Arkansas Storm Team Blog: Quiet days are best to check supplies & prepare for severe weather

As of Thursday, September 11, there is no sign of severe weather for at least the next 10 days. This quiet stretch is very welcome, but it’s also a great time to check on preparedness levels for the not-so-quiet days. This includes checking emergency supplies in case of extended power outages, identifying your tornado shelter in your home, work, school, or any place you spend a lot of time, and practicing your severe weather plan.

It’s also critical that you receive forecast information from trusted meteorologists. On social media in today’s world, there are bad actors who post misleading or false weather information to gain likes, follows, and attention. Good ways to tell the difference between a trusted post from a meteorologist versus a fearmongering post from someone without meteorology knowledge are to check the poster’s credentials, compare their post to local meteorologists you trust and the National Weather Service’s forecasts, and be wary of doom-centered wording.

To identify the best tornado safe spot, look for a room with no exterior walls on the lowest level of a well-constructed building. A basement or a safety-rated tornado shelter are the best places to be. The next best tornado safe spots are closets, bathrooms, or any room without exterior walls and windows.

In an apartment building, this will be the lowest level of the building, too, in rooms that don’t have exterior walls. The more walls between the sheltering spot and outside, the better. If you live in an apartment and don’t live on the first floor, ensure you bring your go-bag full of things like medicine, important documents, shoes, anything else you’d need, and objects to cover your head.

The quiet days are also great for brushing up on tornado education. Knowing the difference between a watch and a warning is critical to understanding what to do on a severe weather day. A watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather (specifically tornadoes in this example) to occur within the watch period. A watch is the time to plan, prepare, and stay aware. A warning means a tornado is about to occur or is occurring. A warning is the time to take shelter immediately. A tornado emergency is very rare and is only used in extreme situations where a severe threat to life and property is occurring.

Ahead of severe weather days, it’s also recommended to make sure the Emergency Alert System is enabled to send notifications to your phone. On an iPhone, this can be checked by going to Settings, then Notifications, then Emergency Alerts. Check that Emergency Alerts are turned on and that they always have sound.

Overall, while the current weather pattern is quiet, it’s never a bad idea to check on your storm-readiness. The Arkansas Storm Team is keeping you safe and will ensure you’re aware ahead of the not-so-quiet days.