Severe Weather Awareness Week

Introduction

Tornadoes, damaging thunderstorm winds, large hail, and flash floods can occur at any time of the year. However, late winter and spring usually bring the greatest chance of these severe weather events occurring in Louisiana and Mississippi.

The week of February 19, 2023 has been designated as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Louisiana. The goal of these Severe Weather Awareness and Preparedness Weeks is to call attention to the threats posed by these weather hazards and to review severe weather safety rules in an attempt to reduce the loss of life and injury. Post-storm interviews with survivors of severe weather events prove that preventative safety measures greatly enhance the chance of survival.

Now is the time to develop a severe weather safety plan. A successful plan should include:

• Knowledge of terminology such as watches and warnings
• Knowledge of safety rules to follow when severe weather threatens
• A reliable method of receiving warnings and emergency information
• Review and testing of the plan.

Emergency managers, schools, government agencies, private businesses, and local citizens are encouraged to review their severe weather safety plans and conduct drills as appropriate.

For additional information on Mississippi Severe Weather Preparedness Week and Mississippi severe weather information visit http://www.weather.gov/jan/swpw

Our partners at the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) have additional hazardous weather and severe weather safety information.  Please visit their websites:

• Louisiana GOHSEP Get a Game Plan - http://www.getagameplan.org/
• Mississippi Emergency Management Agency - http://www.msema.org/

Important Information

There are many aspects to being prepared for severe weather, but first and foremost, KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!! No matter what you have in your severe weather plan, it will never be complete until you can pinpoint your location on a map. Take a few moments NOW to learn some local geography so you can be more prepared when severe weather  strikes. Don't just stop at your home location, learn surrounding parishes, counties, and communities. This extra bit of knowledge will help you determine if storms in other areas are heading your way.

Knowledge is power, a power that could SAVE YOUR LIFE!!

Weather Hazards & Safety

Severe weather comes in many forms in Louisiana and Mississippi. From tornadoes to flooding, we see it all. It's important to know the different weather hazards and some simple safety tips. Please review the graphics below to learn how to prepare and keep you and your family safe from each type of hazard. (Click on images for a larger view.)

Severe Weather Hazards	Damaging Winds	Hail	Before a Flood	During a Flood
After a Flood	Before a Tornado	During a Tornado	After a Tornado	Lightning Safety
Lightning Safety	Lightning Safety	Receiving Alerts	Wireless Alerts	After the Storm

NOAA Weather Radio and Wireless Emergency Alerts

NOAA Weather Radio is a vital communication link in your severe weather safety plan. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts continuous weather information. When severe weather watches and warnings are issued, most NOAA Weather Radios are automatically alerted and turned on so that you are alerted about a potential severe weather situation. Some receivers can be programmed specifically for the parish or county where you live.

In the southern United States...including the Gulf Coast states...tornadoes can occur at night. Unfortunately...nocturnal tornadoes have a much greater chance of causing fatalities and injuries as many people are asleep and not monitoring weather conditions or media to know if warnings have been issued. NOAA Weather Radios can be a life saving weather monitoring device during the overnight hours. The Weather Radio can be set in "stand-by" mode overnight and will automatically alarm and turn on if a severe weather watch or warning is issued. When a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch or Warning is issued, the weather radio will automatically alert and broadcast the warning.

 

Another way to receive weather warnings is from the Wireless Emergency Alert feature enabled on most cell phones. This warning dissemination avenue allows government agencies to send urgent critical messages directly to cell phones in an impacted area. Apps or additional software are not needed. While messages will look very similar to text messages when received, they include a special tone and vibration repeated twice. For additional information, on the Wireless Emergency Alert (WES) feature visit the NWS Weather Ready Nation web site: weather.gov/wrn/wea, and also your cell phone provider.