Christmas Tornado Records Fall

CHRISTMAS STORM REPORTS, 2012, W=Wind, T= Tornado, H=Hail

As was expected by the weather industry in general, the Christmas tornado outbreak of 2012 will indeed go down in the record books as the worst in history for a Christmas Day.  So far, there have been 6 fatalities in the entire storm system reported, with the NWS Storm Prediction Center showing 31 individual tornado reports, 77 damaging wind reports and 3 hail reports, totalling 111 total reports of significant severe weather.  The Storm Prediction Center also showed on it's storm report of the event, 17 injuries, 15 tornado related and 2 severe t-storm related, though other accounts are higher in storms in Mississippi.  Overall a day that for some will be remembered with pain for some, relief for others, and for many, total obliviousness of the storm danger that they were in while celebrating Christmas in the Southeast United States.  It also includes a tornado that struck Mobile, caught on video.  What can be done to make more people aware?  We at WeatherCall have a few ideas.

 While WeatherCall is the nation's premiere severe weather notification system, with announcements coming soon for our subscribers of additional features included in their subscriptions, we also suggest having several layers of protection for you, your families and your businesses.

1. Have a family safety plan: These plans should include a specific place where you shelter during severe or tornadic weather.  Each family member, MUST know where to go when they eith feel threatened or know a threat is impending.  ALso plan where to gather if an emergency occuurs, such as a gathering place, a way to call for help, etc.  The moments following a local disaster are unbelievably hectic, and having a plan is your best protection. For tips and ideas, visit FEMA's Ready.gov website.
2. Have numerous notification methods for severe weather warnings: Include WeatherCall @Home and WeatherCall ToGo, an all hazards NOAA weather radio, with battery back-up and whichever service your county or state might offer up for 'free' (nothing is free, taxpayers pay for all of these systems, including the recently released CMAS/WEA alerts).  But remember, of these services, only WeatherCall's family of services is storm specific, warning specific, and lat'long specific.  You will have many times you will have a weather radio go off and NOT get a WeatherCall.  That means your part of your COUNTY is in the warning, but YOUR lat/long based location is NOT.
3. Be aware of the qualifications of the weather staffs with your local media outlets:  Do your research.  Not all 'meteorologists' have the same backgrounds and credentials, training and experience.  Often you are staking your life on these people's recommendations.  Do your research, and know who to and not to trust.
4. Have a plan for your business:  If you are a business owner or in charge of business safety and security, it is up to you to start this process.  If you are an employee, it is up to you to know your company's plan.  We feel one of the best inclusions into a company's business plan is to subscribe to WeatherCall Enterprise.  It is also storm, warning and lat/long specific with additional notification features not available for the basic home or individual comsumer.  Business plans are surprisingly affordable, starting at less that $200 per year, and can save literally millions in unnecessary shut down costs.
5. Trust your local National Weather Service Office's expertise: We at WeatherCall believe the best warning system in the world comes out of the 122 nationwide offices of the National Weather Service.  Call your local weather service office, ask for a tour, and ask whatever weather questions you need to ask while you are there.  These meteorologists and technicians are some of the most loyal public servants in the nation, and you will find them to be very accomodating.

At WeatherCall, we pride ourselves in helping people save their own lives.  The life saving does not come from a phone call, text message, email, or even NWS warning.  It comes from you taking action when you receive that warning, making the right decisions quickly, and seeking the best available shelter when a storm threatens.  If you ever need any questions, please feel free to contact the meteorologists, Certified Emergency Managers and Certified Business Continuity Planner at WeatherCall by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Brad Huffines, Meteorologist, National Notification Consultant, Media/Industry/Web