Brandon Twp – This is only a test ? but pay attention.
At 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23 the Emergency Response and Preparedness Department of Oakland County will kickoff Severe Weather Awareness Week by sounding more than 215 alarms all over the county.
The first tornado warnings of the season will be tested on a weekday, then subsequent alerts will continue throughout the season on the first Saturday of each month.
‘We do the first test during the week so businesses and schools have an opportunity to prepare, in case something does happen,? said Tracy McGee, Emergency Management Coordinator in the Office of Emergency Response Preparedness Department at Oakland County.
‘The purpose of the test is to make citizens and businesses aware of the importance of tornado safety.?
According to ERPD website information, tornadoes can occur at anytime of the day or night and in any month of the year.
However, tornado activity increases in late afternoon and evening hours during the months of April, May, June, and July.
McGee says advance planning and ample warning time to take cover is one of the best protected against a tornado.
In some cases there are only moments to react to the onset of a tornado so McGee suggests citizens should have a protection plan such as taking shelter in a basement or a more secure room such as a bathroom if a cellar is not available and to seek other shelter if living in a mobile home.
The National Weather Service website recommends basic safety locations could include shelters or small rooms on the lowest level in the center of the house or building.
No matter where you take shelter, the NWS suggests to get under something sturdy to protect your head, face, and body and always stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
McGee adds to never seek shelter in a vehicle or attempt to outrun a tornado. NWS suggests that if shelter is not available, lie flat in the nearest ditch, raving, or culvert with hands shielding head.
As McGee says that lead time is the best preparation for tornado safety, the 11 sirens placed throughout Brandon Township and the 8 in Groveland is an efficient way to get the attention of people outdoor and the areas campgrounds, parks, and golf courses, which are areas where people may not be aware of a storm moving in.
‘While we don’t dictate where the sirens should be placed because communities know better than we do where advance warnings are most needed,? said McGee. ‘We do recommend placement in the most vulnerable areas such as mobile home communities, parks, and then the most populated areas,? she continued.
Brandon Fire Chief Bob McArthur says the department has already begun preparing for tornado season by observing fire drills at the schools as well as review procedures for the village and township facilities to be sure they all know what the plan of action will be in the event of severe weather.
‘We assist the schools with their drills to check and insure the procedures are followed then do a review to make the adjustments to what they are doing, if we need to,? McArthur said.
According to the office of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who along with Governor Jennifer Granholm declared the week of March 21, Severe Weather Awareness Week, more than 199 severe weather events were recorded in 2003.
More than 170 severe weather warnings were sounded, which far exceeded the nine-year average of 128 per season. Of the 170 warnings, 75 percent proved to be severe weather occurrences.