Severe Weather Awareness Week Feb. 27-March 5

With spring approaching, the City of Naperville reminds all residents to be prepared for severe weather conditions such as flooding, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Illinois Severe Weather Awareness Week is taking place now through March 5, making this week an excellent opportunity for residents and businesses to review their severe weather procedures and plans.

Severe weather in the form of tornadoes, deadly lightning, flash floods, damaging winds and destructive hail strike Illinois each spring, summer and fall, sometimes with incredible force. The city encourages all residents to develop a safety plan for use in your home, workplace, school and vehicle. The city has produced an Emergency Preparedness Guide to assist residents in creating a plan. A copy of this document is available on the city's website at www.naperville.il.us/emergencyprepguide.aspx. More information on how to prepare for severe weather is available at www.naperville.il.us/severestormweek.aspx. The National Weather Service also has a webpage available to view featuring information about severe weather safety at http://bit.ly/dJZXLq.

“It is essential that all community members understand how to prepare for severe weather and have an emergency plan in place,” Community Relations Manager Nadja Lalvani said. “This is a great time of year to review your family emergency plan and check the contents of your family disaster supply kit. Taking proactive steps now to be prepared will make our community safer and better prepared to respond in the event of an emergency.”

The city offers the following tips to stay safe during the upcoming storm season:

• Always pay attention to severe weather watches and warnings.

• Be aware of multiple ways to receive up-to-date weather information.

• Know what to do if the city's outdoor warning sirens have been activated.

• During a severe weather event, if you are inside a structure, make your way to a pre-designated shelter area such as the safe room, basement, storm cellar or lowest level of the building.

• During a severe weather event, if you are in a vehicle, leave the vehicle and find a structure with a safe shelter area as described above. If you cannot find a structure, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding at any time.

The city conducts outdoor warning siren testing the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. As a reminder to residents, if the steady tone of the outdoor warning sirens is heard at any other time, it is a signal that an emergency is occurring in the community. The weather siren is used to alert the public that a tornado has been sighted and is approaching the community. When the steady tone is heard during severe weather, it is imperative to find shelter immediately. Residents should tune in to their preferred local media outlet for weather updates.

Consistent with national weather service recommendations, the city does not issue any cancellation tones. This is intended to minimize confusion if another tornado is sighted within the same period. Members of the community should monitor radio and TV reports and use their best judgment to decide when to leave their shelter.

For more information on Emergency Preparedness, visit the city's website at www.naperville.il.us/nema.aspx. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.