WASHINGTON – Potentially severe weather forecasts through the weekend prompted FEMA on Thursday to urge residents from a wide area of the country to stay alert and be prepared.
The National Weather Service predicts intense and widespread severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes in some areas.
Severe weather, that could include long-track tornadoes, may occur from Friday afternoon into the overnight hours for a large portion of the Middle Mississippi Valley and the Mid-South, FEMA said. This dangerous weather risk will continue eastward into the Lower Ohio and Tennessee Valley.
FEMA recommends that anyone living in these areas take steps now ahead of the storms:
- Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the free FEMA App to get real-time emergency alerts from the National Weather Service, and to find a nearby shelter if you evacuate
- Pay attention to local alerts and warnings.
- As you prepare for a disaster, check on neighbors and folks in your community to see if they are doing the same or help them get started.
- Keep in mind older adults may need extra assistance to prepare for the storms. Visit Ready.gov/seniors for more information. Visit Individuals with Disabilities to learn more about helping people with special needs prepare.
- Clear any large or loose materials near your property to prepare for dangerous weather. Dead trees, hanging branches and loose objects in your yard or patio could become dangerous projectiles during severe winds.
- Have a plan for your pets. Many shelters will not allow animals.
For more help, FEMA suggests people visit Ready.gov/plan and use the new “Make a Plan” fillable form to walk through all the steps to create a family plan.
Remain alert, keep your cell phone charged and take steps to prepare now to potentially save lives and protect property when severe weather strikes.