BATON ROUGE, La., – Governor Bobby Jindal has declared the week of March 3 to March 9 to be "Severe Weather Awareness Week" in Louisiana, during which time the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the National Weather Service and other partners encourage the public to learn how to protect themselves, their families and their homes in the event of severe weather.
GOHSEP Director Kevin Davis said, "Because severe weather oftentimes strikes with little or no notice, Louisiana residents should become informed about the risks associated with natural hazards and what they can to make sure their families are safe if bad weather strikes. Hazards such as tornadoes, flash flooding and strong winds can threaten your safety and you should have a plan for what you will do if you find yourself in danger."
Ken Graham, Meteorologist in Charge of the National Weather Service's New Orleans/Baton Rouge Weather Forecast Office said, "Late winter and spring are typically the peak season for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in Louisiana. This is a great time to review severe weather safety rules and safety plans."
MAKE A PLAN, PACK A KIT
Families and individuals should have an emergency plan that outlines what they will do if they have to shelter in place because of severe weather and what they will do if they have to evacuate during severe weather.
Sheltering in place means going indoors, closing all windows and doors and staying put until the severe weather has passed and the all clear has been given by your local government. You can get safety information from your local government through the local media, on a battery operated radio or through your parish's alert system.
Evacuating requires that individuals and families have a plan for where they will go if their homes are unsafe. Identify several friends, family members or others that you can stay with during an evacuation. Remember: when severe weather hits, your original evacuation place may not be available, so you should have a backup plan.
An important part of every family or person's severe weather plan is packing an emergency kit that includes the items they will need in case they have to shelter in place or evacuate because of severe weather.
This kit should include, among other supplies: flashlight, extra batteries, battery-powered radio and lantern, a first aid kit, canned food and a non-electric can opener, special medical items for any members of the family with special needs, high energy foods like peanut butter and jelly, crackers and granola bars, a utility knife, plastic sheeting, protective clothing and rainwear, a change of clothes for each family member and enough at least three gallons of water per person and pet.
Gathering supplies in one place will help families locate them in the event of a power outage. If a family must leave its home, the kit can go with them.
For a full list of supplies for your emergency kit, visit GetAGamePlan.org
ONLINE RESOURCES
GetAGameplan.org: Louisiana residents can take simple steps to protect themselves, their families, their pets and their homes. GOHSEP provides detailed tips and information online at GetAGameplan.org for how to respond in the event of a tornado, flooding, thunderstorm, hurricane or other severe weather. Residents can also download the GetAGameplan app for Apple iPhones by visiting this site.
Weather.gov: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides detailed, zip code level weather information for the public on its Website. Users can get information about severe weather warnings and alerts and also view forecasts from National Weather Service staff.
Ready.gov: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) outlines what to do in many disaster scenarios on its preparedness site, which also features information for business owners and for parents who want to talk to their children about hazards or disasters.
La. Governor Bobby Jindal
