What to do when severe weather looms

Today’s tornado warning test conducted by the National Weather Service was a prompt to get us thinking about our severe weather plans.

Here in mid-Missouri we’re no strangers to severe weather. Many of us were impacted by the tornado that tore through Jefferson City just a few years ago, and it won’t be long before our chances for more tornadic activity increase throughout the area during the spring. It’s always a good idea to know where you should head when the sirens sound.

Of course, the first thing you should do is head indoors to an interior room or basement. Always avoid windows while finding where you’ll wait out the storm. If you live in an apartment and cannot get to a lower level, head to your innermost room. In extreme cases, bathtubs can even provide a level of protection from debris. Make sure you bring all family members, friends, and pets to your chosen safe place. You should send pictures of your pets to close friends and get them a name tag in the event that they are lost in the aftermath of a storm. Also, keeping a small go bag of first aid and food and water where you shelter isn’t a bad idea either. 

It’s always a good idea to practice what you’ll do in the event of severe weather. You’ll want to have an idea of what to do in every scenario. If you’re interested in finding out more of what you can do if you’re caught outside in severe weather, tune in to the ABC 17 Stormtrack Severe Weather Special on March 16th.