TORNADO, SEVERE STORM AWARENESS WEEK
Monday, April 20th, 2009 -- 11:35 AM
Spring is a time of transitions.Of course, Monday we have a chance of snow, but by the end of the week, we could be in the upper 70s.
Today marks the beginning of [url=http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov/]Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week[/url] in Wisconsin.
Clark County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Lord-Kouraichi says, while we're not ?Tornado Alley,? Wisconsin has seen their share of tornadoes.
"Since the 1800s, we've had 34 confirmed tornadoes in Clark County. This has led to deaths and injuries," she says, "so, tornadoes are a risk."
And while this is Tornado Awareness Week, they tend to hit later in the year.
"Looking at the historical record in Clark County, it seems they are more common in June and July," she notes.
State emergency management officials are planning a statewide tornado drill on Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service will issue mock tornado warnings around the state. State officials say many schools and businesses traditionally run drills in conjunction with the warnings.
Meanwhile, people should prepare for the real thing by putting together disaster supply kits and learning the area where they live well so they can track storms movement from weather bulletins.
Wisconsin sees an average of 21 tornadoes a year.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.