The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MSEMA) and the National Weather Service are collaborating to educate Mississippians on what to do in a weather emergency and offer informational resources. Each day focuses on a different aspect of severe weather events and how to prepare for them.
“Residents need to be prepared before severe weather strikes,” Reeves said. “I encourage all Mississippians to use this week to review their emergency plans, know where they will go for safety and make sure their families are prepared to respond when severe weather threatens.”
Monday, Oct. 12 highlights the most important things to remember when planning ahead of a weather event. MSEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney says the most important things to remember is not just having a plan but practicing and making sure all family members know what to do in an emergency.
“Just like you have a list when you go to the grocery store, have those things written down that you know you need to execute,” McCraney said. “It's just going to save yourself so much grief and so much time if you know where that location is ...have that place that you'll meet up in case communications are not working.”
McCraney added that making sure people have gas in their vehicles is vital to remember in case there is a need to evacuate, or if someone finds themself without power in their home.
Jackson County was one of the most impacted areas along the coast during Hurricane Isaias. Jackson County’s Emergency Management Agency Earl Etheridge said making sure families have supplies is the most important in case they are cut off from help for a long period of time.
“You should always have a storm preparedness kit at your home,” Etheridge said. “It's gonna be a while for any kind of help to get to you in a mass situation like a hurricane or flooding or an earthquake. So people are usually on their own, and we try to tell them to have stuff to where they can get by for about 72 hours.”
Etheridge also talked about the importance of having multiple ways to communicate and to stay updated on forecasts when there is a severe weather event.
David Rauch with the American Red Cross said that for people who may not be able to secure supplies right away, they should still try to save up items over time.
“Preparedness is more of a marathon. It's not a sprint. So, if you can't afford to make an emergency kit all at once, do it little by little,” Rauch said. “You know, making that effort, doing what you can when you can is certainly better than doing nothing at all.”
He said establishing a plan and making sure loved ones know how to execute it in case of an emergency makes a major difference.
“Preparedness is key. Making sure that you have a plan, practice the plan, and are ready for the unexpected is going to save you a lot of time and heartache,” said Rauch.
The following days will cover severe thunderstorms (Tuesday), tornado safety (Wednesday), flash flooding (Thursday), warning reception methods (Friday) and mobile and manufactured home safety (Saturday). Mississippians can hear from officials each day by visiting MSEMA’s website, or by visiting the agency’s Facebook or X.
