Jonathan Zweygardt
Hays Post
While it may not yet feel like it, spring is just a few days away and with the spring like temperatures brings the chance for severe weather. This week is severe weather preparedness week in the state of Kansas and emergency officials are urging everyone to take time this week and create an emergency plan.
According to the National Weather Service last year was the quietest season since 1994 with 56 tornadoes in Kansas with no fatalities and just one injury reported. The first tornado was reported April 7th in Russell County.
Also last year there were four tornadoes reported in Ellis County. According to Ellis County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Ring in the last 63 years there have been 57 tornadoes reported in Ellis County with just six injuries and no fatalities.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages everyone to create an emergency kit filled with basic household items you may need in a disaster. According to their website getready.gov here are some of the items they recommend putting in your kit:
• Water, one gallon of water per person for at least three days
• At least a three day supply of non-perishable food
• A NOAA Weather Radio
• A flashlight with extra batteries
• A first aid kit
Ring also recommended keeping cash in your emergency kit. “When you have no power you have no ATM machines you can’t pump gas and if the stores are open their electric cash registers don’t work so they’re not gonna take credit.”
The National Weather Service also recommends developing a plan of action, have frequent drills and listen to local radio and television stations for information.
FEMA has created an Emergency Supply List with a list of items that they recommend keeping in your emergency kits and it can be found at ready.gov, at the Ellis County Court House in Law Enforcement Center and at the Eagle Radio Studios at 2300 Hall Street in Hays.
The National Weather Service’s Storm spotter training meeting is scheduled for April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at Sternberg Museum.