Be prepared for high-wind events

Even though the temperatures have been cooler than we are used to, it is still August, and we can expect more summertime weather to occur.

This week’s topic from the National Weather Service is high-wind events. In my 25 years working for Brookings County, I can verify that we have suffered more damage from straight-line high winds than tornadic events. Recent memory includes storms like the May 12, 2022, derecho that hit our county.

One of the first storm events that I worked on was the July 28, 2002, Sinai storm. Beginning at Sinai and ending 5 miles east/southeast of Sinai, thunderstorm winds caused widespread structural, tree, and power line damage in and near Sinai. The roof was ripped off a mobile home, a well drilling business was destroyed, the siding from another business was ripped off, part of a grain elevator was smashed, several garages were destroyed or heavily damaged, several trees were blown down and widespread tree debris littered the area, and power lines and poles were blown down. Power outages lasted until the next day. At a farm just east of Sinai, five grain bins, a machine shed, and several small outbuildings were destroyed, and the farmhouse was damaged, with approximately $300,000 in damage estimated at this farm alone. Other small farm structures in the area were reportedly destroyed or damaged.

Crops in the area were heavily damaged by the wind and accompanying hail, with one witness watching as a bean field “just disappeared.” The crop damage was widespread, but the amount of crop damage could not be determined. A tornado starting 3 miles west of Sinai and ending 2 miles west/northwest of Sinai with a length of 1 mile and a width of 50 yards caused no reported damage. The city of Elkton had thunderstorm winds that caused tree damage and damage to buildings such as shingles blown off and broken windows from tree debris. The winds caused severe crop damage in the area, especially to corn crops. South of Brookings thunderstorm winds damaged a barn, a silo, and tore the roof off a mobile home. The winds also caused tree damage, including fifty to sixty trees blown down on a golf course. The city of Brookings reported large hail, driven by severe winds, damaged vehicles and crops. The total estimated damage was $3,250,000.

Did you know that nearly 50% of all severe weather reports are from damaging wind? When winds are sustained at 40-50 mph, isolated wind damage is possible. Widespread significant wind damage can occur with higher wind speeds. Winds are considered severe when they reach 58 mph, with the strongest of thunderstorms capable of producing straight lines wind speeds in excess of 100 mph. Strong winds can knock over semi-trucks, trees, power lines, and mobile homes, and are capable of producing damage paths hundreds of miles long. The following are recommendations to defend against damaging winds.

Before a high-wind event

• Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
• Secure loose gutters and shutters.
• Identify an interior room of your house, such as a basement or interior bathroom, that you can take shelter in during high wind warnings.
• If you live in a mobile home, identify a sturdy building you can go to if NWS issues a high wind or severe thunderstorm warning.
• Charge batteries of all essential items such as cell phonesand booster packs, weather radios andpower tools such as areciprocating saw, which you might need to clear debris.
• Update your emergency kitand be sure to include enough food and water to last for 3 days for each person in your home.
• Make a list of items outside your home you will need to tie down or put away so that they don’t blow away or fly through a window. When NWS issues a high-wind or severe thunderstorm watch, immediately secure these items to avoid damage or injury once the wind starts picking up.

During a high-wind event

Take shelter

• Immediately go inside a sturdy building during a high wind warning or severe thunderstorm warning and move to an interior room or basement.
• If you are in a mobile home, move to a sturdy building before the winds pick up or the storm system reaches your location.
• Listen to the local news orNOAA Weather Radiofor updates.

If caught outside or driving

• Take shelter in your car if you are not near a sturdy building. If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building. Otherwise, move your car to a location where it is less likely to be hit by falling trees or power lines.
• If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road. Keep in mind that power lines that are lying on the ground may be live. Do not go near them! Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
• If you are driving and aren’t near a sturdy building, hold the steering wheel with both hands and slow down.
• Keep a distance from high-profile vehicles such as trucks, buses, and vehicles towing trailers. One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.

After a high-wind event

• Do not go near downed power lines. Report downed power lines to the police.
• Continue to listen to the local news andNOAA Weather Radiofor updates following the storm.
• If you lose power and are using a generator, be sure to reviewgenerator safety tips.
• Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.

And as always, keep an eye on the sky.

Bob the EM