Arlington Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck

April 1, 2007
Severe Weather: Have a Safety Plan and Practice It

As Mayor and longtime resident of the greatest city in North Texas, I have seen how severe weather and tornadoes can destroy property and devastate a community. I have also seen our City of Arlington employees, police and fire departments at their very best, working to serve our community in times of crisis. Because North Texas weather can change quickly, the best way to protect yourself and your family is to have a safety plan and to practice that plan before severe weather arrives.

To ensure that you have ample time to implement your plan, the city of Arlington operates an Outdoor Weather Warning System, which includes 48 sirens that will alert you when there is a threat of severe weather.

If you are outdoors enjoying a baseball game or just a walk in the park, and you hear the siren, immediately seek shelter indoors. Once inside, seek shelter in an interior room such as a closet or hallway. Always stay away from windows and doors.

Sirens are activated when a tornado warning is issued and our city is in the storm’s path, when straight-line winds exceed 50 miles per hour and when quarter-sized hail or larger is observed.

Do not rely solely on the outdoor warning sirens when you are inside of a building. Monitor severe weather conditions on television, and when there is no electricity, be sure to use a battery-operated radio.

Use your battery-operated radio for the most up-to-date weather reports, and locate your emergency preparedness kit. This kit should contain emergency supplies such as batteries, flash lights, and bottled water. If you have not assembled a kit, visit the City of Arlington website for a list of important items.

When the electricity is off, you should always check for blown fuses and make sure your circuit breakers are in the “on” position. Because electricity from lightning can travel through wires and damage computers, televisions and other microprocessor-based equipment, remember to safeguard your electrical equipment with surge protectors.

Placing ice in the freezer unit of your refrigerator will help to keep perishable food items cold until power has been restored. Raw or cooked meat, poultry, seafood, luncheon meats, casseroles, milk, cheeses, mayonnaise and salad dressings are often associated with food-borne illness and should be discarded if stored above 40 degrees for two hours or more. Butter, fresh fruits, vegetables, peanut butter and mustard can be stored above 40 degrees for several days. If there is every any doubt, throw it out.

These are just a few ways to prepare for and recover from a severe thunderstorm. To learn more about safety and preparedness, visit the Arlington Office of Emergency Management website. Don’t forget to register with the Arlington Citizen Notification Service at www.arlingtoncns.com to receive emergency e-mail alerts.

Robert Cluck, MD
Mayor
City of Arlington