Severe Weather Preparedness Week March 1-5, 2021

The City of St. Louis Emergency Management Agency joins the state of Missouri in observing Severe Weather Preparedness Week starting Monday, March 1, 2021. Spring is traditionally a period where the threat of high winds, hail and lightning from tornados and severe thunderstorms greatly increases in the St. Louis area. Severe Weather Preparedness Week is an annual reminder to review your emergency plans and prepare for weather-related hazards. Everyone should know how they will receive emergency information, what actions their family will take when severe weather strikes, and what supplies they should keep in their emergency kits to help them during and after a storm.

The National Weather Service and State Emergency Management Agency have planned the Missouri Statewide Tornado Drill for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Residents should treat the drill as they would an actual tornado warning, by seeking shelter immediately in an interior room on the lowest level of a building, avoiding windows and doors. The outdoor warning sirens WILL NOT be used to signal the drill due to Election Day in the City of St. Louis. Each person will need to signal the drill on their own.

Each person who lives or works in the City of St. Louis is strongly advised to subscribe for emergency alerts from NotifySTL and download the Everbridge mobile app which powers NotifySTL. You can register online at stlouis-mo.gov/notifystl.

Severe Weather Week Highlights

• Monday: Receiving Information and Alerts
  Receiving information from NOAA Weather Radio, NotifySTL Alerts, and outdoor warning sirens
• Tuesday: Tornado Safety and Tornado Drill (weather permitting)
  Learning where to shelter during a tornado warning
• Wednesday: Lightning Safety
  How to stay safe when lightning strikes
• Thursday: Hail/Wind Safety
  Lessen the danger and damage of hail and wind events
• Friday: Flood Safety
  Floodwaters have many hidden dangers, how to stay safe when the water rises

“Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a great opportunity for everyone to practice their emergency procedures and test out their shelter spaces; ahead of what is usually a busy spring storm season,” said Gary Christmann, Commissioner of the City Emergency Management Agency. Throughout the week, stay tuned to the City of St. Louis Emergency Management’s social media accounts for important tips and safety information. Tornado drill participants are encouraged to share photos of their protective actions on social media with the hashtag #IAmReadySTL for an opportunity to be featured.

Our partners at the City of St. Louis Department of Health remind you to keep items readily available in the event you need to shelter in place, including during a pandemic. This includes bottled water, canned or dried food, battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries for the radio and flashlight, prescription medicine, and a first-aid kit.

“Being prepared before an emergency hits is only one of three main steps to make sure you and your family are ready for any emergency,” says Dr. Frederick Echols, acting director of health for the City of St. Louis. “Be “Ready in 3” by also creating a plan and listening for the latest information from organizations like the City Emergency Management Agency. These simple steps will help you keep your family safe.”

For additional information on preparing for emergencies visit: www.stlouis-mo.gov/ema. Visit the City of St. Louis Emergency Management’s social media pages for more information on Severe Weather Preparedness Week:

• https://twitter.com/CityEMA
• https://www.facebook.com/STLHSEMA/