NSSL staff promotes weather safety at local malls

There were no deaths of people between the ages of 4 and 24 in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area during the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak. Experts credit school-age children with knowing the rules of tornado safety. The value of weather safety education is receiving increasing attention, and in March staff from NSSL joined personnel from the other three NOAA Weather Partners to answer questions at the local mall in Norman. The events included displays by all four NOAA Weather Partners and one of NSSL's mobile laboratories. Staff provided tornado safety information, explained Doppler radar images, and answered questions about severe weather research and forecasting.

Also during the event, NOAA staff helped NOAA Weather Radio owners program their radios with special codes that allow the weather alarm to be activated when watches and warnings are issued for the counties in their immediate area. NOAA Weather Radios, with alarm and battery back- up, are considered one of the best ways to provide protection from tornadoes, especially at night.