Spring is quickly approaching, and so is the potential for severe weather. March 3-9 is Severe Weather Peparedness Week in North Carolina. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes can develop at a moment’s notice. Take time now to prepare and keep you and your loved ones safe.
Make an emergency plan and practice it routinely with other household members, staff and employees. The plan should include details about where to meet, how to get in touch with one another, evacuation plans, what to do with pets and how to notify employees after an emergency.
Put together an emergency supplies kit, which contains a three-day supply of items needed for survival regardless of the emergency. If you have pets, put together an emergency supplies kit for your pets too. Keep your kits in a location that is easy to access.
Stay alert by listening to weather radios that broadcast alerts from the National Weather Service. Enroll in Granville County’s free emergency notification system, CodeRED, or log in to your existing account and choose Weather Warning to receive tornado, flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
Use the following safety tips:
- Know the terms: WATCH means a tornado is possible. WARNING means a tornado has been spotted; take shelter immediately.
- Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room where there are no windows, and go there immediately if you hear or see a tornado.
- If driving, you should leave your vehicle immediately to seek safety in an adequate structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle, and do not stop under an overpass or a bridge.
- If you are outdoors and there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area. Watch out for flying debris.
As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, the annual statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 at 9:30 a.m. The National Weather Service (NWS) will broadcast the drill over NOAA weather radio stations and the Emergency Alert System.
(Information courtesy of Granville County Emergency Services.)