Soaring temperatures, summer storms, and drought conditions can all contribute to extreme weather. Extreme weather poses serious health risks, causing illnesses, injuries and sometimes death.

Hurricanes

• June 1, is the start of the hurricane season and experts at the National Hurricane Center are predicting that the Atlantic Hurricane Season will produce an above average number of storms this year.
• If you´re under a hurricane watch or warning, take important steps to prepare for the storm:
  • Learn about your community´s emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and emergency shelters;
  • Make plans to protect people with special needs, older adults and pets;
  • Stock your home and vehicle with emergency supplies, including medications;
  • Secure or protect potential home hazards, such as utilities; and
  • Stay tuned to your radio or television and listen to local authorities.

Extreme Heat

• People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to properly cool themselves. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. Older adults, young children, and persons with chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible to these illnesses and are at high risk for heat-related death.
• Temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks are defined as extreme heat. When temperatures are extremely high, take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones:
  • Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level.
  • Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If you do not have air conditioning, visit a shopping mall or public library for a few hours or call your local health department to find any heat-relief shelters in your area.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
  • NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
  • Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Wildfires

• Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.
• If wildfires are burning in your area, or if winds blow wildfire smoke into your area, limit your exposure to the smoke. Take simple precautions to protect your health:
  • Listen for advice from local authorities and follow their instructions.
  • Limit indoor air pollution--avoid burning candles, using gas stoves or vacuuming.
  • Do not rely solely on face masks. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke.
  • If you have asthma or other lung conditions, follow your respiratory management plan.
  • See a doctor if you have a hard time breathing.

The effects of rising temperatures and extreme heat result in numerous illnesses and deaths each year.

For many people, warm weather is a time for fun-filled outdoor activities. However, hot weather and outdoor activities don’t always mix well, especially during periods of extreme heat— times when temperatures are substantially hotter and/or more humid than average for a location and date.

Extreme heat can cause people to suffer from heat-related illness, and even death. People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to properly cool themselves. Older adults, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions are at high risk for heat-related illness and death. More than 700 people die from extreme heat every year in the United States.

Warmer temperatures can mean higher ozone levels. Pay attention to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index when planning outdoor summer activities, especially if you have asthma or another lung disease.

Track extreme heat in your area. The CDC Heat & Health Tracker provides local heat and health information so communities can better prepare for and respond to extreme heat events. You can use it to explore how extreme heat affects your county, populations that are at risk, and resources for response.

When temperatures are extremely high, take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
  • Pace yourself.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Never leave children or pets in cars.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.

Did you know that the initial damage caused by a flood should not be your only concern? Standing flood waters can also spread infectious diseases, contain chemical hazards, and cause injuries. Each year, flooding causes more deaths than any other hazard related to thunderstorms. The most common flood deaths occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood waters. Fortunately, you can take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your home.

During a Flood Watch or Warning

• Gather emergency supplies.
• Listen to your local radio or television station for updates.
• Fill bathtubs, sinks, gallon jars, or plastic soda bottles so that you will have a supply of clean water.
  • Sanitize sinks/tubs first by cleaning them using diluted household laundry bleach. Then rinse and fill with clean water.
• Bring in outdoor possessions (lawn furniture, grills, trash cans) or tie them down securely.
• If you need to evacuate, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve.
• Evacuate areas that are subject to flooding: low spots, canyons, washes, etc.
• Make sure your immunization records are handy and stored in a waterproof container.

After Flooding Has Occurred

• Do not drink flood water, or use it to wash dishes, brush teeth, or wash/prepare food. Drink clean, safe water.
• If you evacuated: return to your home only after local authorities have said it is safe to do so.
• Listen to water advisories from local authorities to find out if your water is safe for drinking and bathing.
  • During a water advisory, use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, etc.
• Avoid driving through flooded areas and standing water. As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Use generators and pressure washers outside, at least 20 feet from any doors, windows and vents.

After you return home, if you find that your home was flooded, practice safe cleaning.

• When in doubt, throw it out! Throw away any food and bottled water that comes/may have come in contact with flood water or that was not refrigerated for more than two hours.
• Remove and throw out drywall and insulation that was contaminated with flood water or sewage.
• Do not use items that cannot be washed and cleaned with bleach: mattresses, pillows, carpeting, carpet padding, and stuffed toys.
• Use diluted household laundry bleach to clean dirt and mold off of items like floors, stoves, sinks, countertops, plates, and tools.
• Dilute bleach to the proper concentration according to these charts.

Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed. See recommendations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to be prepared for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year. It’s always important to be prepared for a hurricane.

Preparing for a Hurricane

Follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Prepare for a hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Get emergency supplies: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Prepare to evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• Protect older adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protect your pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after a hurricane.

CDC recommends that you print important documents (e.g., emergency phone numbers, insurance information) before a hurricane strikes. Power outages during and after a hurricane can prevent you from accessing information online when you most need it.

Preparing now can help keep you and your family safe.

Staying Safe After a Hurricane

In addition to preparing for a hurricane, it’s important to take steps to stay safe after a hurricane is over, for example:

• Avoid flooded areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones during a thunderstorm. Being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever.

The weather forecast calls for a slight chance of thunderstorms, but you can only see a few fluffy white clouds overhead. So, you and your tennis partner grab your racquets and balls and head for the tennis court. You spend a few minutes warming up and then—wait! Is that thunder you hear? Was that a lightning flash?

What do you do? Keep playing until the thunder and lightning get closer? Go sit on the metal bench under the trees to see what happens? Or get in your car and drive home?

Correct answer: If no substantial, non-concrete shelter is nearby, get in your car and wait out the storm.

Why? Because being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever.

Risks of Lightning Strikes

Although the odds of being struck by lightning each year are less than 1 in a million, some factors can put you at greater risk. Lightning most often strikes people who work outside or engage in outdoor recreational activities. Regional and seasonal differences can also affect your risk of being injured by lightning.

In 2021, Florida had the most lightning deaths. Florida is considered the “lightning capital” of the country, with more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years.

The consequences of lightning strikes are serious. From 2006 through 2021, lightning caused an average of 28 deaths per year in the United States.

Protect Yourself from Lightning Strikes

Safety precautions outdoors

You can protect yourself from risk even if you are caught outdoors when lightning is close by.

• If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity.
• Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter. Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up.
• If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find adequate shelter. The most important action is to remove yourself from danger. Crouching or getting low to the ground can reduce your chances of being struck but does not remove you from danger. If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, the following actions may reduce your risk:
  • Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
  • Never lie flat on the ground. Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground.
  • Never shelter under an isolated tree.
  • Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
  • Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
  • Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (such as barbed wire fences, power lines, or windmills).
• If you are in a group during a thunderstorm, separate from each other. This will reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.
• If you are out in the open water and a storm rolls in, return to shore immediately.
• Avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts.
• Avoid open structures such as porches, gazebos, baseball dugouts, and sports arenas. These structures won’t protect you from lightning.
• Stay away from open spaces such as golf courses, parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches. Seek shelter immediately.
• Stay away from tall structures, such as telephone poles and trees; lightning tends to strike the tallest object around.

Safety precautions indoors

Being indoors does not automatically protect you from lightning. In fact, about one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Here are some tips to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning while indoors.

• Avoid contact with water during a thunderstorm. Do NOT bathe, shower, wash dishes, or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing.
• Avoid using electronic equipment of all types. Do NOT use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers, or stoves. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems.
• Avoid using corded phones. Corded phones are NOT safe to use during a thunderstorm. However, cordless or cellular phones are safe to use during a storm.
• Do NOT lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Lightning strikes may be rare, but they still happen, and the risk of serious injury or death is severe. Take thunderstorms seriously. Learn and follow the above safety rules to keep yourself safe from lightning.

In many parts of the country, summer has the worst air quality of any season. When the forecast says it’s a code red day for air quality, what does it mean for your health? If you’ve planned a picnic, a bike ride or even a walk with a friend, should you change your plans?

“The answer depends on a lot of factors. There’s no simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer for everyone,” says Dr. Darryl Zeldin, acting clinical director of environmental health sciences at NIH. He and other NIH-supported researchers have been studying how substances in the air can affect health. Knowing more about air quality and air alerts will help you make smart decisions about spending time outside this summer.

The combination of high temperatures, few winds and breezes, pollution and airborne particles can brew up an unhealthful mixture in the air, just waiting to enter your lungs. These substances can make it hard to breathe and can sap your energy. If the air quality is especially poor, it may take a few days for your body to recover. And if you’re regularly exposed to high levels of unhealthy air, the health consequences can linger for months or even years.

One of the most-studied pollutants in summertime air is an invisible gas called ozone. It’s created when sunlight triggers a chemical reaction between oxygen-containing molecules and pollution that comes from cars, power plants, factories and other sources.

“Ozone is produced only when you have sunlight and high temperatures or stagnant air, which is why ozone is generally not a problem in the winter,” says Dr. Frank Gilliland, an expert in environmental health at the University of Southern California. “High levels of ozone reduce lung function and lead to inflammation, or swelling, in the airways. When the levels are high enough, you can get symptoms like coughing or throat irritation. Your eyes might water. Your chest might hurt when you breathe.”

Ozone is a highly reactive molecule that can irritate the lining of your airways and lungs. If you have a lung condition like asthma , the damage can be more harmful. “When people with poorly controlled asthma are exposed to just a little bit of ozone, the amount of inflammation in the lungs goes way up, and the airways become more twitchy,” says Zeldin. “As a result, air passages narrow, which makes it harder to breathe.”

Ozone’s effects can come on quickly and linger or even worsen with time. “When people hear it’ll be a bad air day, most expect their breathing will be affected that day. But in fact, they often feel the effects most strongly the next day or the day after,” says Dr. David Peden, an environmental medicine researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “This is especially true for people with asthma. When there’s a bump in ozone levels, asthma usually gets worse or out of control a day or 2 after exposure. We often see an increase in emergency room visits, hospitalizations and use of asthma ‘rescue’ medications.”

Researchers have also been studying particulates—the fine and coarse particles that spew from things that burn fuel, like cars, power plants and wildfires. Particulates, unlike ozone, can cause health problems year-round. Like ozone, particulates have been linked to a worsening of lung problems, especially asthma. Particulates and ozone also are associated with increased cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart attack.

Studies by Gilliland and his colleagues have found that children living near busy roadways—surrounded by particulate air pollution—are more likely to develop asthma and other breathing disorders. “We’ve found it can affect lung development substantially in children,” Gilliland says. “We also found that particulate pollution can affect the development of atherosclerosis in adults, and it’s associated with cognitive decline in the elderly.”

Several NIH-funded research teams have found that genes may affect your response to air pollution. At least one gene seems to protect against the harmful effects of ozone. Unfortunately, up to 40% of the population lacks a working copy of this helpful gene, so they’re more susceptible to ozone damage. “About 24 hours after exposure to ozone, these people have much more inflammation in the airways compared to those who have a working copy of the gene,” says Peden. Researchers are now looking for ways to protect these susceptible people from the damage caused by ozone.

Fortunately, air quality monitors have been set up at over a thousand locations across the country to measure the levels of major pollutants. These daily and sometimes hourly measurements are widely reported in newspapers and on TV, radio and the Web. To help make sense of the data, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a tool called the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI can tell you how clean or polluted the air is in your area so you can make informed decisions about the best way to protect your health.

The AQI assesses different types of air pollution, including ozone, particulates and sulfur dioxide. Depending on the levels, each pollutant is assigned a color-coded AQI category ranging from 0, which is green or “good,” up to 300, which is purple or “very unhealthy.” Usually the pollutant with the highest levels is reported as the AQI value for that day.

In general, any time the AQI is forecast to hit above 100—that means code orange, red or purple—consider adjusting your activities to reduce exposure to air pollution. “On orange days you should limit prolonged outdoor activities if you have an underlying lung condition like asthma or are in a sensitive group, including children and older adults,” says Zeldin. “On red alert days you should avoid being active outdoors during peak ozone hours, even if you’re in pretty good health. If you can, put off mowing the yard or going for a run until later in the evening—or even go first thing in the morning before sunrise and all the traffic starts.” Ozone levels tend to peak between mid-afternoon and early evening.

If you want to exercise outside on days when you’re at risk, consider reducing the time and intensity of your workout. If you usually jog for 45 minutes, try walking for a half-hour instead. Avoid jogging or biking on roads with heavy traffic. Of course, the best way to reduce exposure to outdoor air is to exercise indoors, at home or in a gym.

If you plan to be outside, track air quality in your area by checking newspapers, listening to the radio or visiting online sites like www.airnow.gov. If you have asthma or other lung conditions, you need to be extra cautious when air quality is poor.

AQI and Your Health

Each category represents a different level of health concern:

• Green (Good). Air pollution poses little or no risk.
• Yellow (Moderate). A moderate health concern for a very small number of people.
• Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Most people are unlikely to be affected, but older adults and children are at increased risk. People with lung disease are at a greater risk when ozone reaches this level. Those with heart and lung disease are at increased risk when particulates reach this level.
• Red (Unhealthy). Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects. Sensitive groups may have more serious effects.
• Purple (Very Unhealthy). This category triggers a health alert, meaning everyone may have more serious health effects.

Adapted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Definitions/Overview

What is a rip current? Do rip currents pull people underwater? Rip currents are currents of water flowing away from the shore at surf beaches. They typically extend from near the shoreline, through the surf zone and past the line of breaking waves. The surf zone is the area between the high tide level on the beach to the seaward side of breaking waves.

What is undertow? There is disagreement among coastal scientists on the existence of a nearshore process called undertow, and hence there is not an agreed on definition for this word. Undertow is a term often and incorrectly used for rip currents. The best explanation for what many people attribute to undertow is as follows: After a wave breaks and runs up the beach, most of the water flows seaward; this "backwash" of water can trip waders, move them seaward, and make them susceptible to immersion from the next incoming wave; however, there is no surf zone force that pulls people under the water.

Why do some people use terms like runouts and rip tides when you are calling them rip currents? These terms, though once commonly used in certain regions, are now considered incorrect. The National Weather Service, Sea Grant, and the USLA are working together to use consistent terminology to provide a clear rip current safety message to the public.

What happens to people caught in a rip current? People get in trouble when they are moved so far offshore that they are unable to get back to the beach because of fear, panic, exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills.

Are all rip currents dangerous? Rip currents are present on many beaches every day of the year, but they are usually too slow to be dangerous to beachgoers. Certain wave, tide and beach shape conditions can increase rip currents to dangerous speeds.

How do rip currents form? Rip currents are formed when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. One of the ways that this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow jet of water moving swiftly away from shore, roughly perpendicular to the shoreline.

How big are rip currents? Rip currents can be as narrow as 10 or 20 feet in width though some may be up to 10 times wider. The length of the rip current also varies. Rip currents begin to slow down as they move offshore, beyond the breaking waves, but sometimes extend for hundreds of feet beyond the surf zone.

How fast are rip currents? Rip current speeds can vary. Sometimes they are too slow to be considered dangerous. However, under certain wave, tide and beach conditions the speeds can quickly become dangerous. Rip currents have been measured to exceed 5 mph, slower than you can run but faster than you or even an Olympic swimmer can swim. In some cases they have been measured as fast as 8 feet per second. This is faster than the speed at which an Olympic swimmer can swim a 50-meter sprint. Under most tide and sea conditions rip currents are relatively slow. However, under certain wave, tide, and beach profile conditions the speeds can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf. The strength and speed of a rip current will likely increase as wave height and wave period increase.

Where should I look for rip currents?

Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico. Rip current can be difficult for the average beachgoer to identify. Look for differences in the water color, water motion, incoming wave shape or breaking point compared to adjacent conditions. Look for any of these clues:

• Channel of churning, choppy water
• Area having a notable difference in water color
• Line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward
• Break in the incoming wave pattern
• One, all or none of these clues may be visible.

Forecasting

What is the Surf Zone and Surf Zone Forecast?

• The Surf Zone is the area between the high tide level on the beach to the seaward side of the breaking waves.
• The Surf Zone Forecast provides lifesaving information on beach hazards. This forecast typically describes the following parameters and hazards: Sky condition, precipitation, visibility, air temperature, wind speed and direction, wave height, surf temperature, tide information, rip currents, lightning, severe thunderstorms, and the ultraviolet index.
• Most coastal NWS Forecast Offices issue a Surf Zone Forecast from Memorial through Labor Day or longer to reflect the swim season.
• The Surf Zone Forecast product is available through the NWS Family of Services, NOAA Weather Wire Service, the Emergency Manager's Weather Information Network. It is also available over NOAA Weather Radio.

What is the Rip Current Outlook? The Rip Current Outlook is a forecast of expected rip current conditions. The colored flags posted on surf beaches are the purview of the local beach patrol, lifeguards, or local law enforcement officials. These colored flags refer to one of any number of surf zone hazards. The colored flags reflect actual, current surf zone hazards. The Rip Current Outlook portion of the Surf Zone Forecast provides standardized terminology for describing this hazard.

• Low Risk means it is safe to swim near a lifeguard, however, life threatening rip currents still may occur near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Know how to swim and heed the advice of the beach patrol/lifeguards.
• Moderate Risk means life threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone. Only experienced surf swimmers should enter the water.
• High Risk means life threatening rip currents are likely in the surf zone. Rip Currents are life-threatening to anyone entering the surf, even Olympic level swimmers.

Does the NWS issue Rip Current Advisories or Rip Current Warnings? The NWS does not issue Rip Current Advisories or Warnings. That action is the responsibility of the local beach patrol, local lifeguards, or local law enforcement officials.

Why have I seen days when there was a moderate rip current risk and the ocean looked almost flat? Long period swells sometimes result in minimal wave action where the ocean surface is hardly perturbed, yet there is a greater than normal transport of wave energy into the surf zone which may result in an elevated rip current risk.

Why don't you issue outlooks during the winter because strong rip currents certainly exist? Rip Current Outlooks are issued during the swimming season, defined by the local National Weather Service Office. In the mid/northern latitudes, the waters are simply too cold for most swimmers during the winter.

On the Beach

Is there a connection between the Rip Current Outlook and the colored flags I see on the beaches? The Rip Current Outlook is a forecast of expected rip current conditions. The colored flags posted on surf beaches are posted by local beach patrol, lifeguards, or local law enforcement officials. These colored flags refer to one of any number of surf zone hazards. The colored flags reflect actual, current surf zone hazards.

When I go out surfing in strong onshore wind events, you mention that there is a high rip current risk. Why can't I find these rip currents so they can help pull me through the choppy surf? Sometimes the amount of water crashing into the surf zone can overwhelm many of the seaward flowing currents in the near shore ocean circulation. Very strong rip currents can still occur in these conditions, but they might be more widely spaced along the coast and hence more difficult to locate.

How can people avoid rip current problems? Take the following steps:

• Before you leave for the beach, check the latest National Weather Service surf forecast.
• Learn to swim in surf and never swim alone. It's not the same as a pool or lake.
• Swim near a lifeguard.
• Look for posted signs and warning flags, which may indicate higher than usual hazards.
• Check with lifeguards before swimming and follow lifeguard instructions.
• Be cautious. Always assume rip currents are present even if you don't see them. If in doubt, don't go out!

How do lifeguards make a difference? Lifeguards are trained to: recognize rip currents, inform the public about rip currents, and rescue people caught in rip currents. The chance of drowning at a beach protected by lifeguards affiliated with USLA is 1 in 18 million.

What can people do if caught in a rip current? See our surviving the rip section.

How can people assist others who are caught in a rip current? You can help someone caught in a rip current by:

• Alert the lifeguard. If no lifeguard is available, call 9-1-1.
• Throw the rip current victim something that floats, a life jacket, cooler, beach ball, float, etc.
• Yell to the victim to swim parallel to the shore line until they escape the pull.
• Many would be rescuers have drowned trying to help others. Don't become a victim while trying to help someone else! Call for help.

Safety and Preparedness

What role does the media play with this rip current education program? The media is an important partner in the dissemination of our Rip Current Outlooks. We're hoping more coastal television and radio stations will report the Rip Current Outlook in their weather broadcasts each day. The media will play a valuable role in increasing the public's rip current awareness, just as they have in NWS safety campaigns for other weather hazards, such as lightning.

What are the rip current outreach efforts underway by local NWS Forecast Offices? The Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at each office is a primary link between the WFO and the community. Many WCMs work with local lifeguards, Chambers of Commerce, local governments, and community groups to establish those partnerships critical to a successful rip current education program, which must include local scientists from Sea Grant universities, rip current outlooks from the NWS, and the protection and warnings provided by lifeguards to beach goers.

How does Sea Grant outreach work? The national network of Sea Grant Colleges and institutional programs is committed to the transfer of research results to government agencies, to coastal communities and to the public. Over the past 25 years, many Sea Grant programs have worked hard to increase public awareness of rip currents through the use of beach and boardwalk signs, brochures, videos, seminars, and web sites. These outreach efforts are designed to help local residents and visitors familiarize themselves with rip currents, avoid these dangerous coastal hazards, and understand how to swim out of a rip current.

There is no such thing as guaranteed safety inside a tornado. Freak accidents happen; and the most violent tornadoes can level and blow away almost any house and its occupants. Extremely violent EF5 tornadoes are very rare, though. Even violent tornadoes have a survival rate of at least 99%. Most tornadoes are actually much weaker, and can be survived using these safety ideas:

Prevention and practice before the storm: At home, have a family tornado plan in place, based on the kind of dwelling you live in and the safety tips below. Knowwhere you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Have a pre-determined placeto meet after a disaster. Flying debris is the greatest danger in tornadoes; so store protective coverings (e.g., mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc) in or next to your shelter space, ready to use on a few seconds'notice. When a tornado watch is issued, think about the drill and check to make sure all yoursafety supplies are handy. Turn on local TV, radio or NOAA Weather Radio and stay alert for warnings. Forget about the old notion of opening windows to equalize pressure; the tornado will blast open the windows for you!If you shop frequently at certain stores, learn where there are bathrooms, storage rooms or other interior shelter areas away from windows, and the shortest ways to get there.All administrators of schools, shoppingcenters, nursing homes, hospitals, sports arenas, stadiums,mobile home communities and offices should have a tornadosafety plan in place, with easy-to-read signs posted to direct everyone to a safe, nearby shelter area.Schools and office building managers should regularly runwell-coordinated drills.If you are planning to build a house, especially east of the Rockies,consider an underground tornado shelter oran interior "safe room".

Know the signs of a tornado: Weather forecasting science is not perfectand some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning. There is no substitute for staying alert to the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for:

1. Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.
2. Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base -- tornadoes sometimes have no funnel!
3. Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
4. Day or night - Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
5. Night - Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, maybe a tornado.
6. Night - Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning -- especially if it is visually in ground contact or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath.

WHAT TO DO...

In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or coveryourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.)and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you. Head protection, such as a helmet, can boost survivability also.

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowestfloor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possibleto the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. If you have a metal bath tub, that may offer a shell of partial protection, but not plastic or fiberglass ones, which are easily penetrated by projectiles. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourselfwith some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail. A helmet can offer some protection against head injury.

In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowlessarea in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usuallygood places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.

In a mobile or manufactured home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, it is not as safe as an underground shelter or permanent, sturdy building. Go to one of those shelters, or to a nearby permanent structure, using your tornado evacuation plan. Your plan could include staying with someone who is in a sturdy permanent structure, if a tornado threat is forecast. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. This mobile-home safety video from the State of Missouri may be useful in developing your plan.

At school: Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or windowless room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your headwith your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely risky in a tornado. There is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its pathby moving at right angles to the tornado. Seek shelter in a sturdy building, or underground if possible. If you are caught by extreme winds or flying debris, park the car as quickly and safely as possible -- out of the traffic lanes. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, or other cushion if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway,leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.

In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.

In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move asquickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.

In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly butorderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands.

AFTER THE TORNADO...

Keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive. Carefully render aid to those who are injured. Stay awayfrom power lines and puddles with wires in them; they may still be carrying electricity! Watch your step to avoid brokenglass, nails, and other sharp objects. Stay out of any heavily damaged houses or buildings; they could collapse at any time.Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby. Remain calm and alert, andlisten for information and instructions from emergency crews or local officials.

Dry conditions in much of the United States increase the potential for wildfires in or near wilderness areas. Stay alert for wildfire smoke. This smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.

Who is at greatest risk from wildfire smoke?

• People who have lung diseases like COPD or asthma, or heart disease, are at higher risk from wildfire smoke.

• Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke. This may be due to their increased risk of heart and lung diseases.

• Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke. Children’s airways are still developing, and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Also, children often spend more time outdoors engaged in activity and play.

• Expectant mothers may be more likely to be affected by smoke because of physical changes during pregnancy, like increased breathing rates. Expectant mothers affected by smoke may also be at risk for problems such as preterm birth and babies born with low birth weight.

Take steps to reduce your risk from wildfire smoke.

• Be prepared for wildfires.

• Check local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Find out if your community provides reports about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) or check the AirNow fire and smoke map. In addition, pay attention to public health messages about safety measures.

• Consult local visibility guides. Some communities have monitors that measure the amount of particles in the air. In the western United States, some states and communities have guidelines to help people determine if there are high levels of particulates in the air by how far they can see.

• Keep indoor air as clean as possible if you are advised to stay indoors. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent Stay alert for wildfire warnings. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, go to a designated shelter away from the affected area. Learn more about protecting yourself and your family from smoke during a wildfire.

• Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution. Burning candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves can increase indoor pollution. Vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home, contributing to indoor pollution. Smoking also puts even more pollution into the air.

• Prevent wildfires from starting. Prepare, build, maintain, and extinguish campfires safely. Follow local regulations if you burn trash or debris. Check with your local fire department to be sure the weather is safe enough for burning.

• Follow the advice of your doctor or other health care provider about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Consider evacuating if you are having trouble breathing. Call your doctor for advice if your symptoms worsen.

• If you are pregnant, continue with your prenatal care. Talk to your health care provider about where to get prenatal or delivery services if the office is closed. Know the signs of labor and early labor. If you have the signs, call your health care provider or 9-1-1, or go to the hospital right away if it is safe to travel.

• Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from the small particles found in wildfire smoke. Read more on choosing and using respirators to protect your lungs from smoke and ash.

• Evacuate from the path of wildfires. Listen to the news to learn about current evacuation orders. Follow the instructions of local officials about when and where to evacuate. Take only essential items with you. Follow designated evacuation routes–others may be blocked–and plan for heavy traffic.

• Protect yourself when cleaning up after a fire. Cleanup work can expose you to ash and other products of the fire that may irritate your eyes, nose, or skin and cause coughing and other health effects. Learn how to stay safe cleaning up after a wildfire.

It’s what we’ve waited for: Summer! Though the season brings longer, sunnier days, it also comes with life-threatening weather hazards such as extreme heat, rip currents, and thunderstorms and lightning.

1. Excessive heat. It's a killer. 

Heat is one of the most deadly weather hazards, so don’t underestimate it. Warm temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels — especially in parked cars. Get the latest forecast on weather.gov and make sure you know what to do if there’s a heat alert product issued for your area: 

• An Excessive Heat Warning means take action!
• An Excessive Heat Watch means be prepared.

Do you know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

2. Rip currents. Here's what one looks like:

Rip currents are so powerful that they can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from shore. If you are caught in a rip current, relax and try not to panic. Follow these tips to make it back to safety:

• Don’t swim against the current.
• If you are able, swim parallel to the current (following the shore) until you are out of the rip current, and then you can swim to shore/beach.
• If you can’t escape, float or tread water and yell or wave for assistance. Always swim at beaches where there are lifeguards.

3. Hurricanes and tropical storms. Have a plan before one hits home.

Many powerful hurricanes, such as Michael, Katrina, Andrew and Camille, were tropical storms just days before making landfall. Don’t wait until it’s too late — know your potential evacuation routes and have an emergency supply kit ready to go now. Also, have a family communication plan in place in the event of an evacuation.

4. Thunderstorms. Go indoors at the first sign.

Severe thunderstorms can produce dangerous lightning, hail and wind gusts that damage property and threaten lives. If you “See a flash, dash inside” and “When thunder roars, go indoors”: Always head indoors at the first sign of a thunderstorm, and stay away from windows. If there are no buildings nearby, get inside a vehicle to ride out the storm.