Plan and Prepare During Severe Weather Awareness Week

Severe Weather Awareness Week is underway in Forsyth County and across Georgia through Friday. This annual observance is designed to educate Georgians about a variety of severe weather-related topics.

As part of the statewide drill for severe weather awareness week, the county's severe weather sirens sounded off at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday and some of you herad those sirens and commented on our Facebook fan page.

Heard it Loud and Clear in South Forsyth!

I heard them loud and clear in West Forsyth!

Heard it while driving, was wondering what was up!

Heard them loud and clear this morning. I kept looking out the window wondering I'd I had missed something.

Ooh how scary!! That's one way to get you up!!!

Also heard it at Forsyth Dawson county line! Thanks for the info.

Never heard a thing. I live off of Jot-em-down.

Didn’t hear a thing over here off Bannister.

There are 17 outdoor severe weather sirens located throughout the county, designed to notify residents who are outdoors that severe weather is in the area. The sirens are activated (warning tone) in the event Forsyth County is placed under a tornado warning. Regular monthly testing of the audible siren (test tone) takes place at noon on the first Wednesday of every month, weather permitting.

During Severe Weather Awareness Week residents are encouraged to get ready for unexpected events, practice emergency response procedures for all types of severe weather and learn more about threats.

“While this awareness campaign lasts just one week, we cannot stress enough how vitally important it is to be prepared year-round and most especially during the months of March and April, when our area tends to experience severe weather,” said Fire Chief and Emergency Management Agency Director Danny Bowman.

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“We encourage all residents to assemble a disaster supply kit and develop a family disaster plan to better prepare themselves for severe weather or other emergency situations that they may encounter,” Bowman said.

When assembling a disaster supply kit, some of the items recommended for inclusion are:

• Water: one gallon per person per day, for at least 3 days
• Food: at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food
• Can opener
• Radio: battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps

When developing an emergency plan, consider including topics such as the following:

• Know how you will contact one another and reconnect if separated.
• Establish a family meeting place that is familiar and easy to find.
• Address the unique needs of pets, older loved ones and family members with special needs in your plan.

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency encourages residents to sign up for weather alert notifications, for use in concert with the county’s outdoor severe weather sirens and a NOAA weather radio. Click here to get started.

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