Emergency officials urging residents to secure immediate notification systems and practice family safety drills during this Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Overton County Assistant EMA Director Eric Stephens said that relying solely on smartphone apps or social media can result in critical time gaps during a storm. He noted that Wi-Fi signals or third-party alert systems often experience delays ranging from 30 seconds to over a minute and a half.
“From what my experience is, that alert is immediate when the National Weather Service posts that and it’s in your grid, and your alert goes off, that’s immediate threat, you know, immediate post of your notification, where other people pushing alerts it could have a delay,” Stephens said.
Stephens said effective planning involves knowing family schedules and identifying safe locations within the home, such as an inner room or storm shelter.
“So having that plan or a plan of action and practicing it every once in a while tends to help in my experience of just our jobs that we do,” Stephens said. “You know, if you practice what we do, it comes second nature sometimes.”
Stephens said it is recommend to stock vehicles and homes with essential supplies like extra batteries and blankets.
“Go through those scenarios whether it’s heavy snow or flooding or tornadoes or down power lines, go through those scenarios with each other,” Stephens said.
The goal of these preparations is to prevent panic when chaos arises during an actual emergency, Stephens said, saying that residents often react differently to forecasts, with some failing to heed warnings while others empty grocery stores unnecessarily.
“Just be safe and stay alert,” Stephens said.
Residents are encouraged to utilize NOAA Weather Radios to ensure they receive warnings even if standard communications fail.