Rick Evans and Sue Hunt of the Richland County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) met with the county commissioners Tuesday to request the approval of a proclamation of observance of National Severe Weather Preparedness, Ohio’s Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week, and National Flood Safety Awareness Week.
After hearing about the importance of weather preparedness and awareness, the commissioners approved the proclamation.
Ohio’s Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week is currently underway, having begun March 2. It will end March 8. National Flood Safety Awareness Week will occur March 16-22.
In conjunction with the observance of these weeks, the Richland County EMA is participating in a statewide tornado drill, in which all outdoor sirens across the state will sound on Wednesday, March 5 at 9:50 a.m. as a test.
Evans encouraged that one should practice a tornado drill by using the acronym D.U.C.K.
The letter D stands for “down, go to the lowest level; U stands for “under, get under something;” C stands for “cover, cover your head and body;” K stands for “keep, keep covered in shelter until the storm has passed.”
He also advised the use of an Emergency Weather Radio, which broadcasts weather-related information. One can program the device according to whatever location and weather information he or she would like to be able to receive.
The Richland County EMA is offering these radios for $23 and they may be purchased at the emergency management office, located at 597 Park Ave. East.
Commissioner Gary Utt affirmed the radio’s value, saying “It’s absolutely a good thing to have.”
Evans further discussed the significance of assembling one’s own emergency preparedness kit in the case an emergency or disaster occurs. “Preparedness kits should be customized to meet your needs,” he stated. “Consideration of kits should include kits for the household, kits for people with disabilities, kits for pets/animals, and kits for your vehicle.”
He added, “Preparedness is the goal for surviving and thriving in a weather event.”
