Weather-related Emergencies

Summer heat waves are the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin for the past 50 years.  There are certain people that are at a higher risk of heat related illness including:

• Older adults
• Infants and young children
• People will chronic heart or lung problems
• People with disabilities
• Overweight persons
• Those who work outdoors or in hot settings
• Users of some medications, especially those taken for mental disorders,
• Movement disorder, allergies, depression, and heart or circulatory problems
• People that are isolated who don’t know when or how to cool off – or when to call for help

What to do during periods of extreme heat:

Never leave children, disabled persons, or pets in a parked car – even briefly. Temperatures in a car can become life threatening within minutes even with windows cracked open.

Keep your living space cool. Cover windows to keep the sun from shining in. If you don’t have an air conditioner, open windows to let air circulate. When it’s hotter than 95 degrees, use fans to blow hot air out of the window, rather than to blow hot air on to your body. Basements or ground floors are often cooler than upper floors.

Slow down and limit physical activity. Plan outings or exertion for the early morning or after dark, when temperatures are cooler.

Drink plenty of water and eat lightly. Don’t wait for thirst, but instead drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid alcohol or caffeine and stay away from hot, heavy meals.

Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light colored clothing. Add a hat or umbrella to keep your head cool…and don’t forget sunscreen!

Don’t stop taking medication unless your doctor says you should. Take extra care to stay cool, and ask your doctor or pharmacist for any special heat advice.

Taking a cool shower or bath will cool you down. In fact, you will cool down faster than you will in an air-conditioned room! Also, applying cold wet rags to the neck, head and limbs will cool down the body quickly.

Make sure pets and livestock are protected. Be sure they have access to plenty of water and a shady place to rest. Keep pets indoors and never leave them inside a parked vehicle.

Thunderstorms are a common occurrence so people become complacent and fail to take safety precautions. All thunderstorms are dangerous because they can produce strong winds, lightning, tornadoes, hail and flash flooding. On the UW–Madison campus you can refer to your buildings Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP) for information on building specific emergency procedures.

If a thunderstorm is likely to develop or is currently in the area:

• Postpone outdoor activities.
• Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
• Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
• Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage.
• Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades, or curtains.
• Avoid showering or bathing. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.
• Use a corded telephone only for emergencies. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use.
• Unplug appliances and other electrical items such as computers and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
• Use your battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio for updates from local officials.
• Remember that lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining. That’s about the distance you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance. Seek safe shelter immediately.

Avoid the following:

• Natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
• Hilltops, open fields, the beach, or a boat on the water.
• Isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.
• Anything metal—tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles.

Wisconsin is no stranger to varied and extreme winter weather conditions. Severe winter weather can bring a wide range of threats with it including heavy snow, ice and frigid cold temperatures. Preparation and good decision making are critical to staying safe when severe winter weather strikes. On the UW–Madison campus you can refer to your buildings Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP) for information on building specific emergency procedures and sign-up to receive WiscAlert messages from UWPD and University Communications.

For more information of key winter weather terms and how to prepare for winter storms and extreme cold visit Ready Wisconsin at https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/be-informed/winter-storms/

Flooding is one of the most common weather related disasters facing many areas in Wisconsin. Routine annual flooding poses a danger to human life and safety, causes significant damage to property and infrastructure, and negatively impacts the state’s economy. It is important not to walk or drive through flooded areas as six inches of moving water can make you fall and stall most passenger cars, and a vehicle can float in as little as a foot of water. Knowing what to do in the event of a flood can improve your chances of staying safe. On the UW–Madison campus you can refer to your buildings Occupant Emergency Plan for information on building specific emergency procedures.

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to prepare long before a flood takes place. To learn some flood hazard terminology, facts and how to protect your family and property by preparing for floods and responding correctly visit the Ready Wisconsin webpage.

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms and occasionally develop so rapidly that little advance warning is possible. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Knowing what to do and where to go before a tornado hits can greatly improve your safety. On the UW–Madison campus you can refer to your buildings Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP) for information on building specific emergency procedures and sign-up to receive WiscAlert messages from UWPD and University Communications.

Tornado Facts

• Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes a year.
• The peak tornado season in Wisconsin is April to August, but tornadoes can occur any time of year.
• Tornadoes can occur any time during the day or night, but are most frequent between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• About 80% of tornadoes that hit Wisconsin are relatively weak, with winds under 100 mph. Only 1% are violent with winds over 200 mph.
• They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
• They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
• The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
• The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.
• Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.