Severe Weather Awareness

Some severe weather tips for you and your family:

  • If you’re outside and you hear an outdoor warning siren, immediately go inside a building, tune in to a weather radio or other type of media and stay there until an all-clear has been given by the authorities.
  • Aside from local media, the best way to receive updated severe weather information is from a weather radio. Retailers, even grocery stores, sell these radios. Be sure your radio is programmed to receive alerts from Sarpy County.
  • Did you lighting causes an estimated 25,000 fires a year? If your home is struck by lightning, evacuate immediate if you see smoke or fire and call 911. When the thunder roars, go indoors!
  • After a heavy rain storm, if you encounter flood water there’s no way to know how it deep it is or whether the road has washed out, so avoid driving, walking or swimming through it. Turn around, don’t drown.
  • It’s important to understand the differences between severe weather watches and warnings.
    • When a watch has been issued, current conditions make a severe thunderstorm or tornado a possibility in your area.
    • When a warning has been issued, that means a severe storm or tornado has been spotted and you should take shelter immediately.
  • If a tornado warning has been issued, the safest place to be is in an underground shelter, basement or safe room. If you are outside and can’t get to a shelter, get in your vehicle, buckle your seat belt, put your head below the windows and cover yourself with a blanket if possible.