Prepare Kansas

Tag: #PlanAhead

Severe Weather Awareness Week

March 7-11, 2022 has been designated as Severe Weather Preparedness Week by the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service in Topeka will conduct a Tornado Drill @ 10am Tuesday, March 8th. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the drill by practicing seeking secure, safe shelter from a tornado.

Kansas State University meteorologist Chip Redmond reminds us that weather in Kansas can change pretty quickly, so it’s important to know what to do in any situation in order to remain safe.

Redmond shares more weather preparedness tips here. Keep current with weather conditions in your area by visiting the website for the Kansas Mesonet, a network of more than 70 weather stations located throughout the state.

Learn more about Severe Weather Awareness Week and take the time to practice what you would do if faced with a real weather emergency.

Simple Steps Now Can Make Recovering from Emergencies Easier

Awareness of severe weather – plus the need to plan ahead – is important year-round, said Jan Steen, community vitality specialist with K-State Research and Extension.

“We have insurance on our crops, vehicles and homes should disaster strike, but how are we protecting our important data? Digital photos and videos, documents, and spreadsheets can be gone in a blink of an eye in a tornado or flood – and fire or theft at any time of year,” said Steen, a co-coordinator of the Kansas PRIDE Program and social media specialist.

Steen provided tips to prepare for a disaster, whether it’s a flooded basement in your own home or a community ravaged by fire:

  • Take photos or videos of your property and valuables. This visual inventory can help with the insurance claim process and will make identifying items to replace easier. Be sure to back those photos or videos up and to update them when you purchase new items.
  • Have an emergency plan. Know where to go in case of severe weather or fire.
  • Have an emergency kit you can grab on your way to a storm shelter or as you exit for a safer place in case of fire or flood.
  • Print paper copies of your most important documents. Business and household spreadsheets, insurance policies, bank account details, passports and drivers’ licenses. Put copies in your emergency kit or store off-site in a safe deposit box or with a family member. Add phone numbers of family and work contacts that aren’t memorized.
  • Consider using a cloud storage service (Google Drive, OneDrive, Drop Box, etc.) and back up your files regularly. In the event your computer is damaged or stolen you’ll have access to the files you need from another computer, tablet, or phone.
  • Perform regular backups to physical removable storage (thumb drives, secure digital or SD cards). These can be easily placed in your emergency kit or safe deposit box along with your paper copies.
  • Have an extra phone charging cable and plug for your emergency kit. The power may be out where you are, but if you need to shelter elsewhere, you have a way to charge your phone for important calls or for filing insurance claims.
  • For charging, also consider a portable power pack. These are about the size of a smartphone and allow you to charge a device anywhere from once to multiple times, depending on the model and brand. Be sure to keep the battery pack itself charged for when you need it most. Some portable NOAA weather radios have hand cranks to generate power and a USB port to charge your phone, which may be useful for long-term power outages.

Disasters Happen: Save for an Emergency

Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can.

Over 40 percent of all Americans don’t have $400 in savings according to the Federal Reserve. What will you do if there is an emergency or natural disaster? As a first step, consider setting aside a small amount from each paycheck to go into your savings account.

In this video, Kylie Ludwig from Wildcat Extension District, explains how to start get started.

Disasters Happen: Check Your Coverage

Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can.

Insurance if your first line of defense when it comes to recovering from a disaster. Check your coverage and take photos of important documents and personal belongings to help you quickly file a claim after an event. In this video, Kylie Ludwig from Wildcat Extension District, explains how to start get started.