Thunderstorms are a year round occurrence in Arlington, particularly in the spring and, to a lesser degree, in the fall. Associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail and flash flooding. Every thunderstorm produces lightning and it continues to be one of the top three storm-related killers in the United States.
Heavy rainfall in a short time span can lead to flash flooding throughout Arlington. Flash flooding is responsible for more fatalities than any other thunderstorm-related hazard. Communities around Johnson Creek, Village Creek, Rush Creek, and Lynn Creek are most susceptible to flood damage.
What to Do When Floodwaters Cover The Road? The Texas Department of Public Safety and the City of Arlington Office of Emergency Management urges the driving public to exercise caution during a severe rain storm.
Flooding is the most common cause of weather-related deaths in Texas. As little as six inches of water can be fatal.
When a motorist observes water across a road, they should back away and choose a different route. Never drive through heavy water on a road. Water can be deeper than it appears. Water levels can rise quickly.
Floodwaters erode roadways. A missing section of a road, even a missing bridge, will not be visible when there is a large amount of water flowing across it.
If your car stalls in floodwaters, get out quickly and move to higher ground.
Automobiles can become death traps when electric windows and door locks short out when water reaches them.
Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Arlington is located at the southern edge of Tornado Alley. A tornado struck Arlington in 1995 causing extensive damage to a hotel and surrounding businesses near I-30 and Collins. In March of 2000, an EF-3 tornado hit the southeast area of the city which resulted in full reconstruction of numerous homes and businesses. In April of 2012, a tornado damaged over 500 homes and businesses.
Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year in Texas.
They are most likely to occur during the spring and summer.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the City of Arlington of Office Emergency Management urges the public to learn what to do when a tornado is sighted.
The most important rule is to get low and stay low.
- If at home, seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of the home such as a bathroom, closet or room without windows.
- If at work, go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor of the office building or to a designated shelter area.
- If in a mobile home, take shelter in a nearby building. If a building is not nearby, lie flat in a ditch or ravine. Your mobile home park should have a designated shelter area.
- Never stay inside of a car. Leave the car and lie flat in a ditch or a ravine. Take shelter in a building if one is nearby. Never try to run from a tornado in your vehicle.
- At school, go to designated shelter area, which is usually in an interior hallway on the lowest floor. Stay out of an auditorium, gymnasium and other areas with wide roofs. If you are in a portable or manufactured building, go to a nearby permanent structure or take cover outside on low ground.
- If shopping, go to an interior wall or hallway on the lowest floor. Do not leave the shopping center to get in your vehicle. If you are in open country, take cover on lowest part of the ground.
- Learn the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning. A Tornado Watch means watch the sky. A Tornado Warning means a tornado is on the ground and you must seek shelter immediately.
- Stay tuned to local radio and television news reports for the most up-to-date weather information.
Take Shelter – Build a Safe Room Inside Your House
Houses are built in accordance with local building codes that consider the effects of severe weather. A tornado or hurricane can cause winds much greater than those on which local code requirements are based. Having a house built to code does not mean that it can withstand extreme winds.
The purpose of a storm shelter is to provide a space where you and your family can survive a tornado with little or no injury.
Your shelter should be readily accessible from all parts of your house and should be free of clutter. To protect the occupants during extreme windstorms, the shelter must be adequately anchored to the house foundation to resist overturning and uplift. The connections between all parts of the shelter must be strong enough to resist failure, and the walls, roof and door must resist penetration by wind borne debris.
The Wind Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University has been involved in shelter design for many years. If you or your builder/contractor have questions about designing your shelter, call 1-806-742-3479 extension 336 for technical guidance or write to FEMA, 500 C. Street SW, Washington, DC 20472 and request a copy of Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room Inside Your House. This book includes construction plans and cost estimates.
Click here to learn about tornado preparedness.
Winter storms can range from moderate snow over a few hours to consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures with frozen precipitation. Winter storms can be accompanied by strong winds, icing, sleet, and freezing rain. Winter storms create mass power outages and dangerous driving conditions that can immobilize the entire city.
Winter Safety Tips
1. Understand the terms used by weather forecasters:
- Freezing rain – Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees and power lines.
- Sleet – Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery
- Winter Storm Watch – A winter storm is possible in your area.
- Winter Storm Warning – A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.
- Blizzard Warning – Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 per hour or greater with considerable falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for three hours or longer.
2. Prepare to survive on your own for at least three days:
- Put together a disaster supply kit – including winter specific items like rock salt to melt ice on walkways and sand to improve traction.
- Keep a stock of food and extra water.
- Maintain several days’ supply of medicines, water, and food that needs no cooking or refrigeration.
3. Prepare for possible isolation in your home:
- Identify alternative cooking fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off.
- Have emergency heating equipment and fuel (a gas fireplace or wood burning stove or fireplace) so you can keep at least one room of your residence livable. (Be sure the room is well ventilated) If a thermostat controls your furnace and your electricity is cut off by a storm, you will need emergency heat.
- Store a good supply of dry seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood burning stove.
- Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your household knows how to use them.
- Never burn charcoal indoors.
4. Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply:
- Insulate walls and attics
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
- Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic
Winter Weather Driving
About 70 percent of winter deaths related to snow and ice occur in automobiles. Consider public transportation if you must travel. If you travel by car, travel in the day, don’t travel alone. Keep others informed of your schedule. Stay on main roads; avoid back-road shortcuts.
1. Winterize your automobile
This includes a battery check, antifreeze, wipers and windshield washer fluid, ignition system, thermostat, lights, flashing hazard lights; exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster, oil level, and tires. Consider snow tires, snow tires with studs, or chains. Keep your car’s gas tank full.
2. Store a “winter car kit” in the trunk of your car.
- The kit should include items such as a shovel, windshield scraper, battery powered or hand cranked radio, flashlight with extra batteries, water, snack food, mittens, hat, blanket, tow chain or rope, tire chains, bag of road salt and sand, florescent distress flag, booster cables, road maps, emergency flares, cellular telephone or two-way radio.
3. If you become stranded in your car:
- Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio aerial window.
- Remain in your vehicle where public safety workers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful: Distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close but be too far to walk to in freezing temperatures or deep snow.
- Run the engine and heater about ten minutes each hour to keep warm. When the engine is running, open a window slightly fro ventilation. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe.
- Exercise to maintain body heat, but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use your coat for a blanket.
- Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.
- Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.
- Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs (The use of lights, heat and radio).
- At night, turn on the inside light so work crews or rescuers can see you. If stranded in a remote area, spread a large cloth over the snow to attract attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area by air.
Did you know? About 70 percent of snow and ice related deaths occur in automobiles. If you must travel when winter storms threaten, keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
Your survival kit should include:
- Blankets/sleeping bags
- Radio, flashlight, extra batteries, booster cables
- First-aid kit
- High-calorie, non-perishable food and bottled water
- Extra clothing, including mittens and hat
- Sack of sand or cat litter for de-icing roadway
- Windshield scraper and brush
- Tool kit, tow rope and shovel
- Cell phone or two-way radio.
At Home Or At Work
Be prepared at home or work with these additional supplies in case heavy ice on the lines cuts electricity and phone service or your heat source is shut off for several days:
- Battery-powered NOAA weather radio, extra batteries
- Extra medicine, medical supplies and items needed by babies or the elderly
- Heating fuel for areas where fuel carriers may not be able to get through
- Properly ventilated emergency heating source such as a fireplace, wood stove or space heater
- Fire extinguisher and smoke detector
- Extra food and water
How you can prepare your home for freezing temperatures:
- Allow hot and cold water to drip from inside faucets.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to expose pipes to heat within the house.
- Wrap exposed exterior pipes and faucets with foam insulation or newspaper.
- Remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Freeze sensors are required on all sprinkler systems to keep them from operating during icy weather.
- Cover all openings around the foundation.
- If planning to be out-of-town for an extended time, turn off water to the house and open faucets to reduce pressure.
- Bring plants inside. Use a sheet or blanket to cover plants that must remain outside.
- Bring pets inside. Pets that must remain outside must have adequate shelter that is elevated and facing away from the wind.
Did you know lightning is the second most common cause of weather-related deaths in the state of Texas?
- Lightning is most likely to strike tall, metal objects.
- Seek shelter in a sturdy building and away from windows and doors.
- Avoid electric appliances and metal plumbing. Do not use the telephone.
- If you are outdoors, seek shelter in the inside of a car, truck or bus.
- Do not touch metal on the inside of a vehicle. The bed of a truck is a deadly location. Do not lean against a vehicle.
DELAY THE GAME WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH!
- Athletic fields are dangerous places during a thunderstorm.
- Metal bleachers, fences, light poles and goal posts attract lightning.
- When lightning hits these objects, the electric charge travels through the object.
- Be prepared to suspend a game and move players and spectators into nearby buildings or into cars and buses until the threat of the storm passes.
- If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
- If you are outdoors with no shelter available, stay low.
- Move away from hills and high places. Avoid tall, isolated trees.
- Do not touch metal objects such as tennis rackets, baseball bats, or golf clubs.
- Do not ride bicycles.
- Do not lean against a car or truck. Get inside the vehicle quickly.
- If you feel your hair suddenly stand up on end, it could mean a lightening strike is near. Sit low on the ground on the balls of your feet and try not to touch the ground with your knees or hands.
- Avoid wet areas that can conduct a lightning charge.
Wildfires are usually triggered by lightning or accidents. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. Although construction continues to reduce the amount of open spaces, wildfire remains a serious problem.
During Periods of Extreme Heat
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Apply high-SPF sunscreen frequently when outdoors
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
- Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device as it only recirculates hot air
- Visit your physician to find out if you have a health condition that may be exacerbated by hot weather.
- Children and the elderly are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses
- Regularly check on elderly neighbors and family
- Pet owners should not leave their animal in the car even for a few minutes when the hot weather arrives. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees. Pet owners are urged to refrain from leaving animals in the car, even with the windows cracked open.
Stay Hydrated
Because your body loses fluids through sweat, you can quickly become dehydrated during times of extreme heat.
- Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink more water
- Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar or caffeine
What is Heat Exhaustion?
Heat Exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after you've been exposed to high temperatures and is often accompanied by dehydration.
Signs include:
- Heavy sweating
- Weakness
- Cold, pale, and clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fainting
It's important to note heat exhaustion isn't as serious as heat stroke, but it isn't something that should be taken lightly. Without proper care, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.
What You Should Do:
- Move to a cooler location
- Lie down and loosen clothing
- Apply cool, wet cloths to as much of your body as possible
- Sip water
- Seek medical attention if you have vomited and it continues
What is Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures, usually in combination with dehydration, which leads to failure of the body's temperature control system.
Signs include:
- High body temperature (above 103 degrees)
- Hot, red, dry or moist skin
- Rapid and strong pulse
- Possible unconsciousness
What You Should Do:
- Call 911 immediately - This is a medical emergency
- Move the person to a cooler environment
- Reduce the person's body temperature with cool cloths or even a bath
- Do NOT give fluids. (This can complicate things for first responders)