Severe Weather Awareness Week kicked off Monday in Georgia, a time when residents are encouraged to set aside a few minutes each day to prepare for unexpected events, practice emergency response procedures for all types of weather and learn more about local threats.

With last week’s snowstorm and the recent record-breaking cold temperatures highlighting the effects of severe weather, representatives of Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia campaign say there is no better time to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of a disaster.

The activities began Monday with Family Preparedness Day, when all Georgia households were encouraged to program their NOAA Weather Radios and create a family communications plan. On Friday, citizens are encouraged to participate in a statewide tornado drill at 9 a.m. (Note: this is a rescheduling; the tornado drill was initially planned for Wednesday.)

Severe Weather Awareness Week’s specific observations are:
Tuesday — thunderstorm safety
Thursday — lightning safety
Friday — statewide tornado drill, flood safety

To help Georgians prepare for severe weather, Ready Georgia offers tools that residents can use to create an emergency supply kit, develop a communications plan and stay informed about potential threats. An interactive Web site provides detailed information on Georgia-specific emergency preparedness and allows users to create a personal profile and receive a customized checklist and family communications plan.

Employers can use the Ready Your Business guide to create custom contingency plans, and children can visit the ReadyKids page for age-appropriate information, videos and games. For preparedness on the go, families can also download Ready Georgia’s free mobile app.

For more information on how to prepare for severe weather, visit www.ready.ga.gov.