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During the upcoming week, the National Weather Service and State Emergency Management Agency will be touting Severe Weather Week with a single goal in mind: saving lives.
Anyone who has lived in Missouri for any length of time can attest to the fact that our severe weather isn't something to be taken lightly. Point in face: Last summer, a Jefferson City man died after being swept up in flash flooding at Wear's Creek in Washington Park. Also, in just one weekend in January, 19 people were killed by tornadoes in the southeastern U.S., more than were killed by tornadoes in the entire U.S. during all of 2016.
Missouri's annual Statewide Tornado Drill will be held on at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Outdoor warning sirens and weather alert radios across the state will sound, signaling the beginning of the statewide tornado drill and indicating that Missourians should practice taking shelter.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety advises taking shelter in a basement or interior room in the lowest level of a building. Safe locations for businesses or schools include interior stairways and tornado safe rooms. If severe weather is in the forecast for March 7, the drill will be moved to 10 a.m. March 9.
"Tornadoes, severe storms and flooding are all deadly threats that put lives at risk in Missouri," State Emergency Management Agency Director Ernie Rhodes said in a news release. "But if we learn about the risks and how to protect ourselves and our families, along with closely following the latest weather forecast anytime severe weather is in predicted, we can tremendously reduce the risk and save lives."
Each day during the week focuses on a different safety message: Monday, March 6, Preparedness Day;Tuesday, March 7, Tornado Safety Day; Wednesday, March 8, Flash Flood Safety Day; Thursday, March 9, Severe Thunderstorm Day; and Friday, March 10, Communication/NOAA Weather Radio Day.
According to the National Weather Service, Missouri experienced 18 tornadoes with no deaths and no injuries in 2016. There were two flooding deaths in the state in 2016, according to NWS. Nationally, more than half of all flash flooding fatalities involve a vehicle.
Remember, a tornado watch means to watch the sky; conditions are right for a tornado. A tornado warning means one has been spotted; take cover.
Take time to learn the basics of how to react during severe weather. Knowledge is power, and in this case it comes with the ability to drastically reduce the odds of injury or death.