Officially Storm Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Today marks the beginning of April, which means it is also officially the beginning of storm season in Oklahoma. We, as Oklahomans, are not naïve to extreme weather and tornadoes. However, that does not mean that we shouldn’t prepare and be ready for if and when extreme weather conditions do escalate.

First, it is important to be aware of the weather conditions in your area. Keep your eyes and ears on the news and make sure to follow all instructions given by the National Weather Service, which I fought so hard to keep operational because of how vital and valuable it is during times like storm season in Oklahoma. To receive real time alerts from the National Weather Service, safety tips, and help finding safety shelters and disaster recovery centers, download the mobile app available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) here. You can also contact your local county commissioner or mayor to find public storm shelters in your area.

Additionally, if you or a loved one are deaf or hard of hearing and are worried about hearing the storm alerts, there are unique alerts available through the Oklahoma Weather Alert Remote Notification (OK-WARN). This service provides notifications of weather hazards and emergencies to Oklahomans via pager, e-mail, or cell phone. To learn more about these life-saving alerts, click here.

Next, have a severe weather kit on hand that can help ensure you stay safe if a storm hits. Emergency kits should always contain a flashlight, water, a whistle, a first aid kit, and batteries. For more resources and helpful tips in building your emergency kit, click here.

You should also have a clear and concise plan that is easy to follow for your household in the event of an emergency. An emergency plan should include where to shelter, an evacuation route, how to communicate with those inside your household, how you will receive emergency alerts and warnings and much more. For guidance in making your plan, click here.

To assure you are prepared on all fronts, ask your place of employment to go over its emergency preparedness plan for severe weather. You can also find resources here to help ensure your children, their educators, or others responsible for their safety have a plan and know what to do before, during, and after inclement weather.

If disaster does strike and your home is without power, know what is safe to use inside your home for backup energy and heating sources. It is necessary to understand that when certain sources are used inappropriately, you can be exposed to toxic carbon monoxide. Be careful that you are using portable generators and combustion or gas-burning appliances as intended. Review the following information from the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) here to ensure you are not breathing in toxic fumes.

Finally, if your property suffers damage from severe weather, it is vital to report damage so our state can accurately understand the full extent of damage a storm has caused. If you have damage caused by future storms, be sure to report it. 

Our past experiences serve as a sobering reminder that we must be ready at a moment's notice to face tornadoes and other unpredictable weather patterns. The best way to ensure safety for ourselves, our families, and loved ones is to be prepared. As severe weather season begins across our state in the weeks and months ahead, please take all the necessary steps to prepare and stay safe.