Iowa Tornado Statistics 2011

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/dmx/Iowa%20Tornado%20Statistics%202011%20Graph.pdf

Compiled by: Craig Cogil Total Number of Tornadoes: 50
Number of Injuries: 16
Number of Deaths: 0
Path Length of All Tornadoes: 168.0 miles
Average Path Length: 3.4 miles
Average Width: 272 Yards
Longest Path Length Individual Tornado: 29.4 miles
Largest Width Individual Tornado: 2640 Yards (1.5 miles wide)
Peak Hour of Tornado Occurrence: 9PM - 10PM CDT
Peak Month of Tornado Occurrence: April
Most Tornadoes in a Day: April 9
th with 20

Number of Tornado Days: 10 EF0	EF1	EF2	EF3	EF4	EF5
20	19	7	3	1	0
40.0%	38.0%	14.0%	6.0%	2.0%	0.0%

Fire Extinguishers

Our Dispatcher In-Service Training for December is Fire Extinguishers, the below is a great educational link, we would also encourage any persons interested in doing a fire extinguisher training to contact their local fire chief.

http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/exting/Fire_Extinguisher_Training.ppt#260,5,Fuel Classifications

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1006 AM CST TUE NOV 15 2011

...STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
IOWA THIS AFTERNOON...

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-152300-
/O.EXT.KDMX.WI.Y.0013.111115T1800Z-111115T2300Z/
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ESTHERVILLE...ALGONA...FOREST CITY...
NORTHWOOD...EMMETSBURG...GARNER...MASON CITY...POCAHONTAS...
HUMBOLDT...CLARION...HAMPTON...ALLISON...WAVERLY...SAC CITY...
ROCKWELL CITY...FORT DODGE...WEBSTER CITY...ELDORA...
GRUNDY CENTER...WATERLOO...DENISON...CARROLL...JEFFERSON...
BOONE...AMES...MARSHALLTOWN...TOLEDO
1006 AM CST TUE NOV 15 2011

...WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON...

* TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS NORTHWEST IOWA BY MIDDAY
  WITH THE STRONG WINDS SPREADING EASTWARD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
  THE WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST DURING THE MIDDLE AFTERNOON BEFORE
  SLOWLY DIMINISHING THIS EVENING.

Training options

RDPC Class –

Course:                PER 280 Emergency Response: Strengthening Cooperative Efforts Among Public Safety and Private Sector Entities

Date(s):              Friday, January 6, 2012

Time:                 8:30am – 5:00pm (sign in at 8:00am)

Location:           Tama County Board of Supervisors Chambers,

104 W. State Street, P.O. Box 61, Toledo, IA.

52342     

Contact:        Ryan Currens, 641-484-6261, rcurrens@ema.tamacounty.org     

G108 Community Mass Care Mgmt  2/8/2012  Iowa Homeland Security (Camp Dodge)

Live Burn Class – 0900 hours 19 Nov. 2011 at Haz Mat Training Center (Waterloo)

If interested call: 1-800-291-4682

For information on free NFIRS through the state’s new Fire Bridge program contact: nfirs@dps.state.ia.us

Exercise Design with HSEEP  1/24/2012  Iowa Homeland Security (Camp Dodge)

ICS402 4/10/2012 at 1730 hours at the Tama County Board of Supervisors Chambers.

National Fire Academy Courses

Contact: Jim Kenkel, Special Programs Coordinator - kenkel@dps.state.ia.us

Cold weather protective measures

Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold To prepare for a winter storm you should do the following:

• Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
  • Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
  • Sand to improve traction.
  • Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
  • Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
  • Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.
• Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). Be alert to changing weather conditions.
• Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
• Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.

During Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

• Stay indoors during the storm.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways.
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
• Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible.
• Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts.
• Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
• If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
• Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
• Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.

The silent killer (CO)

Appropriately nicknames the silent killer, carbon monoxide (CO) can be lethal.  Hence a carbon monoxide leak in your home must be dealt with immediately.  Educating yourself on the dangers and symptoms associated with CO exposure and knowing the preventative measures will give you peace of mind.  Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and have a plan.

Carbon monoxide is a gas that has no color, taste or smell.  Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO exposure, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO exposure.  The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion or flu like symptoms.  High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death.

For more information on carbon monoxide or winter safety, please contact Tama County Emergency Management or visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html

Fall 2011 DMX Spotter newsletter/presentation

The Fall 2011 DMX Spotter newsletter/presentation is available for viewing:

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AXCOVCg0boq1ZGo2ZnJ2eF81OGZtYm5qN2Zy

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE - FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOW OF THE SEASON EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA

356 PM CST TUE NOV 8 2011

...FIRST ACCUMULATING SNOW OF THE SEASON EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS

OF CENTRAL IOWA TONIGHT...

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MASON CITY...CLARION...HAMPTON...

ALLISON...WAVERLY...FORT DODGE...WEBSTER CITY...ELDORA...

GRUNDY CENTER...WATERLOO...JEFFERSON...BOONE...AMES...

MARSHALLTOWN...TOLEDO...AUDUBON...GUTHRIE CENTER...ADEL...

DES MOINES...ATLANTIC...GREENFIELD...WINTERSET...CORNING...

CRESTON...BEDFORD...MOUNT AYR

356 PM CST TUE NOV 8 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT

TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST WEDNESDAY...

Two important preparedness events are happening this month

Two important preparedness events are happening this month. The first, on Wednesday, November 9, is the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS). FEMA, DHS and FCC will conduct the test, which will run concurrently across all time zones and on all radio and TV, beginning at 1:00 p.m. (CST). Nothing like this has ever been conducted in the history of the United States. There is some concern the public will not be aware this is a test and the lack of a message might create panic. Please let your community know about this test, so there is no undue public anxiety.

The second event will occur on Thursday, November 10, which is Winter Weather Awareness Day in Iowa. The National Weather Service will issue informative public information statements about winter weather, along with safety recommendations. Take time this day to think about how you will prepare and respond to winter this year in Iowa.