Don't get caught off guard by severe weather - WIFR

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WIFR) - Illinois residents are used to seeing all four seasons in one day, from sunny mornings to wintry mixed evenings and everything in between, making it ever more crucial to know the signs of severe weather and have a plan when it hits.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are teaming up during Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Monday, February 28 - Friday, March 4, to teach preparation over panic.

“Sharing the dangers of weather hazards and a few preparedness tips are just the first steps. Applying safety actions in an emergency takes practice. This week, our professionals at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency encourage all families, businesses, schools, and communities to plan ahead, build a kit, practice what to do, and be better prepared,” IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau says.

According to the National Weather Service, a severe weather toolkit can look like:

• A family communication plan designating a contact for loved ones who live alone, don’t drive or have special needs.

• A severe weather plan that outlines where to go during a severe thunderstorm, tornado or flood.

• An emergency kit. The NWS recommends packing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) all hazards weather radio with battery backup, flashlight with extra batteries, phone chargers, water, and store it somewhere with easy access.

• Designate a safe place; from an inside wall, to a bathroom without windows or basement, know the best place to go in cases of severe weather.

• Know the signs; clouds, tornado sirens, cell phone and television alerts,

“Watches mean that severe weather or flooding might develop near your area over the next several hours. Pay attention to the weather and be ready to act if storms approach. Warning means take action immediately,” NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Mike Bardou says. “The storm either has a history of producing damage or flooding or is expected to do so in your area shortly.”

Nightime damaging winds, deadly lightning, large hail, flash flooding and tornadoes are a possibility- Illinois averages about 64 tornadoes each year. Tornadoes that strike at night are even more dangerous, like the the 2021 Father’s Day EF-3 tornado that struck DuPage County.

“We can’t stress enough the importance of understanding the difference between a watch and a warning when tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and floods threaten your area,” NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Ed Shimon says. “Studies show that people want to verify the threat to them is real before taking action. Seconds save lives when a tornado, significant damaging winds or flash floods are bearing down on your location.”

In addition to NOAA weather radios, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) can help save lives through breaking alerts sent to your mobile device. These tools lead to surviving overnight storms and benefit travelers. FEMA also offers a FREE mobile app that’s fast and reliable, that can be programmed to give weather alerts for up to five different U.S. locations. The app can also help you locate the closest open shelters and disaster resources in the event of an emergency.

Copyright 2022 WIFR. All rights reserved.

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