(Spirit Lake)—With temperatures averaging 15 to 20 degrees below normal, it seems like any threat of severe weather would still be a long way away. But it is just a matter of weeks before the severe weather season actually gets underway. And to help us prepare, the National Weather Service and emergency management officials have designated this week as severe weather awareness week in the state of Iowa. Dickinson County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Ehret…(click here for comment.) “It’s a transition time of year…we’re coming out of winter and going into spring. We need to get people thinking about severe weather season again. And that’s the purpose of the week, overall, get people thinking about what they’re going to do when those first storms roll in from the west and where they’re going to go if the sirens sound and all that, so it’s just that time of year again to get people aware that severe weather season is coming again.”
Ehret says the number one message they want to get out this week is for people to stay up to date and no where to go and what to do when severe weather threatens…(click here for comment.) “Have a way to get the information in the first place, know what the forecast is. You know if they’re talking about storms have an ear to the radio or an eye to the t.v. when those watches or warnings start coming out. Secondly know where you’re going to go to shelter. Whether your in school, at home or at work. If you’re camping find out where the shelter is for the campground or where you’re supposed to go. Knowing those things in advance will save you a lot of time. When the sirens are sounding and the winds are picking up, that’s not the time to be scrambling and wondering where you’re supposed to go. So know that stuff ahead of time and you’ll be much better off.”
And to help prepare, Ehret says there will once again be a statewide tornado drill this Wednesday…(click here for comment.) “Around 10:00 a.m. we’re going to sound the sirens that morning when that test drill or warning comes out. They’ll sound for the full two to three minutes, which is more than our usual tests, so just be aware of that. That’s an excellent time for everyone to practice their severe weather safety plans.”
Once again this year, KUOO and Dickinson County Emergency Management are giving away weather radios, one per day, beginning today and continuing through Friday in observance of Severe Weather Awareness Week. We’ll be playing severe weather trivia. Be listening for a severe weather fact that I’ll give during our 12:15 p.m. weathercast. Then be listening for the question pertaining to that fact during our 5:15 p.m. weathercast. The first person that calls in with the correct answer will be the winner.
