Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week Highlights Tornado Safety and Preparedness

As part of Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week, the National Weather Service Shreveport is emphasizing tornado safety and encouraging residents to develop family emergency action plans before storms arrive.

Officials advise residents to identify safe shelter locations in advance, such as basements, storm shelters, or interior rooms on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows and exterior walls. Families are encouraged to discuss their plans so everyone knows what to do when severe weather strikes.

Key tornado safety tips include:

• Go to the lowest level of your home, preferably a basement or storm shelter.
• If no basement is available, move to a small interior room, closet, or hallway away from windows.
• Protect your head and neck with your arms or a sturdy object.
• Keep a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio, flashlight, and emergency kit accessible.
• Avoid staying in mobile or manufactured homes during tornadoes; seek sturdier shelter immediately.

The routine weekly NOAA Weather Radio Test on Wednesday, March 4, will include instructions for a tornado drill. Area residents, including all schools, are encouraged to use the drill to practice their tornado safety plans at 9:15 a.m. If thunderstorms are present during the scheduled time, the drill will be postponed to Thursday, March 5.

Officials say that practicing drills and reviewing safety plans ahead of time can save lives and help residents respond quickly when severe weather threatens.