137 
ABUS34 KBIS 291237
PNSBIS
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
745 AM CDT MON APR 29 2002

...NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR JOHN HOEVEN HAS PROCLAIMED APRIL 29 TO
MAY 3 AS SEVERE SUMMER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK...

...AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS...

GOVERNOR JOHN HOEVEN HAS PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF APRIL 29 THROUGH
MAY 3 AS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE STATE OF NORTH
DAKOTA. LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY DURING TIMES
OF SEVERE SUMMER WEATHER.  THUNDERSTORMS ARE OUR MOST COMMON
EXPERIENCE OF SEVERE WEATHER. THE TYPICAL THUNDERSTORM IS 15 MILES
IN DIAMETER AND LASTS AN AVERAGE OF 30 MINUTES. DESPITE THEIR SMALL
SIZE...THUNDERSTORMS ARE DANGEROUS.

...DANGER RANKING OF THUNDERSTORM THREATS...

1. FLASH FLOODING
- THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS...
MORE THAN 140 FATALITIES EACH YEAR

2. LIGHTNING
- CAUSES AN AVERAGE OF 80 FATALITIES AND 300 INJURIES EACH YEAR
- CAN STRIKE THE GROUND UP TO TEN MILES AWAY FROM THE STORM
- WARNINGS ARE NOT ISSUED FOR LIGHTNING BECAUSE ALL THUNDERSTORMS
CONTAIN LIGHTNING

3. TORNADOES
- CAUSE AN AVERAGE OF 70 FATALITIES AND 1,500 INJURIES EACH YEAR
- CAN PRODUCE WIND SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 250 MPH
- CAN BE ON MILE WIDE AND STAY ON THE GROUND OVER 50 MILES

4. STRONG DOWNBURST WINDS
- CAN EXCEED 100 MPH
- CAN CAUSE DAMAGE EQUAL TO A TORNADO
- CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO AVIATION

5. HAIL
- CAUSES MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN CROP AND PROPERTY DAMAGE EACH YEAR
- PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY FALLING HAIL

...WHAT YOU CAN DO...
EACH YEAR...MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED BY TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DESPITE ADVANCE WARNING. ONCE YOU RECEIVE A
WARNING OR OBSERVE THREATENING SKIES...YOU MUST MAKE THE DECISION TO
SEEK SHELTER BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES. IT COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE. 

1. HAVE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH BATTERY BACK-UP TO RECEIVE
WARNINGS.
2. LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE RADIO AND TELEVISION FOR WEATHER
INFORMATION.
3. CHECK FORECASTS BEFORE LEAVING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OUTDOORS.
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF APPROACHING STORMS.



VISIT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION.



NOAH