MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — Emergency Managers across the state are encouraging residents to spend time going over their severe weather plans and survival kits as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week from April 4th through the 8th.
Lincoln County Emergency Manager September Murphy says taking a few minutes to review plans for both your home and place of work can save you a lot of trouble when severe weather strikes. “Take the time to practice and go over your tornado shelter location; whether at home, work, or school,” said Murphy. “A lot of times our day location and night location are different.”
Murphy notes that Wisconsin typically sees about 23 tornadoes each year. Last year brought more than 40 confirmed touchdowns, including a handful along a line from Clark County to the Eau Claire area and north during a Derecho in mid-December. She says that shows the need to be weather aware year-round. “It can occur at any time of the year. It’s said we’ve had a tornado in Wisconsin for every month of the year except February. [To me,] that means February is due at some point in time.
“Really be prepared for it because anything can happen,” she adds.
Murphy says take time during the week to do at least one thing to prepare yourself for severe weather. That could mean replacing old batteries in flashlights, keeping an old pair of shoes near your tornado shelter in your home, or conducting an emergency drill. She says updating your survival kit to reflect modern communication is also important.
“Technology has really changed our mindset about what keeps us connected and what kind of information we store. A lot of times our [important] documents are on our phones. Having those backup plans like keeping an extra [charging] cord in your car so you can drive around and be able to charge your phone or I personally have a hand-cranked radio at home so I can listen to the news updates while charging my phone,” said Murphy.
There will be no statewide tornado drill this year. Though some municipalities may conduct their own testing of emergency sirens at some point during the week. Murphy says to check with your local emergency management department to see if they will conduct tests.
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