Jamicá C. Ashley
Entering into a month known for its dominating weather, Edgecombe County is ready to tackle just about any kind of severe weather.
Gov. Beverly Perdue declared Feb. 28 - March 6 as severe weather awareness week and encouraged North Carolinians to be on the lookout for severe weather as they eagerly await the arrival of spring.
"We never know when or where a tornado will strike," she said. "You may only have a few minutes warning. That is why it is so critical to have emergency plans in place."
Butch Beach, director of emergency services for Edgecombe County, said that the county has an emergency preparedness plan in place that can be adapted to fit any disaster, natural or manmade.
"The last time we fully used the county's plan was during Hurricane Floyd but it is used at least once a year through drills," Beach said.
Beach explained that once a year, the county manager along with the various department heads come together to do an emergency drill. When Heritage Hospital or the county health department conduct their annual drills, the county's plan is also put into action.
The state is currently overlooking the county's emergency preparedness plan, Beach said, with updates made every three to four years.
"The state has sent someone here who works on our plan and makes recommendations," he said. "Where there is a need, we make adjustments."
For biological emergencies like the norovirus or H1N1, a generic medical plan is used that can be applied uniformly to any type of medical emergency.
"Our hurricane plans are a little different than our tornado plan or our snow and ice plan," Beach explained. "We wouldn't want people out on the roads trying to get to a shelter if they're calling for ice and snow. We don't want people to get hurt."
March, May and November are the deadliest months for tornadoes in the state and Perdue urges North Carolinians to develop and practice their emergency plan before an actual emergency happens.
This preparedness includes developing a family disaster plan and emergency supply kit in an easy to access location.
Beach advises people to keep up with the weather and be as prepared as possible.
"The older generation did this. because they lived on farms and raised their own food they paid close attention to the weather and had a sense of it," he said. "Our younger generation needs to be more aware. They have a lot of information to pull from.
"Everyone should have a kit put together in case the power goes out," continued Beach. "They should have enough food and supplies on hand to survive without too much discomfort."
Last year was active when it came to tornadoes with the National Weather Service recording 33 tornadoes and issuing 70 tornado warnings. Four of those twisters had winds in excess of 110 mph and caused a combined total of at least $3 million in damages.
People are encouraged to listen to radio or television or a weather channel when severe weather is likely.
Among the first steps in safety is being able to clearly identify a threat. A tornado watch and a tornado warning sound similar in name but are different.
A tornado watch indicates that the conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado and that a tornado is possible. A tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been seen or has appeared on the radar.
For more information on putting together a emergency kit, visit www.readync.gov.
