#17,368
Following an unusually active January and February (see above), tornado reports across the United States have declined dramatically (and unexpectedly) during the month of March.
While a welcomed break, that quiet pattern may be about to change, as a powerful storm system moves across the deep south tonight.
NOAA's SPC (Storms Prediction Center) has issued a moderate (4 of 5) risk of severe weather today across parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, with lesser risks forecast into Tennessee and the boot heel of Missouri.
Most years roughly half of all U.S. tornadoes occur during March-April-May, as winter gives way to spring and summer. During the summer, the focus for severe weather moves away from the south (Dixie Alley), and into the mid west (aka `Tornado Alley').
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For most Americans, severe weather event is their biggest regional disaster threat; hurricanes, tornado outbreaks, blizzards, Derechos, and ice storms affect millions of people every year. Having a good (and well rehearsed) family emergency plan is essential for any disaster.
It is important for your plan to include emergency meeting places, out-of-state contacts, and individual wallet information cards - before you need it (see #NatlPrep : Create A Family Communications Plan).
Together with adequate emergency supplies, a solid first aid kit, and an emergency battery operated NWS Weather Radio, these steps will go a long ways to protecting you, and your family, from a wide variety of potential disasters.
Because it's not a matter of `if' another disaster will strike . . .
It's only a matter of where, when, and how bad.
