Weather Radio And Plan Of Action Keys For Severe Weather Awareness Week

It is Tennessee Severe Weather Awareness Week, a time for families to prepare before stormy weather arrives.

Putnam County EMA Director Tyler Smith said the main key is to stay alert and have multiple sources for storm notifications.

“The best thing to have is a weather radio,” Smith said. “They are battery backed up. If you are asleep at night they have a loud alarm on it, and they are just good to have. Of course, a lot of people rely on their cell phones. What we saw in the 2020 tornado was the cell phone network went down and some of those folks didn’t get a warning in time.”

Smith said an emergency kit and plan of action are the next steps to have prepared. Smith said a family should know where its safest room is such as a basement or a central closet that puts the most walls around them.

“That’s the key is knowing where to go and having that plan already in place,” Smith said. “Don’t wait last minute and try to get everybody together to get to an area. That watch is issued for a reason to make people aware of those weather conditions. When that warning is issued, take action and go to your safe zone.”

Smith said in case of a power outage or building collapse, store blankets, flashlights, water and nonperishable food in your emergency kit. Smith said having a plan in place instead of reacting to a storm can be the difference between life or death.