Stay Weather-Ready: Ohio’s Severe Weather Awareness Week kicks off

LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - While the weather is quiet today, now is a great time to review your severe weather plans ahead of the spring tornado season.

This week is Ohio’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, giving Ohioans the opportunity to build their emergency kits with essential supplies such as water, food, a battery-powered weather radio and a first aid kit. It’s also a good time to sit down with your household and go over where to go if severe weather strikes. With a record 74 tornadoes touching down in Ohio last year, Allen County EMA Director Jared Gesler has some shelter recommendations to consider.

“For at home, always a basement is the best option, so if you have that, make sure that you have access and that you can get there easily. If not, that interior room that's away from exterior walls and windows is always the best option. Keep an eye on the weather before you're going out, so if there are talks of tornadoes and stuff, make sure you are aware of that before we get into committing to be outside and away from any shelters,” advises Jared Gesler, Allen County EMA Director.

It’s also important not to rely solely on tornado sirens for weather alerts. Be sure to find additional methods to receive critical information.

“Tornado sirens are meant to be to alert people who are outside. It's not intended for you to hear them- if you hear them from inside, good but the intention, the intended audience is those who are outside. Keep an eye on your local weather apps and your weather service, keep an eye on your local news, and sign up for Alert Allen County. You can do that at allen-ema.com,” adds Gesler.

There will be a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. Gesler adds that the National Weather Service’s Northern Indiana office will travel to Lima at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, for storm spotter training at the Allen County Homeland Security building.

To sign up, visit the National Weather Service Northern Indiana’s website.