Severe weather presents a very real danger to property and life and is something which almost all Americans deal with in one form or another. Today NOAA and FEMA launched the second annual National Severe Weather Preparedness Week to raise awareness of the hazards and prompt citizens to be prepared.
National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is being conducted jointly with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from March 3 to March 9. The two are the primary U.S. government agencies responsible for warning residents when severe weather is going to strike and for providing aid in the aftermath.
“Be a Force of Nature” is the slogan the agencies are using in their campaign as they urge citizens to be proactive in preparing for severe weather. Knowledge is oftentimes key to surviving a dangerous weather situation and ensuring citizens have the tools they need are a key part of the campaign.
In the past year tornadoes claimed hundreds of lives, lightning sparked deadly wildfires, and hail caused millions of dollars in damage. The threat is real.
Citizens are asked to know what threats they may face during severe weather season and learn more about them. With the risks identified, taking action and preparing before it is too late is essential. Taking it further and ensuring family and friends do the same is viewed as essential to building a safe community.
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NOAA and FEMA have outlined daily themes for National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. These include:
Monday March 4
Theme: Pledge to Prepare - Know your risk; Be an example
- We’re calling on you to *be a force of nature* in your community. Prepare for severe #wx: ready.gov/severe-weather
- Each year many people are killed or seriously injured by severe #wx, despite advance warning. Know your risk: ready.gov/severe-weather
- Know your risk of severe #wx and be a force of nature. After you prepare, tag your msg with #ImAForce ready.gov/severe-weather
- In 2012, tornadoes were reported in 46 states and caused $1.6 billion in damage. Be prepared: ready.gov/severe-weather
- Each year, many people are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes and other types of severe weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were 450+ weather-related fatalities and more than 2,600 injuries. Know your risk: ready.gov/severe-weather
- Because severe weather knows no boundaries and affects every individual, we’re calling on people across the country to be a *force of nature* in their communities and prepare for severe weather. ready.gov/severe-weather
- The first step in being a force of nature is knowing your risk. Visit ready.gov/severe- weather to learn what your community could expect to face this severe weather season.
- See if your cell phone is equipped to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), free messages sent directly to your cell phone from public safety officials such as the National Weather Service to warn you about Imminent Threats like severe weather, AMBER Alerts or Presidential alerts.
- Stay informed by having multiple sources for weather alerts - NOAA Weather Radio including adaptive weather radios for individuals with access and functional needs, NWS Weather Wire Service, Weather.gov, and Wireless Emergency Alerts. Subscribe to receive alerts www.weather.gov/subscribe.
Tuesday March 5
Theme: Pledge to Prepare – Develop an Emergency Plan; Be an example
- Pledge to prepare and take the first step to ensure you and your family are ready for severe #wx. ready.gov/severe-weather
- Know what to do before severe #wx strikes – create an emergency plan today. ready.gov/severe-weather
- If you rely on electricity to operate life sustaining equipment, have a backup power supply and know how to connect and start it.
- Pledge to prepare ready.gov/severe-weather Then be a force of nature and tell others with # ImAForce
- If you have a service animal, stock food, water, medications, a favorite toy and an extra leash.
- When you pledge to prepare, you take the first step to making sure that you and your family are prepared for severe weather. This includes developing a family communications plan, putting an emergency kit together, keeping important papers and valuables in a safe place, and getting involved. Visit ready.gov/severe-weather for more on family preparedness for severe weather.
- Building a Weather-Ready Nation requires the action of each person and community across the country. Have an emergency plan, and know what to do before severe weather strikes. Post your plan in your home where family and friends who visit can see it. ready.gov/make-a-plan
Wednesday March 6
Theme: Pledge to Prepare – Build a Kit; Be an example
- We’re asking families, communities and businesses to be a *force of nature* by taking the pledge to prepare at ready.gov/severe-weather
- #safetytip: Be prepared for all types of severe #wx – build an emergency kit. ready.gov
- Build an emergency kit, build a Weather-Ready Nation. www.noaa.gov/wrn #WRN
- Make a hard copy of all of your medical prescriptions; also scan and save them to a portable flash drive that you carry with you, even if you don’t have a computer.
- FEMA and NOAA are just one part of the emergency management team that works to prepare for and respond to disaster. A key member of the team is the public. That is why we are encouraging everyone to do their part and prepare now, so that you can be a force of nature when severe weather strikes ready.gov/be-informed
- This week, we ask families, communities and businesses to be force of nature by taking the pledge to prepare at Ready.gov. Once you take the pledge, let others know by updating your profile status.
Thursday March 7
Theme: Pledge to Prepare – Hear the Warning with NOAA Weather Radio, Get the Alert; Be an example
- Sign up for local emergency alerts. Be an example: share with coworkers, family, and friends. # ImAForce
- Be prepared: hear the warning with @usnoaagov Weather Radio and spread the word when severe #wx threatens. # ImAForce
- Stay informed by having multiple sources for weather alerts - NOAA Weather Radio, NWS Weather Wire Service, Weather.gov, and Wireless Emergency Alerts. Subscribe to receive alerts www.weather.gov/subscribe.
- Have you receive a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) yet? Learn more. # ImAForce
- Be an example in your community and teach others to be prepared. Pass on information at a community meeting or activity, work event or faith-based gatherings. ready.gov/get- involved
- NOAA Weather Radios broadcast official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Be a force of nature and get yours today www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/
Friday March 8
Theme: Pledge to Prepare – Get involved; Be an example
- Know your risk, take action and be an example. Share what you have done with friends, family, coworkers, and others # ImAForce
- Get involved and share preparedness info at a work event, a community meeting, or faith- based gatherings. ready.gov/get-involved
- Be a force of nature: use #imprepared and tell others how you’ve prepared.
- Find out from your local government emergency management agency how you can be notified for different disasters and sign up for additional updates through social media and local news. Share your knowledge with your coworkers, family and friends. ready.gov
- As part of National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, we emphasize the need for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and families to prepare emergency plans and to know what to do before severe weather strikes. If you haven’t already, please share this link: ready.gov/severe-weather
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