Severe Weather Awareness
Severe weather and warm weather go hand-in-hand, so before the weather turns bad, you can take some important steps to protect your family when the time comes. The two most important steps are preparing an emergency plan (evacuation plan) and putting an emergency supply kit together.
Should severe weather hit, an emergency plan should be in place so you and your children will know where to go. For example, tell your children the safest place in the house to go during severe weather or a tornado. If your family is not together during this time, establish a place to meet, such as; the next door neighbor's house or the neighborhood grocery store.
When you will be in your home for an extended period of time, have a supply kit on hand. Items in the kit should include:
- adequate supply of water and non-perishable foods
- a first-aid kit
- tools and supplies such as; flashlight with batteries, cell phone, wrench, clothing and bedding
- a weather alert radio and extra batteries - a weather alert radio can be purchased at many department and hardware stores
For more information on preparing for severe weather, visit the FEMA website or the American Red Cross website.