Warm Temps Usher in Uncertain Weather: Plan, Prepare and Stay Informed for Severe Weather

Spring is a time for renewal – a time to end the winter blues and usher in warm weather. With the end of winter comes the uncertainty of spring weather…storms, lightning, tornadoes. That’s why March 1-7 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week; to ensure North Carolinians have safety plans for home, work and school.

Alamance County puts safety first when it creates its emergency plans, so residents and emergency personnel can respond quickly when tornadoes or severe storms threaten. Government agencies, businesses and schools are invited to participate in the annual statewide tornado drill Wednesday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m. All local agencies and county schools are encouraged to practice safety techniques that remind people and students to know where to go and what to do when severe weather strikes.

It is critical to know what to do at work, school and home. Use the tips below to be ready at home for severe weather.

  1.     Discuss family emergency plans and where to go if tornadoes or severe thunderstorms threaten. (A basement is the best option. Or, go to the lowest floor of the house to an interior room with no windows, such as a hallway, pantry or closet.)
  2. Put together an emergency supply kit and keep it in a location that is easy to access during an emergency.
  3. Have tornado drills at home. While peak tornado season is in the spring, North Carolina has had tornadoes as early as January and as late as November.
  4. Keep NOAA weather radios turned on when there are threats of severe weather in your area.

More information on tornadoes and overall emergency preparedness can be found at www.ReadyNC.org. Alamance County emergency officials also urge residents to get the free ReadyNC mobile app, which provides real-time weather and traffic conditions for all parts of North Carolina.

Take time now to get ready. Those residents who have plans and supplies in place fare far better during any emergency than those who do not.

Visit www.alamance-nc.com/firemarshal/get-alerts to register for Alamance County Emergency Notifications!