This year, North Carolina’s Severe Weather Awareness Week is March 2-8.

By October 31, 2007, in addition to the 11 confirmed tornadoes in North Carolina last year, the National Weather Service recorded more than 449 incidents of severe thunderstorms that had winds of 60 miles per hour and/or large hail and they issued 45 flood warnings.

This year has already shaped up to be an extremely active year for severe weather.  On March 4, 2008, Alamance County may have experienced its first tornado touchdown in several years, and nationally, tornado activity is already up for 2008.  Being prepared is a key to survival of and recovery from severe weather events.

You can find information on severe weather preparedness by going to one of the following sites:

Alamance County Emergency Management
Ready NC
www.nccrimecontrol.org/severeweather
http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_79_,00.html
http://www.fema.gov/hazards/