UPDATE — The Statewide Tornado Drill that was planned for Wednesday of this week — March 23rd — has been postponed to Thursday, March 24th, due to impending weather.
Sheldon, Iowa — This is Severe Weather Awareness Week In Iowa. Each day this week, the National Weather Service Is focusing on a different severe weather topic. Today’s topic is warning reception.
One of the most important precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from severe weather is to remain weather aware — staying informed of the weather forecast and alert to the potential hazards.
Todd Heitkamp, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service says one of the most important questions they ask this week is how are you going to receive warning information?
While we here at KIWA provide detailed weather information, watches, and warnings, we realize that on days when severe weather may threaten the area, there are times when you can’t always listen, such as when you’re in church or during a meeting.
Heitkamp says there are many services available now including those available on the radio, apps, text messages, or emails on your cell phone, and weather radio to name a few. But he says to keep in mind that not all services work in all situations, and all of them can fail at the most important time — so you should have more than one way to get watches and warnings.
He also says that knowing about severe weather in the area doesn’t do any good if you don’t pay attention to the specifics — because warnings are not all the same — and then act on that information.
No matter how you are alerted to the fact that there is severe weather in the area, don’t forget to turn on KIWA Radio and listen for complete coverage while the storm system is in our area and producing severe weather.
For more information, click here for the National Weather Service’s Warning Reception Brochure.
