Most know how destructive Kansas weather can be. Kansas gets hail, floods, tornadoes, and much more. Despite this fact, many people do not know how to properly prepare for severe weather.
“Two-thirds of Americans are not prepared if a weather disaster were to strike their location, according to Allstate Insurance,” NBC Connecticut said.
There are ways to prepare for severe weather. One of those ways is to know the difference between a watch and a warning.
“Watch: Issued when conditions are favorable for a particular severe weather hazard within the next several hours,” the National Weather Service said. “Warning: Issued when a particular severe weather hazard is imminent or occurring. Take immediate action to protect life and property.”
It’s never too early to start preparing. It’s important to make sure people know where things are before the storm even starts.
“Don’t wait until an emergency siren sounds to start looking for flashlights and other things,” the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said. “Make sure the entire family knows where to go at home, at work, in school, at the mall or anywhere they might be when the storms strike.”
Creating a kit of important items is crucial.
“Create an emergency preparedness kit filled with things needed during a severe weather emergency,” the University of Texas at Austin said.
It’s important to let family know what is going on and what the plan is.
“Practice drills with everyone in your household, so everyone knows where to go and what to do before a thunderstorm hits,” the American Red Cross said.
Responding quickly is another way of staying safe.
“Have a plan of action before severe weather threatens,” the National Weather Service said. “You need to respond quickly when a warning is issued or a tornado is spotted.”
An additional way of staying safe is watching storm chasers and tuning in to the news.
“When conditions are warm, humid, and windy, or skies are threatening, monitor for severe weather watches and warnings by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, logging onto weather.gov or tuning into your favorite television or radio weather information source,” the National Weather Service said.
It is important to find proper shelter during a storm, no matter what kind it is.
“You need to get inside a sturdy building before a thunderstorm hits,” the American Red Cross said. “Once you have identified a sturdy building, plan to shelter in the basement or a small, interior, windowless room on the lowest level to provide additional protection from high winds.”
Altogether, being prepared for severe weather is very important, especially in Kansas. Being prepared can save lives when faced with tornadoes and thunderstorms.
“Weather happens everyday, where you make the difference that starts by being informed,” the National Weather Service said.
