The MU Family Impact Center will be hosting a storm preparedness class on Tuesday, June 30. Families can learn how to prepare for severe storms and tornadoes, as well as create a family disaster plan.
MU Extension Regional Housing Specialist Tom Fuhrman will be leading the class, and said finding a place to seek shelter in case of severe weather is of utmost importance.
“For most people, including people in rural areas, it’s important to designate a place where you can shelter where you are at,” Fuhrman said. “That would be an interior room, a basement, something that has reinforced walls such as an interior bathroom.”
Fuhrman also said collecting important documents like insurance papers and putting them in their shelter area is something that people often overlook when preparing for severe weather.
Preparing specifically for tornadoes is a topic that will also be covered during the class.
KOMU Channel 8 Meteorologist Kenton Gewecke said that having a NOAA Weather Radio can help warn families of approaching tornadoes.
“A lot of people don’t know that tornado sirens are actually only made for outdoor folks. They’re not supposed to alert people indoors,” Gewecke said. “If it does, that's great, that’s kind of a plus, a cherry on top, but that’s not actually what their main purpose is for. So those NOAA Weather Radios are kind of that purpose.”
Gewecke said that Missouri has had a fairly mild tornado year compared to the rest of the country, but that staying updated with weather forecasts is essential.
The storm preparedness class will begin at 5:30 at the MU Family Impact Center and is free to the public.
CORRECTION: The date of the class has been corrected. It was formerly listed as June 22. The date of the class is June 30.