Paris, Tenn.–ARE YOU WEATHER READY? Henry County Emergency Management announces the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have declared February 19- 25, 2023 “Severe Weather Awareness Week”.
Henry County will be participating in several events throughout the week and month relating to severe weather preparedness.
According to Ron Watkins, Henry County Emergency Management Director, “The best way for residents to prepare for severe weather is to be weather aware and to have a shelter plan. Today’s electronic devices can assist in receiving important safety information so you can easily have advanced warning to take the proper steps to protect yourself and your family.”
Watkins is encouraging residents to use this year’s Severe Weather Aware- ness Week as an opportunity to prepare now for the spring storm season. It is important individuals, families, schools, businesses, and communities be ready now before severe weather strikes. Severe weather events impact lives and property in our county every year. The steps you take to plan for severe weather could make a life saving difference for you and your family during the next severe weather event.
This year Henry County has implemented a new Henry County Alert Notification System powered by Capsol DR Messenger Smart Phone Application. This application has been made available to our community by the Henry County Emergency
Communication Board. It is available for download for IPhone from the
Apple Store and Android from Google Play Store. This app will provide
public safety information from local officials such as law enforcement,
public works, emergency management and the National Weather Service.
After the DRMessenger App is downloaded, choose to allow notifications on your phone and use the code “HCA” to log in to the app. This code will allow Henry County notifications to be sent to your phone. Personal information is never collected from application.
On Wednesday, February 22rd, Henry County will participate in The National Weather Service 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 will give 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, 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. We are once again asking our Henry County folks to take a “safety selfie” in their safe locations and post to twitter/facebook @HenryCountyEMA.
Additionally, 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 is an excellent opportunity to practice your severe weather plans at home, at school and at work. Residents should use this week to make sure that they have access to some form of weather warning technology including NOAA All Hazard radios and weather warning Smartphone applications.
This year’s awareness week will include testing outdoor warning sirens in the county. The sirens at Paris City Hall, City of Henry , City of Cottage Grove, Paris Land- ing State Park and KOA campground will be tested on the morning of February 22nd. Residents should be mindful when a siren is activated, either a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning with dangerous high winds has been issued for their area. Consider moving indoors to shelter and seek information on local weather conditions.
“Henry County is vulnerable to different types of weather hazards and it is critical that our residents understand the threats, such as wind or flooding, have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings and have a plan to quickly get to a safe place when a warning is issued.” stated Watkins.
Additional ways to prepare 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 1000- watt transmitter provides up to the minute weather forecasts and advanced warning of approaching severe weather such as a tornado for Henry, Benton, Carroll and Weakley counties. Other ways to monitor for severe weather are text alerts and weather related phone apps which can alert you to severe weather in your area. Several Television Stations offer free weather apps that will push warning notifications directly to your phone. Watkins adds, “Advanced warning of severe weather is important to the safety of your family.
Watkins suggests families make preparedness plans and practice sheltering in safe areas of your home or work for severe weather. “Get to the lowest level possible and try to put as many walls as you can between yourself and outside. Use helmets, pillows or cushions to cover yourself when sheltering.” Consider creating an emergency supplies kit to include extra food, water, flashlights, batteries, extra cell phone battery chargers and stock kits with blankets, first aid supplies and small tools. Extra medication could also be useful if disaster strikes. If you live in manufactured housing, seek shelter in a sturdy building with family members, neighbors or community shelters.
Local residents are reminded community FEMA rated tornado safe shelters are provided for use by our local school districts when school is not in session. The Paris Special School District 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 has tornado safe shelters at Lakewood, Harrellson, and Henry Schools. The City of Cottage Grove has two tornado shelters next to Cottage Grove City Hall. Emergency Management coordinates with Henry County Sherrif Josh Frey and the Paris Police Chief Rick Watson when to open school shelters during forecasted high risk weather events. School Resource officers man and provide security at schools shelters when used. Please check local news media and social media for shelter openings.
The National Weather Service will feature a specific preparedness topic each day during the week as follows:
Sunday February 19 – Important Role of SKYWARN Spotters Monday
February 20 – Flooding & Flash Floods
Tuesday February 21 – Lightning, the Underrated Killer Wednesday
February 22 – Tornado Safety & Preparedness Drill Day Thursday
February 23 – Severe Thunderstorms
Friday February 24 – NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System Saturday February 25 – Importance of Social Media
To get more information contact the emergency management office at 644-2678 or visit the Henry County Emergency Management website at http://www.henrycountytn.org or visit the our facebook page, www.facebook.com/hcema.
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