Severe Weather Prep

Story By EMA Director Rita Smith

Weather conditions can occur rapidly, and severe weather can develop without a lot of notice. Severe weather could include thunderstorms, lightning, straight-line wind damage, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, as well as freezing temperatures and ice creating hazardous road conditions in colder months.

Statistically speaking, the state of Alabama has experienced an increase in tornado activity in the last 20 years. Lee County is all too familiar with the devastating tornadoes on March 3, 2019, that claimed 23 lives and left miles of destruction and debris in the aftermath. We must always remain weather aware as residents of Alabama.

Preparedness is a 24/7/365 personal responsibility and you must prepare yourself and your family for the reality of facing severe weather conditions at some point.

Preparing for severe weather long before it takes place can bring you peace of mind and save you a great deal of stress.

When thinking about how to prepare for severe weather think about your home and surroundings. Keeping trees and branches trimmed could protect your home from damage. When the forecast indicates that severe weather is a possibility, secure loose objects in your yard, porch and deck including trampolines, outside toys, patio furniture, grills and plants.

Putting these items away before a severe weather event can prevent damage and/or loss of these items. Even high winds can create issues with outside items being relocated or worse cause an injury or damage.

Your severe weather preparation plan should also include multiple ways to receive weather notifications. Please do not rely on the Outdoor Warning sirens that are placed outside in various locations in the county. These are intended to alert citizens who are outside so they will go inside out of harm’s way and follow their severe weather plan. If you are one of those who will read this and say, “I hear them inside my home when they are tested”, please understand that when the winds are high, and the storm system is strong, you WILL NOT hear the sirens inside your home. Don’t risk your safety or that of your family members by relying on these as your primary source of severe weather notifications.

A NOAA All Hazards radio is your best option for severe weather notifications. The radio and battery cost less than $40, can be purchased at your favorite retailer and the Lee County Emergency Management Agency will program your radio free of charge.

If you own a smartphone, the Lee County Emergency Management Agency also offers a free app for Apple or Android that can be downloaded from the app store.

There is an option to register your storm shelter/safe room within the app and that information goes to the Lee County Emergency Management Agency as well.

You can also download an app with your favorite news station. These tools will provide you with weather updates right in your hand with up-to-date information. Always be sure that you use trusted sources for this critical information.

Secondly, you should be sure that you have a plan should a tornado watch, or warning, be issued and that your family knows what this plan is always.

Does your home have an “above ground” or “below ground” shelter? Have you practiced getting into your shelter with your family? If you don’t have a shelter, do you go to a “safer location” should a tornado watch, be issued? Waiting until a tornado warning is issued is too late. It is no longer safe to travel at that time.

If you feel that your home is the safest place for you to wait out the severe weather, then be sure you have the following items close by: closed toed shoes, bicycle helmets to protect your head from flying debris, flashlights with spare batteries, solar chargers for cell phones and electronic equipment, water and snacks, battery-operated lamps, pillows and blankets. Your safe place can be in your home, whether that is your shelter, basement or lowest level, a central location of your home away from windows.

Another thing to consider is a way for your family members to check in with each other should you be separated when the severe weather makes impact: using a friend who lives out of state or a family member for each one of you to call works very well. If each family member knows to do this and has the contact number stored in their phone, then as the calls are made the contact person can then relay that information to everyone. This offers quick accountability for everyone who resides in your home and additional peace of mind should your family become separated and need to let everyone know that “all is well” until you can be reunified after the threat of severe weather has passed.

If you need assistance programming your radios or have preparation questions, please contact the Lee County Emergency Management Agency (334) 749-8161 and if you use social media please follow the agency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.