Listen, Act and Live! Those words could protect you and your family during severe storm season. Listening to warnings and seeking shelter immediately will save lives. That’s why Richland County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service (NWS) LaCrosse have teamed up for Wisconsin’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week April 15-19, 2013.
Did you know that…
- Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually.
- Last year, only 4 tornadoes were reported in Wisconsin by the NWS. The strongest tornado in 2012 hit near Patch Grove in Grant County on September 4. No fatalities or injuries were reported.
- In 2011, 38 tornadoes in Wisconsin were confirmed by the NWS, the fourth highest number on record. On August 19, a man was killed when a tornado with winds of 105 mph struck Marinette County.
- The peak tornado season in Wisconsin is April to August, but tornadoes can occur any time of year, like the January 7, 2008 storms near Kenosha.
- The tornado outbreak of August 18, 2005 set the Wisconsin record with 27 confirmed tornadoes in one day. 2 of the 27 tornadoes impacted Richland County; 1 in the southern portion of our county in the Town of Orion and a strong F2 that struck the Village of Viola.
Richland County Emergency Management and NWS LaCrosse encourages everyone to own a weather radio. They are inexpensive and could save your life. When purchasing a weather radio, Emergency Management recommends that you purchase one based on your needs. Some weather radios have an external antenna jack to increase reception in areas where signal is weak. Other units are designed for the hearing and visiually impaired. For those outdoor enthusiests, a portable weather radio may be an item you may consider putting in your pack.
In today’s world, technology has enhanced our ability to warn the public of severe weather. And when that warning is issued we encourage you to Listen, Act and Live!