A resident of one of Adairsville's tornado-ravaged areas walks through debris left in the street from the Jan. 30 tornado. Photo courtesy of Erin Gray/Neighbor Newspapers.

Georgia has already seen a fair amount of wild weather this year, and with spring arriving in March, the trend is likely to continue. That's all the more reason for Georgians to pay attention during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which began March 3.

 

Georgia residents deal with a wide range of weather threats throughout the year, said Scott Minarcine, public health emergency preparedness director for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

 

"We all remember the ice storm in 2011 and how difficult it was to move around and get to the store for several days. We also face threats from flooding due to rain storms and widespread damage that can be caused by tornadoes and hurricanes, both of which Georgia has experienced in the past," he said.

 

Georgia offers a number of resources to help people be as prepared as possible for such weather events.

 

"Residents can get pretty much all of the information they might need about getting prepared for disasters at http://www.ready.ga.gov/. Georgia also has an award-winning app for smartphones, which can augment your preparedness planning," Minarcine said.

 

Being prepared is all about planning ahead. The standard list for emergency kits includes food, water, flashlights and other vital items. But some items are frequently overlooked and can be very important, such as toys and other entertainment for children, said J. Patrick O'Neal, M.D., DPH's director of health protection.

 

O'Neal said thinking about extended time alone at home with limited or no utility service due to weather should prompt residents to keep items that can help them deal with the unexpected, such as "items necessary to support a pregnant female who has to deliver a baby while sheltering in place."

 

With the strong likelihood of severe weather occurring and the sizable impact of the consequences, why are more people not prepared?

 

"Some people remain unprepared primarily because they are 'too busy,' and they believe disasters happen to others but not to them," O'Neal said.

 

"Preparedness requires people to think long-term. In our constantly moving, always-on environment, this can be challenging," Minarcine said. "There really are some simple steps one can take to get prepared for an emergency. It's often simply about taking the time to actually sit down and do it."