4/25/2006

SD Public Safety: Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

More than 15-thousand South Dakota customers lost power last week during a spring blizzard in the Black Hills area, and some of those people weren’t prepared for it. The South Dakota Office of Emergency Management wants to make sure that when severe weather strikes again, South Dakotans are prepared.

April 24-28, 2006, is Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The office of Emergency Management is encouraging all South Dakotans to prepare for severe weather by making an emergency kit, putting together an emergency plan, and by staying informed about impending severe weather.

To help encourage preparedness, this year the state in conjunction with the National Weather Service is organizing a statewide tornado drill. It will happen on Wednesday April 26. The test watch starts at 10 a.m. central time (9 a.m. mountain time). The test warning is set for 10:15 a.m. central time (9:15 a.m. mountain time).

Additionally the state has supplied assisted living facilities, schools, and senior centers throughout South Dakota with updated severe weather preparedness guides. Libraries also received the guides along with severe weather preparedness bookmarks.

Emergency supply kits should include: Enough food and water for at least three days A battery powered radio/ NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)Weather Radio First aid kit Garbage bags Whistle Wrench or pliers A manual can opener Waterproof matches Hardwired phone Extra house/car keys Copies of legal papers

Emergency plans should include: How your family will get/stay in contact during a disaster An out-of-state contact person for your family A meeting place Several destinations the family can escape to Alternative routes for getting to those destinations

Stay informed by: Talking to your county emergency manager about disasters that could strike your community Visiting www.ready.gov  for ways to prepare yourself and your family for disaster.