The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is asking residents to prepare for the potential of severe weather starting on Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. The National Weather Service (NWS) says severe storms, damaging winds and tornadoes are possible for a majority of the state.
MEMA is urging the public to be mindful of those threats when traveling and participating in any Halloween activities.
“Families need to be mindful of the weather forecast as we approach Wednesday, and the festivities typically celebrated on Halloween,” said Executive Director Greg Michel. “As cold fronts approach, we typically see dramatic shifts in temperature. These combinations of weather in the fall can usher severe storms including tornados.”
There are several ways to receive severe weather warnings:
- NOAA Weather Radio: An essential tool that should be in every home or business.
- Wireless Emergency Alert: Make sure these notifications are turned “on” in your phone settings.
- Smartphone Weather Applications.
- MEMA’s social media platforms; Facebook and Twitter.
- Local radio and TV stations.
- Community tornado sirens.
MEMA and the National Weather Service both recommend you take the following steps:
- Know your family emergency plan in case a weather warning is issued.
- Know where you will go and what you will do if a warning is issued while you are on the road or away from home.
- Check and restock your emergency supply kit in case you are without electricity for an extended period of time.
The State Emergency Operations Center will monitor the storms as they pass through the state and release any updates as they become available.
For detailed preparedness information download the MEMA mobile app to your smartphone by searching Mississippi EMA in your app store. Also visit MEMA’s website at www.msema.org. The best way to get up-to-date information is to “Like” MEMA on Facebook, or “Follow” us on Twitter @msema.