Readiness is the key, as spring and summer severe weather arrives

BEATRICE – This is spring and summer Severe Weather Awareness Week in Nebraska and Iowa. A statewide mock tornado warning is issued Wednesday morning, to allow citizens to practice what to do when severe weather hits.

Gage County Emergency Manager Lisa Wiegand says it can happen, at any time.  Just last December 15th, severe storm winds did damage in the Beatrice area that are now covered under a disaster declaration.

"We did have five entities that will be putting in claims for Gage County, so we know it can happen."

Last year, there were 44 tornadoes in Nebraska…down slightly from the 30-year-average of 51. But with overnight tornadoes in Texas and Oklahoma, and severe weather threatening in the south, the central plains severe weather season is at hand.

"The most important part is for families to be aware of what they need to do, as a family. When you spread out with all your different activities where kids are going to ball games and moms and dads might be somewhere else...make sure you have a plan."

In addition to the statewide drill Wednesday…entities such as schools, businesses and hospitals can test their readiness. Gage County will sound its 24 outdoor warning sirens scattered throughout the county. It typically tests them the first Tuesday of each month.  "A lot of our sirens are fifteen to twenty years old. They have wear and tear, they have replacement of batteries...so it's a sizable amount of dollars that are spent just in maintenance and repairs on a yearly basis."

There are many ways to be notified of severe weather by media, smartphone weather apps and through automatic alerts by weather providers, among others.
How bad of a severe weather season it will be, is anyone’s guess.  "Be ready. Know where your safe zones are at...have a plan in place. Put together your preparation kits. We're promoting this week getting family preparedness and sheets out to kids in school...so they can take them home in their backpacks...so, at least it's a conversation to be had."

Gage County had a statewide winner in a Severe Weather Awareness contest….Southern Schools elementary student Sophie Rakes…..the first-place winner in a Nebraska Emergency Management, National Guard, National Weather Service poster contest.