The National Weather Service and Maryland Emergency Management Agency have teamed up during Severe Storms Awareness Week to offer advice about how to prepare for the severe weather ahead.
This week has been designated Severe Storms Awareness Week to promote awareness and preparedness during spring when Maryland is at particularly high risk of experiencing heavy rain, severe storms, flooding and tornadoes, hail and lightning.
“Severe Storms Awareness Week is a chance to highlight dangerous weather that often occurs in Maryland,” said Russ Strickland, executive director of MEMA. “This is the time to plan for what you or your family should do in case of a severe weather warning. Get to a safe space, then communicate with your neighbors, friends and family to make sure they’re aware of the situation and are safe.”
The National Weather Service and MEMA suggest that residents take the following actions to prepare:
- During flooding, never enter an area where water is flowing over a road and you cannot see the pavement. Turn around, don’t drown!
- If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued or you are experiencing strong winds, get to a sturdy shelter and stay indoors away from windows.
- Tornadoes can form rapidly in the right conditions. If there is a tornado warning or you see a tornado, quickly get inside and go to the lowest floor possible.
- If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck from a fringe lightning strike. More than 98 percent of lightning fatalities are from people outdoors—get indoors or inside your vehicle if possible.
- Download the Maryland Prepares app to your portable device to receive alerts of severe weather along with other handy features.
Further information about the initiative can be found at weather.gov/lwx/weatherready and the MEMA website at mema.maryland.gov.
