Severe Summer Weather
The term “tornado watch” means that weather conditions are right for the formation of a tornado. Residents should listen to local radio and television stations for weather information during a tornado watch, even if the sky is blue. The term “tornado warning” means that a tornado has been spotted. Pay attention to where it was seen, the direction of travel, and the time period the warning lasts. Take cover immediately if you are in the path of travel. If its path covers Warrenville, the outdoor warning sirens will sound for three minutes with a steady tone. Radio and TV stations will also provide warning information. Seek shelter inside (in a storm cellar or reinforced building if possible) and stay away from windows. Take a flashlight, radio or TV and listen for updates on the storm’s activities.

During a tornado, what should you do?
In a home, the basement offers the greatest safety. Seek shelter under sturdy furniture or stairway or in the center of the house on the lowest floor, in a small room such as a closet or bathroom. Stay away from windows; if they are open leave them alone. Do not go to the southwest corner of the basement of the building. In an office building, go to an interior hallway on the lowest floor or to the designated shelter area of the building. In a school, follow advance plans and go to an interior hallway on the lowest floor. If the building is not of reinforced construction, go to a nearby building that is, or take cover outside on low, protected ground. Stay out of auditoriums, gymnasiums and other structures with wide, free roof spans. In a shopping center, go to a designated shelter area (not your car or vehicle). In open country or when camping, move away from the tornado’s path at right angles. If there is no time to escape, lie flat in the nearest ditch or ravine. Stay out from under large trees, branches and high power lines. Many campgrounds have designated shelter areas; be aware of their locations prior to severe storms.

The National Weather Service has changed its thinking for those who may be in the path of a tornado. The theory of opening windows on the side of the house opposite the tornado is no longer advised. A recent study showed this did not prevent damage to the structure. If you are in the path of a tornado, take cover immediately and forget about opening windows.

Warning Siren
Knowing what to do when you hear the warning siren can save a life. The warning siren in DuPage County is tested on the first Tuesday of every month at between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. DuComm, 911 dispatcher for the City and a number of other DuPage communities, conducts this test.

When it is warranted, DuComm will activate Warrenville's warning siren. As a backup, the City's Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) can also activate the signal. When this siren goes off, it is a signal to anyone outside to seek shelter and take cover. In most instances it signals an approaching tornado, but it can also signal other things that require people to be inside, such as a chemical spill from a truck that has caused hazardous clouds and vapors. If the siren is activated (other than the first Tuesday of the month between 10 and 11 a.m.) and the weather is severe, it most likely indicates a tornado and residents should move to a safe place in the house. A radio station with up-to-date weather information is College of DuPage's WDCB 90.9 FM.

Severe Winter Weather
Before a winter storm or the extreme cold hits, learn how to protect you and your family's health during the winter months by doing the following:

• Gather emergency supplies for work and/or home
• Winterize your home
• Protect water pipes
• Prepare for isolation in your home
• Prepare your vehicle for the winter

During a winter storm and extreme cold do the following:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• When using alternative heat from a fireplace, stove heater, etc., ensure proper ventilation.
• Eat to supply heat to your body, and drink to avoid dehydration.
• When outside, avoid overexertion.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Do not travel. If a trip cannot be delayed, consider using public transportation.
• While in using your vehicle, travel during daylight hours and don't travel alone.
• Carry a winter storm survival kit in your vehicle, which should contain a blankets/sleeping bag, flashlight (with extra batteries), first aid kit, knife, high calorie, nonperishable foods, extra clothing to keep dry, large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes, smaller can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water, sack of sand or cat litter, shovel, windshield scraper and brush, tool kit, tow rope, booster cables, water container, compass and road map.

The high cost of heating a home may have people searching for alternate, less expensive heating sources. The use of space heaters, wood burning stoves, and fire places are all acceptable alternatives; however, they are all major contributing factors in residential fires, many of which could be prevented by following these few fire safety tips:

Kerosene Heaters

• Be sure it is in good working condition with an emergency shut-off valve in case it is accidentally knocked over.
• Be sure the room is properly vented. Burning fuel (i.e. kerosene, coal or propane) produces deadly fumes.
• NEVER fill the heater while it is operating or hot. Avoid overfilling as cold fuel may expand in the tank when it warms up.
• Refueling should be done outdoors.

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

• Have the chimney inspected yearly.
• Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of fireplace openings.
• Never burn charcoal indoors; it can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Keep flammable materials away from the mantel.
• NEVER close the damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. Be sure the fire is completely out before going to bed.

Furnace Heating

• Have the furnace inspected to ensure that it and all of its controls and emergency shut off are in good working condition.
• Repairs should be made only by a qualified specialist.
• If the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line are hot or discolored, more insulation or clearance may be needed.
• Check to be sure the flue pipes and pipe seams are well supported and free of holes and cracks.
• Make sure the chimney is solid with no cracks or loose bricks.
• Keep trash and combustibles away from the heating system.