National Weather Service gearing up for Kentucky Severe Weather Awareness Week

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.

March 1 begins the National Weather Service’s Kentucky Severe Weather Awareness Week.

“If you’ve lived around here for very long at all, you know, we can get severe weather any time of year. But we really do like to raise awareness, especially, you know, as we get into the spring months,” said Broan Schoettmer, Chief Meteorologist at National Weather Service, Louisville.

The goal of the week is to give people knowledge and tips on how to prepare for severe weather events. Each day of the week will hit a different topic. Everything from recreational safety to tornado and flood safety and even warning reception.

“Statewide tornado drill will take place Wednesday, March 5th at 10:07 a.m. In Fayette County, we’re also going to activate our outdoor warning siren system, and the siren will blare the tornado warning sound for one minute,” Emily Fay, Public Information Officer with Lexington Emergency Management, told FOX 56.

But with the potential of severe thunderstorms rolling into the region early next week, how that tornado drill looks could change.

“It’s definitely something that we’re going to have to look at to see, to see what kind of threat we’re going to end up with on Tuesday night,” said Schoettmer. “The other thing is, you know, wireless emergency alerts on your phone. So, anytime we issue a tornado warning within seconds, that will pop up on your phone.”

One thing that won’t change though, is weather and safety officials urging the importance of being prepared for when disaster strikes.

“You can start by prepping your house and your area from the outside in. So, making sure you have a plan to put furniture away if we’re going to get winds or a lot of rain. And on the inside, we’re talking about building your kit, having a plan, talking with your family, and just generally being ready for whatever might come our way,” said Fay.

You can stay up to date with the daily bits of weather information on the National Weather Service Louisville Office’s social media pages.