Sunday began Maryland Severe Storms Awareness Week, as dubbed by
the National Weather Service and Maryland Emergency Management
Agency. Each weekday focuses on a different threat – flooding,
damaging winds, tornadoes, hail and lightning. Tornadoes struck
Maryland 27 times last year, for example. With the severe
weather seen across the nation recently, it can’t hurt to
prepare. Here are some tips the agencies offer for each type of
weather threat: Flooding: Never pass through an area of road
where floodwaters are so deep you can't see the pavement.
Damaging winds: They can come from any severe thunderstorm in
the form of microbursts, so stay away from windows and remain in
a sturdy shelter during strong storms. Tornadoes: Remain on the
lowest floor of a house or other building, and in an interior
room away from windows. Mobile homes aren't a safe tornado
shelter. Hail: The larger the hail, the more dangerous the
storm, so seek shelter if you see any, however small or large.
Lightning: More than 98 percent of l