| Tornadoes and Hurricanes do incredible damage | | | | #3 Flooding |
| and usually get a lot of attention in the | | | | Slow-rising currents of water may not look |
| mainstream media. But despite their dramatic | | | | threatening, but looks can be deceiving. Flood |
| appearance, they are not the most lethal | | | | waters kill 100 people every year in the U.S. A |
| weapons in Mother Nature's arsenal. This article will | | | | primary reason why people die in flood waters is |
| identify the most potent weather killers and what | | | | because they are swept away and drowned |
| you can do to survive them. | | | | attempting to drive through flood currents. Never |
| #1 Extreme Cold | | | | attempt to cross flowing water more than 6 |
| It's not dramatic and very easy to predict. | | | | inches deep. If the depth is unknown, avoid it |
| Nonetheless Extreme Cold weather tops our list, | | | | altogether. In an evacuation situation, seek high |
| killing 680 annually -- more deaths than all other | | | | ground roads (use your topographic maps) or |
| extreme weather combined. Don't be caught | | | | Interstates which are usually built several feet |
| unprepared. Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings | | | | above ground. |
| are often issued 24 hours in advance. Pay | | | | #4 Lightning |
| attention to the local weather forecast or NOAA | | | | Known as the "underrated killer", Lightning ranks |
| Weather Radio channels. Have extra blankets and | | | | #4 on our list with 60-90 deaths and 500 injuries |
| winter gear in your vehicle during winter months. | | | | each year - more than Tornadoes and Hurricanes |
| #2 Extreme Heat | | | | combined. There is a lot of confusion regarding |
| On the other end of the spectrum, but just as | | | | when and where lightning can strike. The critical |
| deadly is Extreme Heat. Heat-stroke, | | | | rule is this: if thunder can be heard, you are at |
| heat-exhaustion, and other heat-related illnesses | | | | risk of being struck. The majority of lightning |
| account for over 350 deaths annually. Like | | | | fatalities occur when people resume outdoor |
| Extreme Cold, Extreme Heat can also be easily | | | | activities too soon after a storm has passed. |
| avoided with some common sense. Monitor | | | | Their flawed reasoning is, "it stopped raining, we |
| infants and elderly closely during extreme heat. | | | | can go back outside now". Consider that lightning |
| They are especially at risk. If you must be | | | | can strike ten miles from the base of a |
| outside, drink lots of water (16-32oz per hour) | | | | thunderstorm. To avoid tragedy, you should wait |
| and avoid unnecessary physical exertion during | | | | at least 30 minutes after a storm has passed |
| peak hours (noon-5PM). | | | | before going back outside. |