Jackson, Miss. forecast office Warning Coordination Meteorologist Stephen Wilkinson addresses the media at the start of Severe Weather Awareness Week (Photo: WFO Jackson, Miss.)
(Feb. 26, 2010) - National Weather Service forecast offices in Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee have been participating in a range of Severe Weather Awareness Week (Feb. 22-27) activities and information campaigns designed to help citizens prepare for and respond to severe weather events.
The forecast office in Jackson, Miss. launched its awareness week activities with a news conference co-hosted by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The goal was to encourage schools and businesses to practice their severe weather plans to be sure they work properly when needed in response to hazardous weather conditions.
Typically, Severe Weather Awareness Week topics include preparedness and safety information for thunderstorm, lightning, flooding and tornado events as well as the use of NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards. Working in cooperation with state and local emergency management agencies, the offices also conduct statewide tornado safety drills.
Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Oklahoma all share a long history of strong and violent severe weather and tornado events that typically occur during the spring months of March, April and May.
Once a tornado approaches, or flooding develops, it is too late to start working on a preparedness plan. When severe weather develops, and warnings are issued, citizens must take immediate action to protect themselves and their families. So how does one prepare for severe weather? For a severe weather preparedness plan to be successful,it must include the following:
- Knowledge of terminology such as watches and warnings
- Knowledge of safety rules to follow when severe weather strikes
- A reliable method of receiving emergency information
- Designation of an appropriate shelter
- Drills to test the preparedness plan
Jackson, Miss. forecast office Warning Coordination Meteorologist Stephen Wilkinson addresses the media at the start of Severe Weather Awareness Week (Photo: WFO Jackson, Miss.)
