BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE '
GOVERNOR
SEVERE WEATHER AWARE NESS WEEK
2010
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, in 2009, the National Weather Service in North Carol ina issued nearly 700 severe thunderstorn1 warnings
and recorded 625 incidents of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and/or large hail, placing it fourth in the nation for
the number of severe weather reports; and
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has strengthened the definition for severe thunderstorn1s and will only issue
warnings for storms that are expected to produce hail of one inch or larger; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is traditionally an active tornado state especially during the spring, and last year had 33
tornadoes touch down with statewide damages exceeding $3 million; and
WHEREAS, people are less likely to be injured when they know what to do when a tornado warning is issued and severe
weather conditions threaten; and
WHEREAS, the average lead warning time for severe weather in 2009 was 19 minutes and the average lead warning time
for tornadoes was 16 minutes; and
WHEREAS, lightning strikes are a significant threat in North Carolina, especially for people involved in outdoor
recreational and sporting events; and
WHEREAS, citizens should listen to local radio, television, a weather channel or a NOAA (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration) radio for information on severe weather; and
WHEREAS, fami lies should have an emergency safety plan for home, school and work, including knowing where the
safest locations are on their regu larly-traveled routes; and
WHEREAS, individuals should have a disaster supply kit on hand that contains a first-aid kit, a battery-powered radio,
flashlight with extra batteries, canned and other non-perishable food, a hand-operated can opener, bottled water, sturdy shoes
and work gloves; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, the National Weather Service and the Department of
Public Instruction have collaborated to inform and. educate North Carolinians about how to stay safe in severe weather; and
WHEREAS, Wednesday, March 3, is the designated day fo r tornado drills to be held statewide in schools, government
buildings and private companies;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BEVERLY EA YES PERDUE, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim the
week of February 28 - ,March 6, 2010, as "SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK" in North Carolina, and call upon
our citizens and interested groups to observe with appropriate activities that promote awareness of severe weather
and how to stay safe.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I ha
Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-fifth
the United States of America tlie two
BEVERLY EA YES PERDUE
xed the Great Seal of the State ofNorth Carolina at the
year of our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the Independence of