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Understanding Storm Alerts
9/1/2022 (Permalink)
When the weather gets scary, information and plans can get easily confused. There are around 42 different kinds of weather alerts from seven different categories. That is a lot to sort through when you are trying to protect your family.
When you have an understanding of different weather advisories, it means you are able to get to safety faster. It also means you can take proactive action now in order to protect your property and prevent damages later.
An overall knowledge of several kinds of weather events is good, but it is crucial to understand what the alerts we will most often see in Michigan mean.
Have you ever wondered where weather alerts come from? Forecasts are just predictions, so how is a storm’s location, severity and length watched? There are a few answers to those questions.
You probably already know the name the National Weather Service, but were you aware they create weather forecasts and issue any warnings needed? There are six different regional offices and more than 100 forecasting offices around the nation, which means our forecast is localized and accurate. For us in the Manistee area, our weather forecasting office is located in Grand Rapids.
Meteorologists at the NWS use several different forms of information in order to create a forecast, including seismic activity, solar activity, sensors and satellite radar. The data used will depend on the weather coming, but the result is the same: to create an accurate and dependable forecast.
Even with so many different types of alerts, it is important that everyone around the United States understands the difference between a watch and a warning. This is language that will be included in almost every situation, including winter storms, flooding, ice storms and thunderstorms.
A watch means you should begin protecting your home for severe weather. Watches are issued to cover a large area, while a warning will be issued when a storm has been located in a smaller location, such as a single county or city. When a warning is issued, you should take any necessary steps to protect your home and your life, including moving to safety right away.
It is also crucial to understand the weather alerts we are most likely to see here at home. In our typically cold climate, this means knowing what to do during winter storms, ice storms and freezing temperatures.
We also need to have a good knowledge of flood warnings when the snow melt begins and our rivers start to overfill. While we enjoy our typically mild summers, we do still have to stay alert for the occasional severe thunderstorm as well.
Understanding multiple kinds of weather alerts is a great step in protecting your loved ones and avoiding damage to your home, but there are also a few other things you can do before the storm moves in.
Maintain your gutters on a regular basis and secure your outdoor furniture to avoid flood damage and wind damage before a storm rolls in. Ensure there is a location in your house with emergency supplies for your family to safely shelter in place, and create an exit plan for when you need to get out.
Once the storm is gone and it is safe to do so, take a look at your property and survey any damages. Take some pictures and give SERVPRO a call right away. We are available 24⁄7 to start your recovery faster and get your restoration completed.
If you find your home in need after one of these sitautions give SERVPRO of Manistee, Ludington and Cadillac a call at 231-723-4872