How do I prepare for severe weather?
Severe weather can happen at any time and anywhere. Your best protection is to be prepared.
Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsored the National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Throughout the week, they organized groups and activities that highlighted the importance of preparing for severe weather before it strikes. They pointed out that being prepared for severe weather doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The most important step is to have a plan for what you and your family will do when severe weather strikes.
An important first step is to know the potential hazards. Weather hazards in Wisconsin are primarily from tornados, large hail, straight-line winds and flooding. The summer is when much of this severe weather can occur, though it can occur at any time.
You should remain alert for potential weather hazards. Get an NOAA weather radio for weather updates. Also, subscribe to wireless emergency alerts, or WEAs, that provide free messages to your cell phone that will alert you about severe weather in your area.
For more information on WEA Alerts, go to ready.gov/warning-systems-signals. These severe weather alerts provide only basic information; seek additional information. Tune in to local forecasters on radio or television. Local forecasters are experts on regional weather and can interpret observations and conditions for you.
Severe weather can strike quickly, so know where to take shelter before encountering a severe weather event. Learn more at ready.gov/severe-weather.
