Lexington Emergency Management Public Information Officer John Bobel said a massive tornado outbreak in December may not be expected, but no month can be labeled storm free. Bobel noted even meteorologists seemed surprised by the high temperature readings just prior to tornadoes traveling through western Kentucky. “One of the things that is an indicator of potential severe weather are these extreme differences in temperatures. It can be 80 degrees in Memphis, and you can go 40 or 50 miles and the temperature could be 40 or 50,” said Bobel.
Bobel said cell phones should be enabled to receive weather alerts. He admitted wireless service can also go down in a tornadic event. “You’re not going to get any of them because your cell phone doesn’t have any service, or the battery may be dead. That’s why we emphasize that a NOAA weather radio is likely the most important appliance in a home today,” said Bobel.
The emergency management official said there’s no such thing as a safe mobile home in severe weather. Bobel added some areas in Oklahoma find underground storm shelters built as part of housing construction.
