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Stay Safe During Severe Weather by Understanding Storm Alerts | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County
8/16/2022 (Permalink)
If you suspect any damage to your home from a recent storm, call SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County.
Different and consistently changing weather around the nation means different and consistently changing weather alerts. There are at least 42 different kinds of weather alerts from seven different categories. That is a lot to take, particularly as a storm moves in.
Understanding different warnings or advisories means being able to quickly get to safety when it is needed. It also means you can take preventive action now to protect your property and your loved ones.
A general knowledge of multiple weather systems is very helpful, but understanding the most commonly seen weather events here in New York is essential.
OK, so that makes us wonder, where do weather alerts come from? Forecasts are predictions, so how is the severity, general location and duration of a storm monitored? There are quite a few items that work together to answer those questions.
The party that handles both creating forecasts and sending out weather alerts is the National Weather Service. There are six regional offices around the nation and over 100 forecasting offices. That means weather alerts are localized and accurate. The office that our weather forecasts often come from is the Eastern Region Headquarters located in Bohemia, New York.
Meteorologists and other employees at the NWS use lots of information to create a forecast, including seismic activity, solar activity, sensors and radar. The data used depends on the kind of weather approaching, but the result is the same: to share an accurate forecast.
Gaining knowledge of the alerts that are possible in our corner of New York is important, but it is essential to know the difference between a watch and a warning. This is language that is used in most weather events, such as thunderstorms, flooding and winter storms.
With the issuance of a watch, you should begin prepping for weather to move in that might become dangerous. However, a warning means that a severe storm has been reported and it is time to take cover right away.
Watches are put out for large general areas, while warnings are issued more precisely and often only include a county or city where danger is located.
While knowing the difference in these two types of alerts is helpful, you should also ensure that you understand the common weather that affects our upstate New York communities. Our long and cold winters bring heavy snowfall, which means that we need to understand winter storm advisories, freeze advisories and ice storm warnings.
As spring warms up and the snow begins to melt, we need to be aware of the potential for flooding. Summers bring hot weather that carry the potential for severe thunderstorms and the occasional tornado. This mixed bag of weather means we need to prepare ourselves for the multiple scenarios New York may dish out.
Protecting your home and your loved ones starts by understanding weather warnings when they are issued, but there are a few other steps you can take now to prevent damages later.
Maintaining your gutters regularly and securing or storing any outdoor furniture can help prevent flood damage and wind damage before a storm starts. Ensure you have a space in your home with basic supplies for your family to safely shelter in place during a storm, and create an exit plan for when you cannot stay.
Once the storm has moved on and it is safe to do so, check your home for damages, and make a call to SERVPRO. We have 24⁄7 availability and want to start your restoration immediately so that we can save as much of your home as possible.
Learn about the different kinds of weather that Mother Nature may hand us here in New York and protect your families and homes. Stay on top of alerts issued all around so that you are ready for the next storm to roll in.
Experienced storm damage to your home or property? Contact us today for a quick response!