Public Health

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch
  • Severe thunderstorms may occur in and around your area. Now is the time to stay informed and prepare when a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning
  • Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated on radar. Now is the time to take action and take shelter in a substantial building.
• Considerable Damage Threat
  • When there is at least 1.75-inch diameter (golf ball-sized) hail and/or 70 mph thunderstorm winds. This will not activate a Wireless Emergency Alert on smartphones.
• Destructive Damage Threat
  • When there is at least 2.75-inch diameter (baseball-sized) hail and/or 80 mph thunderstorm winds. Warnings with this tag will activate a Wireless Emergency Alert on smartphones within the warned area

While many are familiar with the appearance of a typical thunderstorm, it’s important to understand that these storms can also bring other dangerous threats. We should always be prepared for all possibilities.

• Lighting
  • Lightning is one of the greatest dangers of thunderstorms, striking at any time and often causing injuries or fatalities, particularly when people are outdoors, requiring immediate medical attention if hit.
• Hail
  • Hail is solid ice formed in thunderstorm updrafts that can damage property, harm animals and people, and varies in size from as small as a BB to as large as a grapefruit.
• Flash flooding
  • Flash floods are caused by heavy rainfall over a short period and can occur quickly, with areas impacted by wildfires being especially vulnerable to flash floods and debris flows.
• Damaging winds
  • Damaging winds, which can exceed 50-60 mph and cause significant harm, especially to mobile homes, include various types that are not tornadoes, with winds over 80 mph posing severe risks. Other types of winds include straight-line wind, microburst, macro-burst and derecho with all having distinctive descriptions.
• Tornadoes
  • A tornado is a rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, often difficult to see unless visible through water droplets, dust, or debris, and can occur at any time of year.

Here are some important recommendations and strategies to help you prepare for a severe storm, ensuring the safety of yourself, your family, and friends. Preparation is key to minimizing damage and ensuring the well-being of everyone in your care.

• Before
  1. Know the risk of the area of where you live. The number of days per year with severe thunderstorms in Wisconsin ranges from 30-40 days according to the national weather service.
  2. Make sure your wireless phone is set to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts for severe weather, as well as having a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather radio to stay informed.
  3. Cut down trees that may be in danger of falling onto your home. Secure loose objects that may be blown away and close windows and doors and move valuable items inside. Consider getting a whole house surge protector.
  4. Create an emergency plan so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you need to protect themselves from the effect of a severe storm.
• During
  1. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Find shelter in a sturdy building and stay in place for 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder
  2. If you are caught outside, immediately get off elevated areas and out of ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
  3. Stay away from windows as wind or hail may be approaching and avoid contact with water in house as lighting can travel through a building’s plumbing
  4. Avoid using electronic equipment such as computers, gaming systems, etc. Use landlines phones only in an emergency as lighting can travel through electrical systems and telephone lines.
  5. Avoid driving in flooded roadways. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
  6. Get a battery-operated NOAA Weather radio for updates from local officials
• After
  1. Stay informed and pay attention to the authorities and weather forecast for further information on when it’s safe to go outside.
  2. Watch for fallen power lines and trees and report them immediately. Help a neighbor if you come across people that are injured and you are properly trained. Call emergency services if needed.
  3. Contact loved ones and let them know that you are okay and to see if they need any assistance.