Thunderstorms in Thunder Valley

            Okay, let’s not fool ourselves too quickly and think that Kevin Durant, and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder players could possibly be the driving force behind the thunderstorms here in Oklahoma City. Did you know that 10% of the estimated 100,000 thunderstorms a year become severe, but the 10% accounts for most of the loss of life and property damage. (News9).  The loss of life and property damage is usually resulted from the floods, hailstorms, lightening, or strong winds that are associated with the thunderstorms. Although, many Oklahoma natives are familiar with these types of weather related incidents; many don’t know what precautions to take when these events do occur. On May 16, 2010, Oklahoma City and other surrounding counties encountered a massive hail storm that produced baseball sized hail. Wow and YES, baseball size hail at a wind speed of 60 mph. This hailstorm damaged three windows in my house and damaged my roof, but I noticed every car on my street that was not parked in a garage suffered from a broken windows or hail damage. About 90% of my neighbors were affected by this ravaging storm, and thankfully I reside in a resilient community so it wasn't a surprising sight to see neighbors picking broken tree limbs off of cars, the street, and even snapping pictures of damaged items for other individuals. This particular hailstorm was a result of a “Supercell” thunderstorm. A supercell thunderstorm is better defined as a rotating updraft characterized by a mesocyclone. Supercells are less likely to appear, but produce some of the most disastrous events such as hail storms and tornado's  Most thunderstorms don’t last any longer than 30 minutes, but supercell thunderstorms can last for hours.

This is why I am an advocate for communities to promote and become resilient. At times these events can be unforeseen as well as unpredictable. Too build a resilient community, preparation guidelines and support groups should be developed to ensure safety within the community.

Precautionary measures for staying safe during a thunderstorm:

Indoor                                                                                                                                                               1. Take Shelter-It’s better to be inside than outside.

      2. Tune into your local new station via battery operated radio or television  

      3.  Avoid using any equipment that is electrical

      4..Avoid water-Do not take baths or showers-Water conducts electricity

      5. Close blinds or curtains-This will keep glass from shattering in case the window breaks

      

Outdoor

1.      If you are outdoor attempt to find indoor shelter

2.      If you can’t find anywhere to shelter stay low to the ground as you can-Do not lie flat on the ground

3.      Avoid power lines, tall trees, or anything metal

4.      Avoid bodies of Water (Lakes, Rivers, etc..)

Vehicle

1.      Pull over to the side of the road if driving

2.      Turn on emergency blinkers

3.      Watch for flooding. If flooding does occur evacuate vehicle and find higher ground

4.      Don’t touch metal objects in the vehicle

Using and sharing these tips will ensure safety and loss prevention within your home and build resilience in your community. Act fast and stay prepared.

Works Cited

News9. (n.d.). Thunderstorms. Retrieved from News9.com: http://www.news9.com/story/7524248/what-to-do-in-a-thunderstorm

http://www.nilesema.com/stormtips.htm