Spring is upon us, and with that comes the threat of severe weather.
We are in the midst of the National Weather Service's 'Severe Weather Awareness Week' which aims to inform people on how to stay safe during a storm.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Van DeWald tells NewsRadio 1110 KFAB you should always have a plan in place for when severe weather strikes. "We do recommend some type of an emergency survival kit that would include water, food, batteries, flashlights and radio that you can get information with."
DeWald says that knowing what to do before, during, and after severe weather increases your chances of survival.
The best plan of action is to get indoors to an interior room with no windows, preferably in the basement.
Along with your emergency kit it is a good idea to have extra clothes, shoes and gloves on hand in case you need to sift through rubble in the aftermath.
DeWald says if you are out driving try to seek shelter at a nearby business, such as a gas station, but if you cannot find shelter don't stay in your car. "The actual worst case scenario would be that you would have to abandon your vehicle and then seek shelter in whatever low-lying area you can find. Somebody may not want to do that but if it means potentially saving your life, I think I would definitely make that choice."
He stressed that if you are driving when a tornado strikes, do not go under a bridge or overpass as wind speeds are intensified in those areas.
A perfect time to test out your severe weather plan will be Wednesday, March 29th at 10:00 AM when the National Weather Service conducts a statewide tornado drill.
More information about tornado safety can be found at the National Weather Service's website here.
Severe Weather Preparedness Checklist:
- Water
- Non-perishable food
- Batteries
- Flashlights
- Radio or Weather Radio
- First aid kit
- Cell Phone
- Charger
- Blankets
- Extra Clothes and Shoes
- Gloves
- Pet food (If you have pets sheltering with you)