Severe weather awareness month is almost upon us....March! The National Weather Service takes the entire month to review and relay important severe weather safety information for our region in preparation for the height of severe weather season. It has become more and more evident that severe weather does not discriminate what time of year, what time of day we can see it. It is important that you and your family and coworkers make it a habit of reviewing and practicing a safety plan in the event of severe weather to avoid panic and promote security.

Young children are often worried, even scared when weather warnings are issued for their hometown. Providing a plan of action and practicing "drills" can instill a sense of awareness and security. How do I know? Well, I was one of those kids who was terribly scared of thunderstorms and the threat of any severe weather. I used to sleep in the basement because I was so frightened. The way I overcame that fear was to study the dynamics of thunderstorms and help others be prepared. I am still not a big fan of severe thunderstorms in the middle of the night but I feel safe knowing that I have a plan of action in the event that I need one.

The Weather Authority Team will be showing you different ways to prepare your family and coworkers for severe weather, anytime of the day. If you want to watch a few short online videos that we have put together in the past, click here, and look for Inside the Storm on the bottom right.  Easy and family friendly!