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NOUS42 KILM 091106
PNSILM

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
600 AM EDT FRI MAR 09 2012

...SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA MARCH 
04 TO MARCH 10...

THE ALERT PROCESS:
THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS TO PROTECT THE LIFE 
AND PROPERTY THROUGH THE TIMELY AND ACCURATE ISSUANCE OF FORECASTS 
AND WARNINGS. HOWEVER IT IS HOW YOU PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO 
SEVERE WEATHER WHICH REALLY SAVES LIVES. IDEALLY THIS SHOULD BE DONE 
AHEAD OF TIME AND NOT AS SEVERE WEATHER IS OCCURRING. MAKE SURE THAT 
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO ONCE A WARNING IS ISSUED AND SEVERE WEATHER 
THREATENS; HAVE A PLAN. UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WATCH 
AND WARNING AND RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN 
PROTECTING YOURSELF. YOU CAN PREPARE FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND 
DISASTERS BY PLANNING AHEAD, CREATING A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT, AND 
LEARNING THE SAFEST PLACES TO SEEK SHELTER WHEN AT HOME, WORK, 
SCHOOL, OR OUTDOORS. 

SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES:

WHEN WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CAROLINAS, THE 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A WATCH. WATCHES ARE ISSUED FOR 
TORNADOES, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND FLOODS. A WATCH PROVIDES YOU A 
HEADS UP, MAKING YOU AWARE THAT SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE OR EVEN 
EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WATCHES ARE INTENDED TO RAISE 
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ALLOWING YOU TIME TO PREPARE, USUALLY SIX 
HOURS OR MORE BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED SEVERE WEATHER. 

WHEN A WATCH IS ISSUED, REMAIN ALERT TO APPROACHING STORMS. WATCHES 
ARE TRANSMITTED VIA NOAA WEATHER RADIO, LOCAL TELEVISION, AND MANY 
INTERNET AND WIRELESS APPLICATIONS. MOST NOAA WEATHER RADIOS WILL 
SOUND AN ALERT TONE WHEN A WATCH IS ISSUED, ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT. 

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING:

WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS IMMINENT OR ALREADY OCCURRING, THE NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A WARNING.  WARNINGS INDICATE AN 
IMMEDIATE THREAT TO PROPERTY AND SOMETIMES LIFE. WHEN WARNINGS ARE 
ISSUED YOU SHOULD HAVE A HIGH AWARENESS OF THE DANGER AND ENACT YOUR 
SAFETY PLAN IF THREATENED.

WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM 
WINDOWS AND SEEK SHELTER IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR HOME ON THE LOWEST 
FLOOR AS STORMS THREATEN. ALL WARNINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. IF 
YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE CAMPING, GOLFING, BOATING OR PARTICIPATING IN 
OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH LIMIT THE AVAILABILITY OF SHELTER, YOU ARE 
ESPECIALLY AT RISK. BE SURE THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

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