Emergency Weather information for the City of Burbank

Springtime Severe Weather

Severe spring and summer storms bring tornadoes, flooding, wind and lightning damage to many states across the country. Rich Harper, Director of the City of Burbank Emergency Services and Disaster Agency wants all citizens of Burbank to be prepared in the event of a storm, especially with the lightning that often accompanies it. He offers some important safety tips to consider:

•  Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light, or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.

•  Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, The Weather Channel, or local television/radio news for the latest weather forecast.

•  Find shelter on the lowest floor of a sturdy building when a storm approaches. If you cannot get inside to shelter, squat low near the ground in an open area. Lying flat on the ground is not recommended, because it puts more of your body into contact with the ground, an excellent conductor of electricity from lightning.

•  Turn off air conditioning. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressor, resulting in a costly repair job.

•  Draw blinds and shades over windows. If windows break due to object blown by wind, the shades may prevent glass from shattering into your home.

•  If you are in a mobile home or car during severe weather and conditions are right for a tornado, get out of the mobile home or car and find sturdy shelter elsewhere, under an overpass on interstate highways is an example of shelter when traveling.

•  People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge and can be handled safely. If someone is struck, dial 911. The injured person has received an electrical shock and may be burned. If breathing has stopped, begin rescue breathing. If the heart has stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR.

Severe storms can happen quickly and sometimes without warning. Rich Harper urges Burbank residents to get ready for severe storms now, while they have time to prepare. He also suggests taking an American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR course. For additional information on preparing for severe storms, tornadoes, and other disasters, you can contact the City of Burbank’s Emergency Services and Disaster Agency at 599-9551, or the American Red Cross.