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May 14, 2008

Severe weather expected Thursday

By Brittany Woodby

BWOODBY@CULLMANTIMES.COM

Cullman County residents should brace for another bout of severe weather which could hit the area Thursday afternoon and Thursday night.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook Wednesday, indicating the potential for thunderstorms and damaging winds.

“With the daytime heating Thursday, there could be a spin-off of thunderstorms and a tornado outbreak Thursdays afternoon,” Cullman County Emergency Management Agency Assistant Director Kelly Allen said. “If we see a lot of rain, it could cool down enough to keep down the storms, but then we could see some flooding.”

Allen said the EMA will meet with school authorities Thursday at 9 a.m. to be briefed on the weather situation by the NWS. Regardless of the forecast, Allen said residents should take the last three major storms in the area as warnings to be prepared.

“Please, be prepared,” he said.

Residents should listen for weather sirens, turn on weather radios, and pay attention to local media for updated alerts. Also, residents should be ready to seek appropriate shelter before a tornado warning is called.

“Whenever there is a tornado watch in the county, the courthouse basement is open for people to take shelter,” Allen said. “The back entrance is open and in the past, security will open the other entrances to help people get in.”

If making it to a safe place — such as in a central room in a home away from windows — is not an option, Allen said to seek shelter in a ditch or culvert.

“People, don’t get under a parking deck,” he said. “It’s safer to be in a ditch than under an overpass or a bridge.”

Residents of Welti, Jones Chapel, Arkadelphia and Colony should be especially aware Thursday as emergency sirens in those communities are not functioning. The EMA notified residents last month that technicians would be repairing the sirens. Allen said crews will repair the sirens in Welti, Jones Chapel and Arkadelphia early next week, as well as inspect the siren in Colony which he said did not sound during Saturday’s warning.

Even if the area is not placed under a tornado watch or warning, danger could still be present from heavy rainfall. The NWS stated there is potential for Cullman County to experience some flash flooding.

“We could definitely see some flash flooding, especially out in the county or in the city roads,” Allen said. “Floods kill more people than any other natural disaster, so if there is flash flooding, people need to be careful.”

Allen said a key motto to remember in the event of flooding is “don’t drown, turn around,” and urged residents not to drive during periods of heavy rain.

In the event of power outages where traffic signals are not working, Alabama traffic law requires drivers to treat every intersection as a four-way stop, including intersections with multiple lanes.

Check cullmantimes.com for updated severe weather information and reports of damage.

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