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News | April 4, 2022

DLA Installation Management Susquehanna’s PrepareAthon topic #1: Severe Spring Weather Preparedness – Thunderstorms and Tornadoes 

By DLA Distribution Public Affairs

Defense Logistics Agency Installation Management Susquehanna Security & Emergency Services team initiated a preparedness program for the month of April. Deemed “April Prepareathon,” the Emergency Management team will provide a new topic each week this month to assist employees with preparing for disasters and other emergencies. 

This week’s topic covers severe weather, notably, thunderstorms and tornadoes. 

“Once again we observe the month of April as a PrepareAthon, a program developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to motivate everyone to act and to prepare for disasters that may affect their communities,” stated Installation Emergency Manager Rick Zucchero, in an all-hands email message sent out to installation employees with the following information:

If you watched the news this past December, then you saw that tornadoes can accrue anytime of the year. Some of the most intense, violent and farthest traveling twisters tracked across the United States in December 2021 resulting in the loss of 80 lives and creating devasting destruction to many communities. But did you know that historically, the month of May represents the peak of the U.S. tornado season? May has the highest average number of tornadoes per month with 288 average tornadoes out of 1,376 per year according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

•    Severe thunderstorms can produce dangerous wind and/or large hail which can result in property damage, power outages, injuries and even death
          - A HIGH WIND WATCH is issued when sustained winds of 40 miles per hour or higher for one hour or more OR wind gusts of 58 mph or higher for any duration are POSSIBLE
         - A HIGH WIND WARNING is issued when winds of 40 mph or higher for one hour or more OR wind gusts of 58 mph or higher for any duration are EXPECTED
•    If there is a HIGH WIND WARNING take shelter at the nearest shelter-in-place location. If you are not at work, seek shelter in a sturdy structure  
•    Tornadoes can produce winds that can exceed 200 mph! Flying debris is very dangerous and is most often the cause of injuries or death
          - A tornado WATCH indicates that conditions are ideal, and a tornado is possible 
          - A tornado WARNING indicates that a tornado is imminent and to take shelter 
•    If a tornado WARNING is issued, seek shelter in the nearest SIP location. If not at work, seek shelter in a basement or interior room away from windows on the lowest floor and cover your head
•    Every tornado (despite the size) should be seen as life-threatening

More information about severe weather planning can be found at www.ready.gov.