April Weather Records for #AltusOK from @OKmesonet

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Periods of Record Temps #1904-2010 Precip #1904-2012 Snow #1904-2012 # - large gaps in record	Key * - Record since tied Highlight = Apr record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	1 T Avgs: 73/42 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 98 (1946) Low T 27* (1948) Precip 0.98 (2000)	2 T Avgs: 74/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 91 (1913) Low T 22 (1936) Precip 1.13 (1919)	3 T Avgs: 74/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 97 (1950) Low T 23* (1936) Precip 1.22 (1957)	4 T Avgs: 73/43 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 95 (1943) Low T 26 (1920) Precip 0.66 (1997)	5 T Avgs: 73/43 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 94 (1954) Low T 26* (1920) Precip 1.51 (1921)
6 T Avgs: 73/43 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 99 (1954) Low T 23 (1971) Precip 0.71 (1940) Snow trace (1939)	7 T Avgs: 75/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 96 (1972) Low T 23 (2009) Precip 1.12 (1915)	8 T Avgs: 72/44 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 99 (1963) Low T 25 (1938) Precip 1.50 (1942) Snow 6.0 (1938)	9 T Avgs: 73/43 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 93 (1963) Low T 24 (2003) Precip 1.45 (1942)	10 T Avgs: 74/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 98 (1963) Low T 26 (1973) Precip 2.14 (2008)	11 T Avgs: 74/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 99 (1972) Low T 27 (1989) Precip 2.22 (1994)	12 T Avgs: 74/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 105 (1972) Low T 26* (1940) Precip 0.96 (1967) Snow trace (1940)
13 T Avgs: 74/45 Sig Prcp Freq: 18% Extremes: High T 98 (1936) Low T 25 (1957) Precip 0.60 (1973)	14 T Avgs: 77/47 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 96 (1936) Low T 29 (1980) Precip 2.26 (1916)	15 T Avgs: 78/47 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 100 (2006) Low T 27* (1928) Precip 1.96 (1945)	16 T Avgs: 78/48 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 98 (1913) Low T 34 (1945) Precip 1.50 (1976)	17 T Avgs: 79/49 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 101* (1955) Low T 28 (1921) Precip 2.34 (1995)	18 T Avgs: 78/50 Sig Prcp Freq: 18% Extremes: High T 101 (1925) Low T 31 (1921) Precip 2.20 (1917)	19 T Avgs: 78/50 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 95 (1987) Low T 32* (1939) Precip 1.91 (2003)
20 T Avgs: 78/49 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 99 (1925) Low T 32 (1953) Precip 1.61 (1952)	21 T Avgs: 78/50 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 97* (1925) Low T 34 (1918) Precip 1.82 (1957)	22 T Avgs: 79/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 98 (1955) Low T 31 (1931) Precip 1.68 (1952)	23 T Avgs: 79/52 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 101 (1989) Low T 34 (1996) Precip 1.05 (1957)	24 T Avgs: 79/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 98 (1996) Low T 34 (1968) Precip 2.14 (1925)	25 T Avgs: 79/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 96* (1967) Low T 39 (1995) Precip 1.93 (1997)	26 T Avgs: 78/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 95* (1956) Low T 38 (1945) Precip 1.63 (1928)
27 T Avgs: 79/51 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 96 (1955) Low T 35 (1920) Precip 1.50 (1985)	28 T Avgs: 77/50 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 94 (1927) Low T 36 (2008) Precip 2.30 (1940)	29 T Avgs: 77/53 Sig Prcp Freq: 20% Extremes: High T 98 (1936) Low T 39 (1968) Precip 4.06 (2009)	30 T Avgs: 79/52 Sig Prcp Freq: 21% Extremes: High T 95 (1947) Low T 36* (1984) Precip 1.35 (1974)	Apr. Averages High Temp 77 F Low Temp 48 F Avg Temp 62 F Precip 2.36" Snow 0.1"

Smokey Bear - Take the Pledge #OKfire

Can you do your part to prevent #wildfire?  Take the Smokey Bear Pledge:

It's free and you get a nice prize as a result.

March is Red Cross Month #AltusOK @RedCross #OKready

March is Red Cross Month

Did you know that March is Red Cross month?  It is one month of the year to take the time to recognize our country’s everyday heroes who give their time to help people in need. The American Red Cross, in addition to supplying about 40 percent of our nation’s blood, also provides shelter, food and emotional support during emergencies and disasters. The Red Cross relies on the heroic efforts of its workers and volunteers to get the job done. 

Here’s 5 ways that you can become a hero for the Red Cross:

1.      Become a Red Cross volunteer.  You can be a force and lend a hand in your community.

2.      Give blood.  Help a patient going through a hard time.

3.      Take a class.  Gain information and skills to help out in an emergency.

4.      Make a plan. Get your family involved and develop a preparedness plan for emergencies.

5.      Make a financial donation. Your generosity will help those in need.

March is a great month for you to join with other heroes and become a part of the Red Cross.  More information on how you can help is available on the Red Cross website.

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.

The first America’s #PrepareAthon is coming! #AltusOK #OKready

National Day of Action is scheduled for April 30, 2014.

http://www.fema.gov/americas-prepareathon

America's PrepareAthon! is a nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience. The first America’s PrepareAthon! National Day of Action is scheduled for April 30, 2014 and you’re invited to participate!  The first National Day of Action will revolve around taking the actions to prepare for specific hazards:  tornadoes, wildfires, floods and hurricanes. 

Despite an increase in weather-related disasters, nearly 70 percent of Americans have not participated in a preparedness drill or exercise, aside from a fire drill, at their workplace, school, or home in the past 2 years.  

To move people to action, the President, through Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-8), has directed all federal agencies to work with their stakeholders across the country to “coordinate a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness, including public outreach and community-based and private-sector programs to enhance national resilience…” In support of this effort, the federal family is launching America’s PrepareAthon!^SM, a community-based campaign to increase emergency preparedness and resilience at the grassroots level. Twice yearly, in the spring and fall, America’s PrepareAthon! will provide a national focus for individuals, organizations, and communities to participate through drills, group discussions, and exercises to practice for local hazards.

Goals

Increase the number of individuals who:

·         Understand which disasters could happen in their community,

·         Know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage,

·         Take action to increase their preparedness, and

·         Participate in community resilience planning.

What can I do?

Plan your own local community or organizational preparedness event; participate in discussion forums with like-minded peers and colleagues; and not only learn the actions to take for disaster preparedness but alsopractice them!

A robust, interactive website and additional resources to help you plan your very own day of action will be made available online this spring.  Additionally, you’ll soon be able to register to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! and provide details about the activities you’re planning. 

In the meantime, please look at the following materials which provide a bit more information on why America’s PrepareAthon! is taking place and how you can play a role:

·         America's PrepareAthon! Frequently Asked Questions

·         2012 FEMA National Survey Report

·         America's PrepareAthon! Disaster Survivor Video: Please click "Download" to view the video.

Stay in Touch

To stay in touch and receive updates on America’s PrepareAthon! please email  prepareathon@fema.dhs.gov.

Additionally, please follow us on Twitter @PrepareAthon and be sure to use the #PrepareAthon hashtag so you can join thousands of other Americans in the conversation about taking action for preparedness!

Social Media drill results in #OKwx #Skywarn #SMEM

In the social media drill a few months back, +Rick Smith and friends at the National Weather Service office in Norman discovered (again) where Social Media is weak.

It's good for getting the word out.  It shines in getting the word out fast.  It fails when people see the word late.

Please remember the average tornado warning is 14 minutes.  Only 46K might
have gotten a timely warning, in an actual event.

What to do about it?

1.  Have MORE than three ways to get weather information.  "NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information from the nearest National Weather Service office." http://1.usa.gov/1kAG7M0  There surely is a transmitter near you.  You may have to put an outdoor antenna up to hear it well but 98% of the Country is covered.

2.  If your community has a community alerting system, enroll in it.  The City of Altus uses Alert Altus.  There are others.  Many Television and Radio broadcasters offer their own brand of text and email alerts.

3.  Consider WeatherCall if you need a phone call.  This would notify you of warnings when your address is in a National Weather Service warning polygon.  This would be good for a backup to the weather service radio as it would alert you at night.

4.  Get an amateur radio license. Area hams, especially those involved in Skywarn and emergency management, talk about the weather a lot.  Many of them have direct ties to the Weather Service offices.

Have you three ways to get the message?

Time to get #OKready #AltusOK

From Darryl Madden, Director of FEMA Ready Campaign:

For many, the New Year is a time for setting goals and making new resolutions for the year to come. If you are anything like me, each year you find yourself resolving to achieve a healthier lifestyle - eating right, exercising more, losing a few pounds.

Setting personal health goals in the New Year is great, but improving overall well-being involves taking actions to be prepared. Knowing what to do in an emergency is vital to the health and safety of you and your loved ones.

This year, the Ready Campaign is challenging you to be Prepared in 2014. Start the New Year by connecting with family and friends on the importance of preparedness. Not only can the information shared potentially save a life, connecting with those you love has an added benefit. People who have strong social connections tend to be healthier and more resilient.

I know the hardest part of keeping a resolution is sustaining it after those first few weeks of the year, but you don’t have to do it all at once.

First, start by simply having the conversation: who to call, where to meet and what to pack in an emergency.

Build your family’s emergency supply kit by picking up recommended emergency items over the first month or two of the year.

Create a preparedness checklist. This should include things such as emergency phone numbers and copies of important documents, and information on how to register for programs such as the American Red Cross Safe and Well website.

Set reminders throughout the year to talk about and update your family emergency communication plan. If you have children, include them in conversations and planning activities. 

The Ready Campaign has age-appropriate tools and resources you can use to introduce disaster preparedness to them. And you can learn more about talking with kids after disasters so you’re ready to help them through tough situations.

Have pets? Make sure they are a part of your planning process. Create a pet go-bag to help keep them safe during an emergency. Find helpful tips from FEMA on how to plan for your furry friends.

Older adults often have special needs in a disaster and may depend on medications or other special requirements. If older adults are a part of your social connection, be sure to include them in your preparedness planning efforts.

Emergencies can and will happen, but being ready can minimize the impact they have on the overall well-being of you and your family.

This year, make disaster preparedness part of your New Year’s resolution. On January 1st 2014, join the Resolve To Be Ready Thunderclap to promote a message of preparedness to your social connections on New Year’s Day. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #Prepared2014 whenever you discuss family preparedness on Twitter.

Weather records for #AltusOK from @OKMesonet

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Periods of Record Temps #1904-2010 Precip #1904-2012 Snow #1904-2012 # - large gaps in record	Key * - Record since tied Highlight = Mar record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	Mar. Averages High Temp 67 F Low Temp 38 F Avg Temp 53 F Precip 1.55" Snow 0.7"				1 T Avgs: 60/33 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 92 (2006) Low T 8 (1962) Precip 0.88 (1942) Snow 8.5 (1942)
2 T Avgs: 62/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 90 (1974) Low T 6 (1922) Precip 1.56 (1918) Snow 2.0 (1995)	3 T Avgs: 63/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 89 (1955) Low T 6 (1943) Precip 1.35 (1988) Snow 0.5 (1917)	4 T Avgs: 63/32 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 83 (1938) Low T 8 (2002) Precip 0.64 (1992)	5 T Avgs: 64/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 4% Extremes: High T 93 (1991) Low T 13 (2002) Precip 1.56 (2004) Snow 0.8 (1954)	6 T Avgs: 64/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 92 (2009) Low T 11 (1943) Precip 0.73 (1970) Snow 1.5 (1948)	7 T Avgs: 63/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 88 (2006) Low T 10 (1920) Precip 0.71 (1970) Snow trace (1995)	8 T Avgs: 63/34 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 83* (1925) Low T 10 (1967) Precip 1.25 (1919) Snow 3.8 (1919)
9 T Avgs: 65/35 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 89 (1955) Low T 14 (1996) Precip 0.57 (1994) Snow 1.3 (1915)	10 T Avgs: 66/36 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 91 (1955) Low T 14 (1932) Precip 1.48 (1973) Snow 0.5 (1948)	11 T Avgs: 66/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 95 (1967) Low T 19* (1932) Precip 2.80 (1990) Snow 2.5 (1948)	12 T Avgs: 66/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 95 (1989) Low T 18 (1998) Precip 0.80 (1929) Snow 4.5 (1958)	13 T Avgs: 66/37 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 95 (1916) Low T 8 (1948) Precip 0.88 (1922) Snow 3.6 (1924)	14 T Avgs: 68/36 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 91 (1971) Low T 19 (1954) Precip 1.50 (1982)	15 T Avgs: 67/39 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 88 (1932) Low T 16 (1947) Precip 1.10 (1981) Snow 2.0 (1947)
16 T Avgs: 66/37 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 85 (1916) Low T 21 (1956) Precip 2.42 (1998)	17 T Avgs: 69/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 94 (1989) Low T 22* (1928) Precip 2.35 (1961)	18 T Avgs: 68/39 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 92 (1916) Low T 11 (1923) Precip 1.39 (2008)	19 T Avgs: 67/39 Sig Prcp Freq: 15% Extremes: High T 93 (1994) Low T 20 (1965) Precip 1.73 (2006) Snow 2.5 (1924)	20 T Avgs: 69/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 13% Extremes: High T 92 (1916) Low T 10 (1965) Precip 1.50 (1985) Snow 2.0 (2010)	21 T Avgs: 69/38 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 98 (1997) Low T 20 (1955) Precip 1.25 (1921) Snow 1.0 (2010)	22 T Avgs: 70/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 95 (1997) Low T 18 (1914) Precip 1.68 (1935) Snow 0.9 (1955)
23 T Avgs: 71/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 90 (1929) Low T 20 (1952) Precip 3.22 (2000) Snow 0.5 (2006)	24 T Avgs: 71/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 91 (1954) Low T 23* (1965) Precip 1.26 (1920) Snow trace (1974)	25 T Avgs: 69/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 92 (1932) Low T 23* (1940) Precip 1.23 (1960) Snow trace (1965)	26 T Avgs: 69/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 14% Extremes: High T 95 (1956) Low T 18 (1955) Precip 1.51 (1929) Snow 1.0 (2001)	27 T Avgs: 70/40 Sig Prcp Freq: 16% Extremes: High T 103 (1971) Low T 15 (1931) Precip 1.80 (1929) Snow 2.0 (1931)	28 T Avgs: 72/42 Sig Prcp Freq: 22% Extremes: High T 100 (1971) Low T 20* (1931) Precip 1.40 (1938) Snow 6.0 (1937)	29 T Avgs: 69/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 96 (1967) Low T 14 (1944) Precip 1.10 (1926) Snow 3.0 (1944)
30 T Avgs: 69/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 91* (1917) Low T 21 (1987) Precip 1.41 (1993) Snow 2.0 (1926)	31 T Avgs: 72/41 Sig Prcp Freq: 11% Extremes: High T 97* (1940) Low T 24 (1926) Precip 0.95 (1916)