Storms sweeping across the central US starting April 15 could inundate up to 40 million Americans with large hail, high-speed winds and even tornadoes, forecasters warned Monday. The weather – from hot to cold, including tornadoes and rip currents – was responsible for 869 deaths and 1,200 injuries in 2022, according to the latest data from the National Weather Service (NWS). Heat is responsible for the greatest number of deaths, but flooding killed more than 90 Americans and lightning, tornadoes and high winds during thunderstorms claimed 74 lives that year. And extreme weather is becoming increasingly common due to climate change, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As we enter spring storm season, here’s what you need to know to keep you and your family safe.
What are the biggest risks that storms pose?
Lightning may be the most striking feature of storms, but flooding is the most deadly. Floods are responsible for more than 75 deaths per year in the U.S. on average, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “People don’t realize how quickly flood waters can rise as urban or even suburban wastewater management systems become overwhelmed,” Dr. Cecilia Sorensen, professor of environmental health sciences and emergency medicine at Columbia University, told Yahoo Life. “You can see a foot of standing water building up in less than 30 minutes on a road; It’s really scary how quickly these floodwaters can rise.”
If there is a flood warning or heavy rain in your area, don’t take your car, warns Sorensen, adding, “That’s the No. 1 thing.” Cars can easily be swept away by flash floods. “If you find yourself on a road that is actively flooding, get to higher ground as quickly as possible,” says Sorensen. She also suggests keeping an emergency kit in your car, containing items like non-perishable food, a flashlight, warm clothes, water and essential medicines, in case you get caught in a storm and can’t get home or need to hope to avoid flooding on higher ground.
O National Severe Storms Laboratory says other locations that are particularly dangerous during floods include:
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Densely populated areas with lots of concrete and less soil to absorb rainwater
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Areas near rivers, streams and creeks
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Regions around dams and fees
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Low areas such as basements, underground parking lots, underpasses and low water crossings
Lightning: the chances of being struck – and how to ensure that it doesn’t happen
There is about a 1 in 15,300 chance that a person will be struck by lightning in their 80th year, according to the US. This is very rare, but it’s still a risk worth taking seriously, says Sorensen. Lightning is responsible for an average of 33 deaths and 182 injuries per year, according to FEMAalthough this rate fell to 27 between 2009 and 2018, according to the US, which says that only about 10% of people struck by lightning die. However, the other 90% are left with “varying degrees of disability”, notes the agency.
Most fatalities caused by lightning are instantaneous because the strong shock short-circuits the biological system that controls the heartbeat, causing immediate cardiac arrest. Survivors are often left with neurological damage, not unlike that seen in football players who repeatedly suffer concussions, or nerve pain, as well as mental health problems such as PTSD and depression.
To stay safe when thunder rumbles and lightning strikes the sky, first: enter, insists FEMA. You are much less likely to be struck by lightning when you are indoors. But it’s still possible. This is why it is important to avoid touching anything that could conduct electricity if lightning strikes the structure. This includes connected electronics (everything from a charged cell phone to a blender), wires, metal plumbing, doors or windows, and water. In fact, you should never take a shower if there is a thunderstorm in the area. “Atmospheric currents can, for example, enter the house through electrical wiring, ignite the pipes and cause a shock while you are in the shower or bath,” José Dwyerprofessor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Hampshire, told Yahoo Life.
If you are in the car, close all windows and do not touch any plugged-in electronic devices, the ignition, or any metal surface leading to the exterior of the car through which lightning could travel if it strikes the vehicle, the US advise.
How to Stay Safe During Tornadoes
Second only to hurricanes, tornadoes are among the most destructive forces of nature, with wind speeds ranging from 65 mph to more than 320 mph, according to the US. An average of 71 people die from tornadoes each year, the agency reports. But as the Earth becomes warmer and wetter, extreme events like tornadoes can become more intense, more common and more deadly. “We see storms in ocean waters throughout the seasons, but the chances of them ending up on land are increasing, and much of that is due to climate change,” says Sorensen. “The ocean is warming and reaching unprecedented temperatures and we also have warmer air temperatures and all of that means more energy, and that energy is what powers these storms.”
In 2022, there were 23 tornado deaths in the US. In 2023, there were 83 deaths, although only an average number of tornadoes formed. Scientists think that 2023 tornadoes they were particularly deadly, in part because they occurred at night, making them less visible and more dangerous.
Although it is best to get to high ground to avoid flooding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to do the opposite during tornado watches and warnings: get as low as you can. This means going to a basement or storm shelter if you have one at home or nearby, or getting on the floor of the innermost, windowless part of your home — like a hallway, bathroom or closet — if you don’t have a basement. . Most injuries and deaths caused by tornadoes are not due to people being lifted off the ground, but rather from flying debris and glass, which US it says. Therefore, avoid windows and outdoor environments if you can. You can add a layer of protection by getting under a very heavy table or covering yourself with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress to protect your body from sharp shards of glass, metal or other broken objects, says the CDC.
How to be prepared for storm season
If thunderstorms are in your area, watches and warnings will be issued by the NWS and local meteorologists. “Take guidance from local authorities seriously and don’t wait until the last minute” to evacuate or shelter in place, Sorensen says. Tune in to local weather forecasters online, on TV, or on the radio to make sure you’re aware of any warnings, she says, and follow instructions without hesitation.
Now that spring is here, it’s a good idea to make sure you and your family have communication, evacuation, and shelter-in-place plans in place. “Think about your communication plan with loved ones because there is a risk of separation,” she says. Know where and how you can quickly get to high ground if your area is hit by flooding.
It’s equally important to be prepared to be stuck at home, possibly without power. “What would you do if you had no electricity for five days?” asks Sorensen. She advises stocking up on two weeks of enough water, non-perishable food and essential medicines. You should also have flashlights and plenty of spare batteries, a first aid kit, sleeping bags or blankets in case it gets cold, and tools like manual can openers that don’t rely on electricity for basic functions like opening food containers, she says. .
Also, don’t hesitate to talk to your children about your plan and how they can help the family prepare. “Talk to them about it and get them involved,” says Sorensen. “Doing something proactive about it is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety.”
