After the Storms: Statewide Tornado Drill Today

The annual campaign is to help educate people on the dangers associated with severe weather, which Kansas gets plenty of in the spring as well as promoting storm season preparedness. A gust of 62 miles per hour was reported in Pierz, in central Minnesota, the weather service said. Most often, the emergency telecommunicators responsible for activating the system rely on teletypes from the National Weather Service and local television and radio weather reports for information regarding storm conditions.

In 2016 there were 102 tornadoes in Kansas, which is 40 above the average. Flash flooding occurs after large downpours of rain. They can be as destructive at midday as they can at midnight; indeed, most of last week’s damaging tornadoes struck in the early evening. Tuesday night a tornado damaged the roof of Coulson’s home, from which daylight can now be seen from inside the house, destroyed the family’s barn, knocked down trees and damaged vehicles.

“We do really need to think about our personal safety”, Miller said.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 10 p.m.in Shawnee County. “If you have a safe room you go to, make sure you have a flashlight and a whistle”. Safety is number one and you don’t want to endanger yourself or others by going unprepared.

Stanly County Emergency Management officials recommend having a family emergency plan in place so all members know where to go, who to call and what to do during a disaster.

“Then practice it, ‘ said Morgan”.

If 10 a.m.is not convenient, participants are encouraged to pick a different time to exercise their plans. A tornado was also reported in Clarks Grove in southern Minnesota.

“These are the first thunderstorm warnings in this area for this year so far”, Grochocinski said. Many recent severe weather events also included little notice. “That’s not the wisest thing to do”. GOHSEP will be using social media to share important information from the NWS Shreveport, NWS Lake Charles, NWS Jackson and the NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge during Severe Weather Awareness Week. “Don’t tune it out; stay tuned”.