ARE YOU WEATHER READY? Henry County Emergency Management wishes to announce the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have declared February 23- February 29, 2020, “Severe Weather Awareness Week”. Henry County will be participating in several events throughout the week and month relating to severe weather preparedness.
According to Ron Watkins, Henry County Emergency Management Director, “The best way for residents to prepare for severe weather is to be weather aware and have a safe shelter plan. Today’s electronic technology devices can assist in receiving important information so you can easily have some advanced warning to take the proper steps to protect yourself and your family.”
So far this year, Henry County has received around 11.6 inches of rain. Flash Flooding in the past has caused roads to flood and trees and powerlines to fall. Director Watkins is encouraging residents to use this year’s Severe Weather Awareness Week as an opportunity to prepare now for the spring storm season. It is important individuals, families, schools, businesses, and communities be ready now before severe weather strikes. Severe weather events impact lives and property in our area every year. The steps you take this week could make a difference for you and your family in the days to come. Watkins states, “Northwest TN experienced a very wet winter season so far this year and we have been fortunate the worst severe weather has stayed to the north and south of our area, however, spring is approaching rapidly and once again spring storms could produce threatening severe weather here again.”
On Wednesday, February 26, Henry County will once again participate in The State Wide Tornado Drill Day. Watkins has asked local schools to practice facility tornado preparedness plans by conducting a tornado drill in each school. This gives the students and faculty an opportunity to practice the actual motions to go through if a real warning were given for our area. Each school in the county has a NOAA Weather Radio, and access to immediate warning information. The “test warning” will be broadcasted by the National Weather Service at 9:30 AM Wednesday morning as the usual weekly test. We are once again asking our Henry County folks to take a “safety selfie” in their safe locations and post to twitter @HenryCountyEMA and we will post pictures to our facebook page.
Additionally, The Henry County Schools and Paris Special School District emergency radio communication systems will be tested by the county 911 dispatch center by passing along the “mock warning information.”
Local daycare and healthcare facilities, businesses, manufacturing plants, and government agencies are urged to participate by conducting tornado sheltering drills on Wednesday as well. This is an excellent opportunity to practice your severe weather plans at home, at school and at work. Residents should use this week to make sure that they have access to some form of weather warning technology including NOAA All Hazard radios and weather-related Smartphone applications.
This year’s awareness week will include testing outdoor warning sirens in the county. Emergency Management reports one siren is out of service at Paris Landing. It is being repaired and should be operational by April. The sirens at Paris City Hall, City of Henry, City of Cottage Grove and Paris Landing KOA will be tested on the morning of February 26th. Residents should be mindful when a siren is activated, either a tornado warning or severe thunder storm warning with high winds has been issued for their area. Consider moving indoors to find shelter and seek information on local weather conditions and other important emergency information. “Henry County is vulnerable to different types of weather hazards and it is critical that our residents understand the threats, have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and have a plan to quickly get to a safe place when a warning is issued.” stated Watkins.
Other ways to prepare for severe weather includes purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio. Our area transmitter is located in the Vale community using the frequency 162.450 MHz and can be received on any standard NOAA Weather Radio. The broadcast transmission originates from the regional National Weather Service office in Memphis. The 1000-watt transmitter provides up to the minute weather forecasts and advanced warning of approaching severe weather such as a tornado. Watkins adds, “Advanced warning of severe weather is important to the safety of your family. An advanced warning could provide that extra time desperately needed to react and take cover.”
Watkins suggests families make preparedness plans and practice sheltering in safe areas of your home or work for severe weather. “Get to the lowest level possible and try to put as many walls as you can between yourself and outside. Use helmets, pillows and cushions to cover yourself when sheltering.” Consider creating an emergency supplies kit with extra food, water, flashlights, flashlight batteries, extra cell phone battery chargers and stock kits with blankets, first aid supplies and small tools. These all can be useful in an emergency situation.
Local residents are reminded they have access to tornado safe shelters put into use by our local school systems when school is not in session. The Paris Special School District now has three tornado shelters. Inman School Community Tornado Shelter, Paris Elementary School and Rhea Elementary School all have tornado safe areas. Additionally, the Henry County School System have tornado safe shelters at Lakewood, Harrellson, and Henry Schools. Emergency Management and Law Enforcement officials will coordinate the opening during forecasted high risk weather events and will notify the public via news media and social media when opened. Henry County Sheriff, Monte Belew, has provided Sheriff Dept School Resource Officers of each school to monitor shelters when opened.
The National Weather Service will feature a specific preparedness topic each day during the week as follows:
Sunday February 23 – Important Role of SKYWARN Spotters
Monday February 24 – Flooding & Flash Floods
Tuesday February 25 – Lightning, the Underrated Killer
Wednesday February 26 – Tornado Safety & Preparedness Drill Day
Thursday February 27 – Severe Thunderstorms
Friday February 28 – NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System
Saturday February 29 – Importance of Social Media
To get more information contact the emergency management office at 644-2678 or visit the Henry County Emergency Management website at http://www.henrycountytn.org or visit the our facebook page, @hcema.