Severe Weather: What To Have On Hand

Severe weather season for spring is nearly here and there are a few things that you should have on hand.

The first is a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.  This radio will allow you to receive official warnings and watches from the National Weather Service along with hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

A NOAA Weather Radio is especially important to have when severe weather moves in overnight while you are sleeping. 

Don't count on a tornado siren nearby to wake you up.  These are only meant to notify you if you are outdoors that severe weather is approaching. 

The NOAA Weather Radio alarm in your home will sound when severe weather is heading into your area.  This will allow you and your family the time to make preparations to stay safe during the storm.  

Don't forget to make sure that you have a battery in your NOAA Weather Radio.  This will allow you to continue receive weather warnings and watches if the power goes out.

Newer models of the NOAA Weather Radios allow you to specifically program them for your county and any adjoining counties that you wish to select instead of the whole area of transmission.

Check your supply of batteries, candles and matches.  Many of us used up our supplies with the power outages in 2008.  

Here's a list of some other items that you will want to have on hand:

• Flashlights

• radio

• lantern with extra batteries or fuel

• charcoal or gas grill with fuel supply in case the power goes out - never use grill inside

• water (1 gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation)

• non-perishable food

• hand operated can opener

• first aid kit

• candles (and a contained source to burn them in such as a glass holder for votives)
   

WCPO-TV and WCPO.com will track the latest developments with the severe weather.  We will let you know where the storm is headed and what you can expect next. 

Be sure to click on the forecast at the top of our main weather page.  This is where we will keep a weather blog detailing the latest developments with the storm and damage reports.

Even if there is no power, you can still get weather updates from Channel 9 on your cell phone via twitter.  This allows us to get weather information to you instantly no matter where you are.  You can also send in your reports to us via twitter.