(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD), National Weather Service (NWS), and Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) have joined together to promote Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 25-29. The week is an opportunity to review the severe weather hazards, exercise your sheltering plan, and increase awareness before the typical peak of severe weather season.

Chad Hahn, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, says severe weather can happen ANY TIME of the year, including during the Winter months, as demonstrated by the tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds along with hail that’s occurred in Iowa and the rest of the country.

During the Spring and Summer, Hahn says, the weather pattern can be less predictable based on a variety of factors that typically aren’t seen during the Winter.

During Severe Weather Awareness Week, a different weather topic will be highlight each day. For instance, the topic on Monday (March 25th) is Lightning Safety.

Tornadoes are the focus of severe weather preparedness, on Tuesday. Hahn says Iowa averages around 50 tornadoes each year across the State. If you haven’t experienced the weather phenomenon, you shouldn’t take it for granted.

The annual statewide tornado drill will take place on Wed., March 27, beginning with a test at 10 a.m., of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio alert system. Hail and Wind Safety will be the topic for Thursday. Severe Thunderstorms are defined as containing wind gusts of 58 miles per hour or more, and/or hail of one-inch in diameter or more. Friday, the severe weather focus will be on Flash Floods.

Anytime you encounter flooding on the roadways, remember to “Turn around, don’t drown.”

All Iowans should have a severe weather emergency plan. Preparations include:

• Being aware of weather hazards by signing up for emergency notifications through Alert Iowa (alert.iowa.gov) or use a NOAA Weather Radio or other type of alerting tool.
• Think about where you will go and what actions you will need to take to stay safe if you are impacted by severe weather. Designate a shelter – Establish shelter zones at home and work. Look for a secure place underground, like a basement or cellar. If these options aren’t available, choose a small room without windows, such as a closet, on the lowest level of the structure.
• Make a family emergency plan and have a conversation with your loved ones about the importance of being prepared. Practice your disaster response plans at least twice a year. Regular drills help everyone learn the safety procedures and they let you test and tweak your plan so you can be better prepared in a real emergency.
• Build an emergency kit with items you and your family will need if you must evacuate your home. In the event of a power outage or severe weather, it’s good to have certain supplies on hand, including a first aid kit, a tool kit, blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, and a list of important phone numbers.
• Additional severe weather tips and information can be found at www.weather.gov, and on social media.