Staff Writer

Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed the week of Feb. 19-23 Severe Weather Awareness Week.

“Preparing for the onset of severe weather is one of the most basic things families can do to remain out of harm's way,” stated Governor Perdue, according to a news release from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. “We have seen a wide variety of natural disasters threaten our state, and I encourage all Georgians to take this week and remind ourselves that a solid safety plan is the key to staying safe during severe weather.”

For each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week, focus is brought to a different topic.

According to the GEMA, Monday, Feb. 19, has been designated as Family Protection Day. On this day, families should discuss, plan, prepare and rehearse emergency measures they would use during the first 72 hours of a local disaster. Also on Family Protection Day, GEMA and The National Weather Service recommend that you consider purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio, if you don't have one, in order to receive immediate severe weather information 24-hours a day.

According to Martha Anne McCarty, a local EMT with Upson Regional Medical Center and the Public Information Officer with the Thomaston-Upson EMA, schools are the main participator in Severe Weather Awareness Week.

“We want to encourage the general public to participate as well,” McCarty stated.

To participate, listen to the radio and pay attention to broadcasts. Know what to listen for during different types of severe weather.

“We ask people to stop and think,” McCarty said. “What would you do if that situation were real?”

McCarty stressed the importance of having a weather radio. According to her, they are the quickest way to get weather updates.

“You will get the info at the same time as 911,” McCarty explained. “The best weather radio to have is the S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding). That type of radio can be programmed for specific counties or a group of counties.”

The weather radio is similar to a smoke alarm, but alerts individuals for inclement weather instead of fire.

“Part of the reason that Emergency Management is there is so that things are planned, prepared for, responded to and mitigated,” McCarty said. “I encourage people to plan and prepare for themselves and their families.”

McCarty also stressed the importance in helping oneself. She emphasized that people should know how to help themselves if they are in a situation where emergency personnel such as rescue teams can't be there to help.

“If we can get people to get prepared and be prepared, then our jobs as responders will be much easier,” McCarty stated.

The topics for the rest of Severe Weather Awareness Week are as follows: Tuesday, Feb. 20: Thunderstorms, Wednesday, Feb. 21: the Statewide Severe Weather Drill and Tornadoes, Thursday, Feb. 22: Lightning, and Friday, Feb. 23: Floods and Flash Floods.