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Severe Weather Awareness Week

Severe Weather Awareness Week is in full swing across the Palmetto state, and each day is dedicated to a facet of hazardous weather.

The seven-day campaign, which began on Sunday, aims to inform the public about weather events, like severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods, that frequently threaten our area. The organizers of the campaign-- local National Weather Service (NWS) office officials, and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division-- hope that through this education and outreach, the public will become better equipped to protect their lives and property in the event of severe weather.

The schedule of topics for the week is as follows:

Sunday: Types of Severe Weather

Monday: Watches and Warnings

Tuesday: Ways to Stay Connected

Wednesday: Safety During Tornadoes and High Wind Events

Thursday: Flooding: Statistics and Hazards

Friday: Flooding: Staying Safe

Saturday: Post Storm: What to do

Great sources for information this week include social media pages of South Carolina NWS offices and South Carolina Emergency Management Offices. Some include: @NWSColumbia, @NWSGSP, @NWSCharlestonSC, @NWSWilmingtonNC, and @SCMED.

In addition, a statewide tornado drill will be held on Wednesday, March 9 at 9 AM. During this time, a test warning will be broadcasted over all NOAA Weather Radios. Schools, homes, and businesses are encouraged to participate by enacting their safety plan-- sheltering in the interior most part of a sturdy building, away from windows-- should a tornado threaten their area.

This week serves as a reminder that hazardous weather could occur in our area at any time. Although we can't prevent disaster from striking, we can prepare for it. In addition to educating ourselves on the dangerous that storms pose, we can develop shelter-in-place and evacuation plans for our families. For more tips on how to prepare, visit https://scemd.org/prepare/your-emergency-plan/