Amaran tornado

Malam semalam kami dikejutkan dengan bunyi siren sebagai amaran berjaga-jaga kebarangkalian puting beliung (tornado) akan berlaku di sini. Saya dah tidur masa tu. Terdengar bunyi siren tapi dalam keadaan mamai, saya abaikan bunyi tu dan tidur semula. Mata memang tak larat nak dibuka. Hampir tengah malam dah pun sewaktu siren berbunyi. Suami kejutkan saya dan beritahu kena turun ke basement, baru la saya betul-betul tersedar.

Saya jenguk ke luar tingkap. Tiba-tiba rasa berdebar. Suasana di luar menyeramkan. Hujan. Angin agak kencang. Ya Allah, tornado akan ke sini ke? Macam-macam yang saya fikirkan ketika itu. Entah macam mana, saya terbayangkan yang tornado benar-benar berlaku dan tak semena-mena saya terfikir Hari Kiamat. Huhu. Takut sangat masa tu. Dalam pada takut dan berdebar tu, saya tak berganjak lagi dari atas katil. Aduh, entah apa kena la dengan saya ni. Suami suruh saya bersiap, baru la saya bingkas bangun dan terus salin baju berlengan panjang. Tudung, saya letak tempat yang mudah dicapai.

Lama juga la siren berbunyi. Kejap perlahan, kejap kuat pula bunyinya. Tiap kali siren berbunyi kuat terasa-rasa macam tornado dah dekat. Lepas beberapa minit berlalu, belum pun sempat kami turun ke basement, siren berhenti berbunyi. Alhamdulillah, tornado tak sampai ke sini. Walaupun siren dah berhenti berbunyi, dada saya masih terasa lagi debarannya. Lama juga baru hilang rasa debar tu. Mata pun susah nak lelap lepas tu. Pukul 1 lebih baru saya terlena.

Doakan keselamatan kami sepanjang kami di sini ye. Harap-harapnya sekali tu je la dengar bunyi siren amaran tu. Sungguh mendebarkan!

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Tornado Warning Policy [sumber]

IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO WARNING:

1. Lincoln/Lancaster County Emergency Management will activate emergency sirens upon confirmation of a tornado. The duration of sirens is 3 minutes. All University personnel are directed to seek shelter upon activation of the sirens. It is not safe to leave the shelter until local radio and television stations announce that the warning has expired.
2. Where available, the University may provide supplemental notification of Lincoln/Lancaster County Emergency Management tornado warnings through one of the following methods:
   • Amplified voice announcements over the public address system.
   • Multicast to radio user groups
   • UNL Alert
   • A pager held by the Building Maintenance Reporter.
   • Other approved devices

SAFETY PROCEDURES

INDOORS

1. Move quickly to the tornado shelters listed on posters in university buildings.
2. Do not use elevators.
3. Stay away from windows.
4. If a tornado strikes, help avoid telephone overloads. Do not use telephones (including cell phones) except for emergency.

OUTDOORS

1. Seek indoor shelter if possible.
2. Parked motor vehicles are unsafe. Seek indoor shelter.
3. If an indoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.
4. If you are on flat ground and are caught in the path of a tornado, always move at right angles to its path.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form. Be alert to weather conditions and announcements.
Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted or radar indicates rotation in the clouds. TAKE SHELTER!