Weather Awareness
|  Video
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| Rob Martin |
| 11/6/2009 |
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| Every year Governor Hoeven declares two Severe Weather Awareness Weeks, and this week was one of them. It is a combined effort from many state agencies. Today marks the last day of the The Severe Winter Weather Awareness week, it`s held every year by the state of North Dakota. It is designed to make people mindful of the hazards they can face in the harsh winters of the Northern Plains. Winter storms can be decisive killers. "We want to get folks thinking much less about hail, high wind, and thunderstorms and more thinking about snow, freezing rain, and wind chill, all those types of things," says J.P. Martin, of the National Weather Service. It`s federal and state governments working together and also county government. We`ve got the National Weather Service, Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Department of Emergency Services, even the Game and Fish department. On the county level emergency managers are working with us to get the word out. During the week they cover many different topics including what is a watch or a warning. "One day we might talk about safety at home, how to stay safe at home with folks having alternate sources of heating and using those," says Martin. "How to be careful, having a winter survival kit in your vehicle is an important topic." Survival kits can be purchased at many local retailers and are available from the American Red Cross. They should include extra clothing, blankets, high energy food like peanuts, raisins, and even candy bars. Also having a flashlight with fresh batteries, along with a shovel and sand for if you get stuck are recommended. "We do this because being prepared for an emergency can prevent a tragedy, carrying a winter survival kit when you are in your car provides you reassurance as well as those who are waiting your return, that you will be safe until you are found in case you end up leaving the road in a winter snow storm," says Janet Schmitz, of the Red Cross. And after a winter like last, you cannot be too careful. There are two weather awareness weeks every year. The next one will be in the spring. |
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