This illustrated guide showcases some facts about weather-related events and suggests life-saving actions you can take, if you find yourself in an unexpected situation resulting from a weather-related event. The goal of this booklet is to present you with details on how to recognize severe weather, be aware of your surroundings, and to encourage you to develop a plan to be ready to act when threatening weather approaches. Here is a bird's eye-view of the weather-related events that are covered in this guide with a few short facts about each that are also presented in the guide. Lightning... ¦ Causes an average of 55-60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year ¦ Occurs with all thunderstorms ¦ Costs more than $1 billion in insured losses each year Tornadoes... ¦ Cause an average of 60-65 fatalities and 1,500 injuries each year ¦ Can produce wind speeds in excess of 200 mph ¦ Can be 1 mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles Straight-line Winds... ¦ Can exceed 125 mph ¦ Can cause destruction equal to a tornado ¦ Are extremely dangerous to aviation Flash Floods and Floods... ¦ Are the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms, more than 90 fatalities each year Hail... ¦ Can be larger than a softball (5 inches in diameter) ¦ Causes more than $1 billion in crop and property damage each year Some helpful tips included in this guide include how quickly these weather-events can result to a devastating situation. Therefore, it emphasizes that by having a plan in place prior to the event that is practiced from time to time, will allow response actions to be positive rather than stressful. This resource also provides guidance on the type of items that should be included in an Emergency Supply Kit for use at home, office, school, or place of business. There is also a special section dedicated to schools and working with children during an unexpected weather emergency. This school section also includes proper inspections and maintenance of buildings, and recommends emergency drills to practice the school safety plans with children including handling of disabled personnel and/or children.

If you want to be sure you're properly prepared for the next big hurricane or tornado, then this book is for you!We live in a very beautiful world, complete with lush forests, sparkling rivers, majestic animals and bold mountains. But in all this beauty is Mother Nature's ugly side. Storm preparedness is crucial, especially for the two natural disasters that cause the most damage in the US: tropical storms and tornados. Tornados frequently ravage through the Midwest, causing billions of damages every year, but they can happen just about anywhere. Being prepared takes into account a lot of factors, and unfortunately a lot of people don't conform or just don't care, believing that it won't happen to them. But storm preparedness is not difficult, and it will ensure that loss of life and property is minimized. The fact that you're reading this shows that you are concerned about storm preparedness, as you should be. Let's now get started discussing the various ways in which one can be properly prepared for the next big storm.