Peoria County’s Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the National Weather Service, is calling on Peoria County residents to educate themselves and understand the threats of severe weather during Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which will take place March 6-10, 2023.

Spring is traditionally a period where the threat of high winds, hail and lightning from severe thunderstorms and tornados greatly increases. There is nothing that we can do to stop severe weather from developing. However, there are things we can do to minimize the impacts of severe weather in our lives.

1. Build an emergency kit. Gather items for a kit before weather hits, so that you’ll be prepared, and not panicked, when you need to use the items.

2. Invest in a NOAA Weather Radio. NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is the foremost authority on all things weather-related.

3. Stay informed. Besides a weather radio, make sure that you have multiple ways to receive information during a weather emergency. This could be through checking broadcast media, enabling your smartphone to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, and downloading smartphone weather apps and turning on notifications.

4. Take action – indoors or out! If you hear weather sirens, move indoors. If you see flooding on the road, ‘turn around, don’t drown.’ Head to your basement or lowest level under threat of a tornado; don’t go outside to view the storm.

A trustworthy source for preparedness information is the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov.

Peoria County’s Emergency Management staff is also available to discuss preparedness topics with individuals, businesses, and community groups. Their “The Wisdom of Preparedness” class focuses on developing a family emergency plan, identifying points of contact, and creating an emergency preparedness kit so you can be prepared before disaster strikes.