Casper Should Prepare Now For Severe Weather [VIDEO]

April 22nd through Arpil 28th, is national severe weather preparedness week. The initiative highlights the importance of planning and practicing how and where to take shelter prior to severe weather hitting, such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

As Casper enters or severe thunderstorm season - May through July, being prepared can help protect your family and property.

All thunderstorms are dangerous. Associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail and flash flooding. Flash flooding is responsible for more fatalities than any other thunderstorm associated hazard.

Around Casper and Central Wyoming, dry thunderstorms (storms that do not produce rain that reaches the ground) are more prevalent than they are in southern and eastern states. Falling raindrops evaporate, but lightning can still reach the ground. This could become a big problem for us in central Wyoming this summer, due mostly to the dry and warm spring we've been enjoying.

Source: ready.gov

A few minutes of planning and preparing will help you in any severe weather emergency.

To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.

Postpone outdoor activities.

Remember the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage.

Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.

Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.

Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades or curtains.

Unplug any electronic equipment well before the storm arrives.

Natrona County Residence Should Register For CODERED

Citizens and Businesses should ensure their phone numbers and cell numbers are registered with CODERED by visiting – Natrona.net and clicking on the link in the lower right corner of the page.

If someone does not have access to the internet, the can call the Natrona County Emergency Management office at 235-9205 to register a phone number.

IPhone User? Get the CodeRED Mobile Alert app – HERE