Weather safety has many options
HUNTLEY — The National Weather Service’s annual Severe Weather Preparedness Week was observed March 6-10. A dozen Huntley residents gathered March 8 to hear a local presentation, “Spring & Summer Weather Safety” at Huntley Area Public Library March 8.
Pat Ullrich, Emergency Responses and Preparedness Manager for the police department and Philip Adams, public education and community outreach for Huntley Fire Protection District, gave presentations. They discussed understanding risk categories of various severe weather events, from marginal to high, according to NWS information.
“The village is working on becoming a Weather Ready Community,” Ullrich said.
Huntley’s next step in that process is March 24. Huntley is already a Weather Ready Ambassador. The Wednesday information session also assisted the McHenry County’s Emergency Management Service’s update on its mitigation plan.
There are several options for weather information, the presentation included that there are text message services, social media, apps, family and friends, and wireless emergency alerts.
“The greatest danger with tornadoes is the debris fields it creates,” Ullrich commented.
The NWS defines tornadoes, as “a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. and tornadoes can have winds of 200 MPH. Seek a sturdy shelter in a basement, storm shelter, interior room, on lowest floor and cover your head.”
“The village has seven outdoor warning sirens. Outdoor warning systems should not be relied on for your main warning system, as they can easily go unheard due to closed windows, or indoor sounds. If there is a tornado warning siren going off in McHenry County, it also goes off in the Kane County portions of the village,” Ullrich said.
Lightening from thunderstorms can also be an area spring and summer concern. The Huntley Park District has a system of lightening strike warnings which are activated if there is a lightening strike within 10 miles of a park. Lightning strikes can kill about 30 people a year. “Don’t go near sheds, dugouts, tents, trees, or swimming areas or use electrical devices,” is the best advice.
“A severe thunderstorm is one that produces a tornado, damaging winds of 58 MPH or higher and one-quarter of one-inch size hail or larger,” according to the NWS.
Other weather events in the spring and summer months include heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, excessive heat and air quality.
Regarding flood events, a situation may look safe because another vehicle has crossed the flooded area but it is not safe.
Residents were encouraged to have a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio and sign up for area notifications through the Nixle system and social media sites available on a smartphone, at text 60142 to 888777, or local.nixle@com/register/.
Adams explained the resources of the Huntley Fire Protection District. The 22-member staff serves a multiple towns in southeast McHenry County and portions of Kane County, serving about 60,000 residents with five fire stations. The HFPD and the Village of Huntley are Weather Preparedness Partners. There were 6,850 calls for service in 2022.
Adams informed residents can sign up with “a Garage Code system, which allows firefighters access “without damage to the building. It has to be renewed every two years.”
