Tornado Preparedness tips as peak storm season rolls around

Ark-La-Miss . (KTVE/KARD) —

Severe weather is at its peak here in Spring time over the Ark-La-Miss. Tornadoes have the potential to strike at any moment if the conditions and atmospheric ingredients are there.

Based on previous megaphone result, asking if residents were prepared for a tornado situation. It was a 50/50 split between the people of the Ark-La-Miss on whether they were prepared or not. Chief Meteorologist Jarod Floyd provided some tornado preparedness tips.

Even with the lack of severe weather this season, tornadoes and severe weather can form at any moment with the right ingredients. Unfortunately the Ruston tornado 5 years ago is a great example of a tornado forming at any moment and leaving lasting effects.

We really haven’t had a whole lot of severe weather event so far this season, but lat April, early May is typically kind of a peak for sever weather in this area. So make sure that you review that severe weather plan with your friends and your family an make sure that everybody knows where to go when a tornado warning gets issued. It’s not a matter of if we’ll get one, just truly a matter of when

Chief Meteorologist Jarod Floyd | KTVE/KARD

Having a plan with your family and friends and having ways of communicating with them lets them know where to go. A couple other things besides having a sheltered place is to know what weather has been forecasted, know the signs of a tornado, and have extra food and supplies.

So when folks really ask what kind of tornado shelter is best, obviously indoors in a sturdy shelter in your home, try to put as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Interior portion of your home, away from windows and doors, think of a hallway, or closet, or an interior bathroom. And the key is to put as many walls between you and the outside as possible

Chief Meteorologist Jarod Floyd | KTVE/KARD

Any indoor shelter away from any doors and windows are great protection, but what if caught in your car. If you can take an angle away from the tornado and drive away from it. If that is not an option and there is no shelter nearby, look for an area lower than the roadway and car and lie down on the ground. If that is not an option stay in the car with your seat belt on and duck with a jacket over you.

Well the most important thing to remember is that tornado’s impact a very very small area, so while a tornado a tornado warning is issued, even within that warning, it’s usually only a very small area that’s impacted. So when a warning is issued for your area and the alerts go off on your phone, don’t panic, act quickly, and find shelter.

Chief Meteorologist Jarod Floyd | KTVE/KARD

The most important thing is stay weather aware and too be prepared. Find a safe space, have multiple ways of receiving weather updates as the weather team provides them and to stay calm. Weather can happen at any time and it’s better be prepared and not scared.