From tornadoes to lightning to floods, Georgia is susceptible to a variety of natural disasters. Severe weather is dangerous and can strike with very little warning, which is why it’s important to get ready in advance. Severe Weather Awareness Week runs from February 4 - 8, and it’s a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared.

Each day in Severe Weather Awareness Week focuses on a different type of threat faced by Georgians. Catoosa County EMA is encouraging all residents to take a few minutes to learn about how to deal with each emergency situation by visiting Ready Georgia website at ready.ga.gov.

“During severe weather, emergency workers might need at least three days to open roadways and restore utilities,” says Director Steve Quinn of Catoosa County EMA “If you are prepared to survive independently, it not only helps your family, it also frees up our resources to quickly deal with the most urgent threats.”

The week’s activities begin with Family Preparedness Day on Feb. 4, when Catoosa County households are encouraged to program their NOAA Weather Radios and create Ready Profiles. With a Ready Profile, you can create a customized checklist of emergency supplies and a tailored family communications plan.

On Wednesday, when tornado safety is emphasized, a statewide tornado drill will be issued by the National Weather Service. Severe Weather Awareness Week’s specific observations are:

Monday, Feb. 4 – Family Preparedness/NOAA Weather Radio Day

Tuesday, Feb. 5 – Thunderstorm Safety

Wednesday, Feb. 6 – Tornado Safety and Statewide Tornado Drill (issued by NWS)

Thursday, Feb. 7 – Lightning Safety

Friday, Feb. 8 – Flood Safety (alternate tornado drill date)

Another valuable new tool for Catoosa residents is the Ready Georgia smartphone app. This free app, available for both iPhone and Android devices, provides mobile access to a variety of emergency preparedness tools.

In addition, NOAA Weather Radio is recommended as standard operating equipment in every home.

NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations dedicated to broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is the best way to hear watches and warning from the National Weather Service (NWS), even if they are issued in the middle of the night.