the world starting to fall apart? I didn't really have a panic attack, just a brief wake up moment. Of course the Tornado Warning in San Diego didn't change anything out where I live, although I live only 45 minutes away.

It did rain a majority of the day out here. I went grocery shopping and yes I was almost soaking wet while I was unloading the groceries into the house. This incident did prompt me to do a little research regarding how to protect myself should a Tornado actually occur.

A Tornado is a fiercely rotating circular column of air that originates from a thunderstorm and hits the ground. Tornadoes can reach speeds of up to 250 miles per hour and destroy everything in its path. This includes lifting the tops off roofs, and replacing cars and even diesel trucks hundreds of yards away. Of course the explosions from this activity can cause fires and other horrible damage.

Historically Tornadoes have caused damage of up to 50 miles long and a mile wide. People sitting in cars and in mobile homes are potentially at more risk. And the sad fact is that no one is safe from the fierce Tornado Path. The Federal Protective Service offers what it calls an OEP Guide which will help you develop a plan for you and your family should one hit in your area.

You should also have frequent Tornado Drills. If you are fortunate enough to have a basement in your home go down there with at least a 1 week supply of water and food to shelter yourself not only from the Tornado itself, but to make sure you and your family have enough to eat and drink until emergency aid arrives. Also have an NOAA or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio handy. Make sure you have a backup battery and make sure the radio has a warning alarm tone so you can get warnings in real time.

Also if possible keep a radio and television handy so you can keep on top of public weather alerts. If no underground shelter is present, move to an interior room, get on the lowest piece of ground and crawl under the heaviest, most sturdy piece of furniture in your house. I must say that the Tornado Warning in San Diego did freak me out a bit, but at least now I have a few more coping methods. Best of luck.

About the Author

Let Brian Garvin & Jeff West teach you more about the Katana Sword and Ancient Swords on our Colinzi website today.

Going Outside During a Tornado Warning--Bad Idea?

I am talking about during daylight hours, with some visibility, and tornado sirens are going off. Should I do like mr. weatherman says on TV, and "take shelter immediately", or is it reasonable to figure I will see or hear a tornado approach? "Professional Tornado Watchers" drive around during these, so is it so bad to watch from my yard?

The operative word is "Professional". People who are paid and presumably very experienced in storm chasing in "Tornado Alley" don't simply rely on their eyes and ears, they travel in vehicles well equipped with instruments and PC's that receive NOAA feeds that include live radar. The most sophisticated from the University of Oklahoma Metorology Department even have portable doppler radar on board. Even then, they sometimes find themselves in compromised positions.

Keep in mind also that more than one tornado can form in the supercells and can come and go in seconds. If your neighborhood is under a warning, stay inside and in the best room in the house for shelter until the "all clear" is issued.

I've spent most of my 63 years in "tornado alley" from Amarillo and Lubbock in Texas, Guthrie and Stillwater in Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas. I don't take any tornado warning for granted and I pay attention to all watches and plan ahead.

When I lived in the Oklahoma City area, I hung on every word that Gary England of KWTV, Channel 9, said during watches and warnings. Few if any know more than Gary about severe weather. If you've seen the movie "Twister", he's the "Mr. Weatherman" shown in the background on the TV in the farm house. The smart thing to do is to take cover when the meteorologists tell you to.

Burning yard waste is prohibited in Two Rivers
TWO RIVERS As the early spring weather has many people cleaning up their yards, the Two Rivers Fire Department would like to remind residents of a city ordinance prohibiting the burning of grass clippings, twigs, branches and leaves as these materials are considered to be recyclable.

Thanks for visiting!