Today, March 6, kicks off National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Although we’re still seeing plenty of signs of winter, the severe weather season is just around the corner.

Peak tornado months typically run from April to June in Kansas but can happen as early as March. This week, the county will take part in a statewide tornado drill and test its NotifyJoCo emergency alert system.

Information to help residents prepare and stay informed during severe weather events can be found on the county’s severe weather guide.

“It’s important for residents to be ready for tornadoes and other severe weather threats well ahead of a storm,” said Dan Robeson, Emergency Management deputy director. “This week, we encourage everyone to participate in the statewide tornado drill, as it provides a great opportunity to review and practice severe weather sheltering plans.”

Johnson County will be participating in a Statewide Tornado Drill on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m. This will be broadcast over NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radios and local television and radio stations.  The outdoor warning siren system will also be activated in Johnson County.

Additionally, the county will utilize this time to conduct its annual countywide test of NotifyJoCo Mass Notification System. Those who have signed up for NotifyJoCo, will receive a test message, based on the communication preferences selected (phone call, text, email). Residents are encouraged to sign up for NotifyJoCo or review their account details ahead of the test. Register or sign in at notifyjoco.org.

The county’s severe weather service guide is featured on the homepage of its website, jocogov.org/severeweather. There you can find resources to prepare for severe weather. When there’s an active threat of severe weather, the county will use this webpage to keep visitors informed of the latest on the storm and any county service-related impacts.

In coordination with the National Weather Service, the county this week, will promote on social media preparedness themes each day to highlight different disaster scenarios. They include:

• Monday, March 6: Preparedness
• Tuesday, March 7: Tornadoes
• Wednesday, March 8: Lightning
• Thursday, March 9: Wind and hail
• Friday, March 10: Flooding

Learn more about NWS Severe Weather Preparedness Week.