Severe Weather Awareness week starts Monday
COSHOCTON – A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness encourages all homes, businesses, and schools to practice their tornado drill during this time.
The Coshocton County Emergency Management Agency encourages county residents to sign up for CodeRED to receive emergency and weather alerts. Sign up information is available at coshoctonema.com or by calling the Coshocton County EMA office at 622-1984.
Whether practicing a tornado drill or sheltering during a severe storm, the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness recommends to go down to the lowest level, get under something sturdy, cover your head, and keep in shelter until the storm has passed.
Knowing the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning is important. A tornado watch means a tornado could occur. The climatic conditions are right for a tornado. When a watch is issued, be prepared to seek shelter and stay tuned to a NOAA weather radio, local radio, or television station for weather updates.
A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or is about to strike in the area. Seek shelter immediately. The National Weather Service tracks storms on radar and will issue storm watches or warnings as needed. Tune in to one of the following for up-to-date weather information: NOAA weather radio, local television station or cable television (Ohio News Network or The Weather Channel), or a local radio station.
Seek shelter in the lowest area of a building or home. The safest place to be during a tornado is a basement or under a basement stairs. If a basement or shelter is not available, seek shelter in a small, central room such as a bathroom or a closet.
If you are in a mobile home or vehicle, seek shelter immediately to the lowest level of a nearby building. If there is no building nearby, lie down in a low spot. Use your arms and head to protect your head.
The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness website at weathersafety.ohio.gov provides safety tips for tornadoes, floods, thunder, and lightning storms, extreme heat, winter storms, and home fires. Learn how to write family disaster plans and how to build preparedness kits for the home and vehicle. The site also contains activities to increase severe weather awareness among school-aged children, including information on the committee’s annual Severe Weather Awareness poster contest.
A variety of brochures are available by contacting the Coshocton County Emergency Management Agency at 622-1984.
Category: People & Places
