Welcome to KTXS the station that tracks storms.

<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Welcome to KTXS the station that tracks storms.

Storm Safety Tips

Storms come in all shapes and sizes, and severe weather can strike with little warning. Thunderstorms can contain strong winds and hail, sometimes tornadoes and flash flooding. It is important to be prepared and be informed when tornado watches and warnings are posted in your area.

BEFORE THE STORM:

Keep a battery-powered radio, flashlight and cell-phone.
Select a sheltered area in your home.
Know the location of shelters in public places.
Inventory your possessions and keep the list in a safe place.

During the Storm

IN HOMES....

Go to a cellar, storm shelter or basement if a storm warning is issued.
Otherwise, take cover in an interior hall, closet or windowless bathroom on the first floor.
If nothing else, get under heavy furniture and cover yourself with blankets or go to your bathtub and cover yourself with a mattress.

IN MOBILE HOMES....

Get out immediately!
Take shelter elsewhere in a sturdier home.

IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS...

Go to a designated shelter area.
Stay away from storefronts and windows.

IN AN AUTOMOBILE....

Automobiles offer no protection in large tornadoes. Hiding under highway overpasses can also be a death trap.
Check the weather report before travelling so you don't get caught in a stormy situation.

IN SCHOOLS....

Follow your teacher's instructions.
Stay away from windows.
Avoid gyms or auditoriums.
Take shelter in interior halls.

IN OPEN COUNTRY....

Move away from the storm at right angles.
If unable to move, lie flat in the lowest ground possible.

From the Govenor's Division of Emergency Management -

AUSTIN – Sports fields are dangerous places to be during thunderstorms due to the danger of lightning strikes. That’s why the National Weather Service and the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management urge Texans to delay the game when thunderstorms approach.

In wide open areas like sports fields or golf courses, YOU may be the tallest object. In addition, metal bleachers, fences, light poles and goal posts attract lightning. When lightning hits these objects, the charge travels along the object, potentially injuring anyone in contact with the metal. Lightning can bounce off any of these objects and strike people nearby.

Officials with schools, athletic programs, day care centers and summer camps, as well as coaches, referees and parents need to understand the dangers. Be prepared to suspend games and move the players and spectators inside nearby buildings or into cars and buses until the storm threat passes. Here are some lightning safety tips:

• If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Take shelter.

• 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, or lean against fences or metal sheds.

• Do not lean against a car or truck -- get inside the vehicle quickly.

For more information on preparing yourself for bad weather, log on to:

www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem
www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/safety/swaw/
www.redcross.org
www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/

Or contact GDEM Public Information at (512) 424-2138