Severe weather comes in many forms, and it seems as if St. Charles County has had its share of late. In December we saw a tornado in the Defiance area, and so far this year, we’ve had several days of freezing rain, sleet, ice, and snow along with high winds and flooding, as well as a scattering of days of unseasonably warm temperatures—sometimes all in the same week!
March 7-11 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Missouri, but you can rest assured St. Charles County Regional Emergency Management (REM) is watching and preparing for severe weather every day of the year.
“Along with coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions, state and federal agencies during disasters, monitoring weather and satellite data to provide warnings and information to the public is an important emergency management function,” says REM Director and St. Charles County Police Captain Chris Hunt. “Public warning systems such as the outdoor warning sirens, cell phone alerts, weather radio alerts, and emergency cable television broadcasts can be initiated directly from the County’s Emergency Operations Center. We are constantly educating the public about the importance of heeding to these warning systems and alerts. Severe Weather Preparedness Week is another great opportunity for us to do so.”
While emergency responders and government agencies plan and train to respond to disasters of all sizes and types, it is critical for individuals and families to be able to sustain themselves until professional help can arrive or vital services, such as electricity, can be restored. Visit the REM website to learn about how to prepare for severe weather.