Paris, Tenn.– Henry County Emergency Management wishes to announce the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have declared February 25- March 3, “Severe Weather Awareness Week”. Henry County and Paris –especially the schools–will be participating in several events throughout the week and month relating to severe weather preparedness.
According to Henry County Emergency Management Director Ron Watkins, “The best way for residents to prepare for severe weather is to be weather aware and have a shelter plan. Today’s electronic technology devices can assist in receiving important information so you can have some advanced warning to take the proper steps to protect yourself and your family.”
Director Watkins is encouraging residents to use this year’s Severe Weather Awareness Week as an opportunity to prepare early for the spring storm season. It is imperative that individuals, families, schools, businesses, and communities be ready now before severe weather strikes.
On March 2, Henry County will once again participate in The State Wide Tornado Drill Day. Watkins has asked local schools to practice facility tornado preparedness plans by conducting a tornado drill in each school. This gives the students and faculty an opportunity to practice the actual motions to go through if a real warning were given for our area. Each school in the county has a NOAA Weather Radio, AlertFM receivers, and access to immediate warning information. The “test warning” will be broadcasted by the National Weather Service at 9:30 AM Wednesday morning as the usual weekly test.
The Henry County Schools and Paris Special School District emergency radio communication systems will be tested by the county 911 dispatch center by passing along the “mock warning information.”
Local daycare and healthcare facilities, businesses, manufacturing plants, and government agencies are urged to participate by conducting tornado sheltering drills on Wednesday as well.
This year’s awareness week will include testing outdoor warning sirens in the county.
Emergency Management is pleased last year an outdoor warning siren was installed in the area of KOA Campground off at East Antioch Rd. It will be activated by radio link with 911 Dispatchers and Emergency Management.
Additionally, the sirens at Paris City Hall, City of Henry, City of Cottage Grove and Paris Landing will be tested on the morning of February 28th. Residents should be mindful when a siren is activated, either a tornado warning or severe thunder storm warning with high winds has been issued for their area. .
Other ways to prepare for severe weather includes purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio. Our area transmitter is located in the Vale community using the frequency 162.450 MHz and can be received on any standard NOAA Weather Radio. The broadcast transmission originates from the regional National Weather Service office in Memphis.
Local residents are reminded they have access to tornado safe shelters put into use by our local school systems. The Paris Special School District now has three tornado shelters. Inman School Community Tornado Shelter, Paris Elementary School and Rhea Elementary School all have tornado safe areas. Additionally, the Henry County School System have tornado safe shelters at Lakewood, Harrellson, and Henry Schools. School shelters are available for community use when school is not in session. Emergency Management and Law Enforcement officials will coordinate the opening during forecasted high risk weather events and will notify the public via news media and social media when opened. Henry County Sheriff, Monte Belew, has provided Sheriff Dept School Resource Officers of each school to monitor shelters when opened.
Our local Henry County Chapter of the American Red Cross continues to work with local churches as community shelters. The Red Cross coordinates shelter operations and insures readiness to open if needed should disaster strikes. Henry County has a few churches “certified” as Red Cross shelters.
To get involved, contact Heather Carbajal, Disaster Program Manager, through the emergency management office at 644-2678 or visit the Henry County Emergency Management website at http://www.henrycountytn.org
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