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Severe Weather in Fenton, Michigan

Fenton, Michigan experiences its share of severe weather each year from thunderstorms to tornadoes and everything in between. To help the community understand what some of the terms you will hear from the National Weather Service (NWS) as well as local TV News and Radio Stations we are providing you with the following information. Your primary source for obtaining the most up to date weather information is to listen to a NOAA Weather Station that broadcasts weather information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So lets discuss what some of the terms you will hear mean.

What severe weather watches and warnings mean (terms to know).

What is a tornado watch? A tornado watch defines an area where tornadoes and other kinds of severe weather are possible in the next several hours. It does not mean tornadoes are imminent -- just that you need to be alert, and to be prepared to go to safe shelter if tornadoes do happen or a warning is issued. This is the time to turn on local TV or radio, turn on and set the alarm switch on your weather radio, make sure you have ready access to safe shelter, and make your friends and family aware of the potential for tornadoes in the area. The Storm Prediction Center issues tornado and severe thunderstorm watches.

What is a tornado warning? A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation in which a tornado can spawn. When a tornado warning is issued for your town or county, take immediate shelter and follow safety precautions. Local agencies such as the fire department and the NWS offices issue tornado warnings.

Fenton's Warning System
Fenton has four strategically placed tornado sirens throughout the city for the protection of its citizens and guests. These sirens are placed to provide audible alerts to the entire city. The tornado sirens are tested the first Saturday of each month at 1:00 p.m. and will sound for a total of three minutes. The tests are done during the months of April through October. Sirens are not activated when severe weather is active so as to prevent false warnings. Sirens sound for 3 minutes at a time, every 10 minutes while tornadoes are in the immediate area.

NOTE: There is NO such thing as an “All Clear” siren. Anytime the sirens are heard during severe weather means there is danger in the immediate or surrounding area, “TAKE COVER!”

Fenton City Tornado Siren Locations
1. North Leroy and Dauner Roads (North end of town)
2. Ellen Street and South Lemen Streets (Downtown area)
3. State Road at State Road Elementary School (South end of town)
4. Owen Road and US-23 across from McDonalds (South west side of town)
5. Silver Lake Road and US-23 (North east side of town)

When severe weather is present, a combination of methods should be used to stay alert of severe weather. One method alone will not guarantee your safety. For example the wind may be blowing strongly away from your home, which carries the sound of the warning siren away from you decreasing the chances it may be heard. Always use a combination of methods to stay alert such as the warning sirens, listening to local TV or radio stations and listening to a NOAA weather alert radio.

Please review the link to this PDF file on Severe Weather Preparedness published by the National Weather Service which will give you information on how to prepare for a storm, what to watch for and much more.

How many tornadoes usually occur in Michigan?
Michigan averages about 18 tornadoes each year. Since 1950, 239 persons have been killed due to tornadoes. During the same time, Michigan has experienced 772 tornadoes.

Know the signs of a tornado: Weather forecasting is not a perfect science and some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning being issued. There is no substitute for staying alert to the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for:

• Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.
• Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base -- tornadoes sometimes have no funnel!
• Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
• Day or night - Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
• Night - Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, maybe a tornado.
• Night - Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning -- especially if it is on the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath from power lines snapping or transformers blowing.

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO...SEEKING SHELTER.
In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.

In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.

In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. If your community has a tornado shelter, go there fast. If there is a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there. Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head. If possible, use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you.

At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Otherwise, park the car as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the traffic lanes. [It is safer to get the car out of mud later if necessary than to cause a crash.] Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If in the open country, run to low ground away from any cars (which may roll over on you). Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.

In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.

In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.

In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.

AFTER THE TORNADO...
Keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive. Carefully render aid to those who are injured. Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them; they may still be carrying electricity! Watch your step to avoid broken glass, nails, and other sharp objects. Stay out of any heavily damaged houses or buildings; they could collapse at any time. Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby. Remain calm and alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews or local officials.

For more tornado safety and information please click on the following link to go to the NOAA Weather Tornado Safety Page.