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Thunderstorms, Hail, Wind, and Lightning

Thunderstorms produce lightning, high winds, and rain. Many strong thunderstorms produce hail and some produce tornadoes. NOAA Weather Radio is the prime alerting and critical information delivery system for thunderstorms. The following sites provide information on severe thunderstorm preparedness.

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1. Fact Sheet: Thunderstorms and Lightning
   Federal Emergency Management Agency
   http://www.fema.gov/hazard/thunderstorm/index.shtm
2. Severe Thunderstorms
   Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages
   http://www.redcross.org/disaster/disasterguide/standardmsg.html
3. Severe Thunderstorm Information Sheet
   American Red Cross
   http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/code/Thunderstorms _Severe.pdf
4. Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning , Nature's Most Violent Storms
   U.S. Department of Commerce & NOAA
   http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/ttl.pdf
5. FLASH: Federal Alliance for a Safe Home
   http://www.flash.org/
6. Precision Agriculture, Lawn & Garden Weather Forecasts by County
   Based On National Weather Service Digital County Forecasts/ National Digital Forecast Database
   http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/PrecisionForecast.html

Tornadoes

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending form the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornado intensities vary depending on climatic conditions. You can protect yourself by having a safe place to go and having the time to get there.

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1. Frequently Asked Questions About Tornadoes
   NOAA Storm Prediction Center
   http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/index.html
2. Tornadoes
   American Red Cross
   http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_591_,00.html
3. Tornado Preparedness
   North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension
   http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster/factsheets/html/42a.html
4. Tornado Preparedness Information Sheet
   Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages
   http://www.redcross.org/disaster/disasterguide/standardmsg.html
5. Building a Safe Room inside your House
   FEMA
   http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/ism2.pdf
6. Precision Agriculture, Lawn & Garden Weather Forecasts by County
   Based On National Weather Service Digital County Forecasts/ National Digital Forecast Database
   http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/PrecisionForecast.html