Be weather-aware! It’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week!

As we get closer to traditional severe weather season, Newstalk KZRG and The National Weather Service in Springfield are promoting Severe Weather Preparedness Week!

We are using March 3-7 to promote severe weather preparedness!

Monday is all about how you receive weather information. While listening to Newstalk KZRG and downloading the Zimmer Storm Center app are great ways to stay alert, you should have several ways of getting forecasts, watches and warnings.

David Holden, Joplin Emergency Management Director, encourages you to utilize a NOAA Weather Radio that provides a warning signal when the area is under a watch or a warning.

“The advantage of having a weather radio is that you hear the alerts directly from the National Weather Service and are kept current of the warning status. The phone apps also provide notifications and current information that is helpful during severe weather.”

Tuesday takes a look at the deadly power of lightning. Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills about 20 people in the US each year, and hundreds more are severely injured.

There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm. Just remember, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors. If you see a flash, make a dash! Too many people wait far too long to get to a safe place when thunderstorms approach. Unfortunately, these delayed actions lead to many of the lightning deaths and injuries.

Tornadoes will be the topic of Wednesday.

In the event of a tornado, here are some tornado safety rules to keep you and your family safe:

• In general, get as low as you can. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows at all cost!
• Tornadoes could be obscured by rainfall or come at nighttime. Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado, it may be too late.
• Do not waste time opening or closing windows and doors. It will not protect the structure. You will only waste time and put yourself and others in greater risk. Use those valuable seconds to find a place of safety.
• In homes or public buildings: go to the basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom or an interior hall on the lowest level. Close all doors to the hallway for greater protection. If possible, get under something sturdy like a heavy table. Protect yourself from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats, blankets or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets to protect your head.
• In mobile homes: leave well in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat, covering your head with your hands for protection.
• In vehicles or outdoors: when tornadoes are possible, limit your outdoor plans or finish them early. Stay close to a sturdy shelter. If caught outside, find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head for protection. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass, where wind speeds can increase due to a tunneling effect. It is best to not put yourself or others in a situation where no sturdy shelter is available.
• Remember, stay away from doors, windows, outside walls and protect your head!

On Wednesday at 11am, State Emergency Management and the National Weather Service will conduct a Statewide Severe Weather Tornado Drill. This drill is weather permitting, and there will not be a backup date. Joplin/Jasper County, Carthage & Webb City will move their March monthly regional outdoor warning siren test from the second Wednesday to March 5, to coincide with the statewide tornado drill on Wednesday.

Every school, citizen, and business are encouraged to participate in the drill.

Residents should treat the drill as if it were an actual Tornado Warning. The drill aims to test everyone’s readiness for life-threatening severe weather events such as tornadoes, flash floods, and damaging winds. Local officials are encouraged to sound warning sirens to initiate the drill.

For more details about Joplin’s storm sirens and sheltering tips, go to https://www.joplinmo.org/698/Basic-Sheltering-Rules

Thursday is all about wind and hail. Severe thunderstorms produce a variety of weather hazards including large hail and damaging straight line winds.

Severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph and large hail can be a threat to life and property. Damaging straight line winds are much more common than tornadoes and can be just as deadly.

Those caught outdoors during a severe thunderstorm are particularly vulnerable. Boaters and campers should be especially alert to the potential of severe storms. High winds associated with severe thunderstorms can strike suddenly. Winds in excess of 60 mph can easily capsize boats and put campers at risk due to falling trees.

Friday ends the week with tips to stay safe during flooding.

Typically, flooding results in more weather related fatalities than any other thunderstorm related hazard. Why? Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive across a flooded road.

One of the primary flood hazards and causes of flood related deaths is driving into and through low water crossings. Every year, a few adventurous drivers attempt to cross flooded roads and fail. Learn more about low water crossings.