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Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms along the coastal region of Florida average 80 to 90 days per year. No other state has more. Florida thunderstorms can be small in diameter but vertically can reach 10 miles into the atmosphere. This explains why a Florida thunderstorm can produce four or more inches of rain in less than an hour in one location while a few miles away there is only a trace. Lightning, tornadoes, downbursts, hail and flooding are all dangerous by-products of thunderstorms. Therefore it is necessary to monitor the NOAA weather radio stations during the warm thunderstorm season and plan work and activities around any threatening weather conditions.
SAFETY TIPS
- In a severe thunderstorm, go to a small interior room on the lowest floor of the building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Avoid windows.
- Avoid driving into severe thunderstorms. Pull off the road.
Lightning Florida is the most lightning prone area in the United States . Lightning kills more people annually than all other weather hazards combined. The majority of fatal lightning strikes occur between the hours of 9 AM - 9 PM from early May to early October. This threatening weather is due to the available moisture caused by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic Gulf Stream to the east; the instability of surface heat and cool air aloft; and the sea breezes moving inland that form along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Lightning strikes usually occur close to the rain area and are negatively charged. The most dangerous lightning is the positively charged ground strike that can occur many miles from the rain area where people are not aware of the lightning danger.
SAFETY TIPS
- Seek shelter in a fully enclosed building or car.
- Stay away from doors, windows and electrical appliances. Stay off the phone.
- If outdoors, avoid water, high ground, open spaces, metal objects and contact with other people.
OBSERVE THE 30-30 Rule
30 SECONDS Count the seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder. If the time is 30 seconds or less then the lightning is close enough to be a threat. Seek shelter immediately!
30 MINUTES After seeing the last lightning flash wait 30 minutes before leaving the shelter. Fifty percent of the lightning deaths occur after the storm has passed.
Flooding Any severe thunderstorm or heavy rainfall in Florida causes flooding problems, especially a large amount of rain in a short period of time. Urban flash floods often occur in less than on hour. Due to the relatively flat terrain across Florida , it is much more complicated to drain accumulated water. In flood areas, it is difficult to judge water depth. Water only inches deep can be next to water that is several feet deep. As little as one foot of water can move most cars off the road. Just six inches of fast-moving water can sweep a person off his or her feet. Most flood related deaths occur at night and are vehicular. The impact of flooding in southeast Florida may increase as the area's population and urban development grows.
SAFETY TIPS
- Be aware of streams, drainage canals and areas known to flood.
- If you cannot see the road or its line markings, do not drive through the water.
- Do not allow children to play in flooded areas.
- Stay away from downed power lines.
Droughts and Wildfires
Drought is likely to occur in every part of Florida at one time or another. The year 2000 was Florida 's driest on record. This drought was responsible for increasing water restrictions, burn bans, sinkholes, wildfires and agricultural losses. In addition it caused record low water levels in the Florida Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to most of the state. The demand for water has escalated as the population has tripled over the last 40 years. Water conservation is everyone's responsibility.
Wildfires often begin unnoticed and quickly spread in a dry environment. Wildfire destruction has taken center stage in Florida due to rapid population growth and the desire to live in or near wooded areas. People start most wildfires and nature also creates hundred of new wildfires yearly with lightning. Never leave a fire, even a cigarette, burning unattended.
For more information on how to deal with the effects of droughts and wildfires, go to Florida Emergency Management www.floridadisaster.org and American Red Cross Disaster Services www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe
Contact EH&S at 561-297-3129 or e-mail at ehs@fau.edu with any comments or concerns about hurricanes, tornadoes or other severe weather conditions or assistance in developing your specific plan.
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