Johnson County Emergency Management encourages preparedness before storm season

March 2 kicks off National Severe Weather Awareness Week. With the spring season on the way, 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.

In coordination with the National Weather Service, Johnson County Emergency Management will promote on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, preparedness themes each day to highlight different disaster scenarios. They include:

• Monday, March 2: Preparedness
• Tuesday, March 3: Flood Safety
• Wednesday, March 4: Tornado Safety
• Thursday, March 5: Wind and Wind Safety
• Friday, March 6: Lightning Safety

Tuesday, March 3 at 11 a.m. will be the countywide test of NotifyJoCo. 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.

Wednesday, March 4 at 11 a.m. will be a statewide tornado drill. The National Weather Service will issue a Routine Weekly Test to NOAA weather radios to initiate the drill. Johnson County Emergency Management will sound the outdoor warning sirens to test and initiate the drill. Residents should treat the drill as if it were an actual tornado warning. The purpose of the drill is to test everyone's readiness for life-threatening severe weather.

On Johnson County Emergency Management's emergency preparedness page, you can find resources to prepare for severe weather and downloadable checklists.

Johnson County Emergency Management encourages local businesses, organizations, and community groups to join its Partners in Preparedness program, which is designed to help businesses, organizations and community groups strengthen their emergency readiness.

By joining the Partners in Preparedness Program, businesses and organizations will be recognized for their commitment to community preparedness and acknowledged as partners in fostering a culture of readiness.