MIDWEST TORNADO COVERAGE FROM FEMA

FROM: FEMA
FEMA Stands Ready to Support Midwest States Affected by Tornadoes, Severe eather this Weekend
Residents in the Midwest and Southern States Urged to Stay Prepared and Vigilant

Release Date: April 15, 2012
Release Number: HQ-12-028

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  The Federal Emergency Management Agency and its federal partners continue to monitor and work closely with state and local officials in states impacted by the deadly tornadoes and severe storms that struck the Midwest last night, including Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. FEMA and partners will continue to closely track severe weather conditions that the National Weather Service forecasts will continue today across the central and southern plains, including parts of eastern Kansas, extreme northwest Missouri and central and north central Oklahoma.  

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who’ve lost loved ones in Oklahoma, and the survivors affected by these storms. FEMA's priority is to support local efforts to keep residents and communities safe, and we remain in close coordination with the affected states," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "We are not out of harm’s way—severe weather is expected to continue this evening and into the coming week.  We urge residents to monitor storm conditions, and follow the guidance of their local officials, both for the continuing severe weather threats as well as directions to avoid affected areas.” 

FEMA, through its regional offices in Chicago, Ill., Denton, Texas and Kansas City, Mo., remains in constant contact with state emergency management officials in these states and stands ready to support impacted states if requested.  Also, FEMA continues to coordinate closely with our federal partners at the National Weather Service to track ongoing weather threats. 

FEMA Regional Administrator Andrew Velasquez spoke with Emergency Management Agency Directors in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois and stands ready to provide assistance to the states, if needed.   

FEMA Regional Administrator Tony Russell has been in constant communication with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.  At the invitation of the State of Oklahoma Friday, a FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is positioned in the Oklahoma Emergency Operations Center to monitor storm activity and is ready to provide assistance if requested by the state. Today, state and federal officials are identifying damages resulting from the deadly overnight storms. Additional FEMA teams are on standby, ready to support other areas, as needed. 

FEMA Regional Administrator Beth Freeman has reached out to the governors of Kansas and Iowa. FEMA’s regional office in Kansas City, Mo., has been in constant contact with officials at the Kansas Department of Emergency Management and the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 

FEMA also has proactively deployed state liaison officers to the Emergency Operations Center in Topeka, Kan. and Des Moines, Iowa to coordinate response coordination activities. Regional Incident Management Teams also are being deployed to the Kansas and Iowa state emergency operations centers, to support state response efforts, as needed. 

FEMA recommends that residents of impacted areas take advantage of services offered by partner agencies. The Red Cross “Safe and Well” secure website provides a way for people to find information on people affected by the storms. To register, visitwww.redcross.org/safeandwell. Open Red Cross shelters can also be found on www.redcross.org.      

If you have severe weather in your area, keep in mind these safety tips:

• Everyone should get familiar with the terms used to identify a severe weather hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.  Terms used to describe weather hazards include the following: 
  • Watch: Meteorologists are monitoring an area or region for the formation of a specific type of threat (e.g. flooding, severe thunderstorms, or tornadoes). 
  • Tune in using a weather radio, commercial radio, or television for information. Continue to monitor your battery-powered radio or television for emergency information, and follow the direction provided by local officials. During crises, the NOAA Weather Radio system is used to broadcast timely and important information from the National Weather Service (the only authority on weather forecasting) and emergency personnel offering local situational updates.  Learn more from the National Weather Service
  • Warning: Specific life and property threatening conditions are occurring and imminent. Take appropriate safety precautions. 
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned. A mobile home can overturn very easily even if precautions have been taken to tie down the unit. Residents of mobile homes must plan in advance and identify safe shelter in a nearby building. 
• If you are in a sturdy structure, such as a home, school or hospital, go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. 
• Put on sturdy shoes. 
• Do not open windows. 
• Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries. 
• After a disaster, be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards in your home. Contact your local city or county building inspectors for information on structural safety codes and standards. They may also offer suggestions on finding a qualified contractor to do work for you.  
  • Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report downed power lines and electrical hazards to the police and the utility company.
  • If heavy rains are likely in your area, be aware that flash flooding can occur.  If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground.  Do not wait for instructions to move.