Don’t let storm fatigue affect your response to severe storms

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (KY3) – The anniversary of the EF5 tornado in Joplin brings back horrific memories.

A NOAA report describes how some residents did not take the tornado warning seriously after numerous false alarms. Investigators believe this may have led to more deaths after the storm.

It only takes one storm to change someone’s life. Even if you weren’t this time or the last time, there will always be a next time. This year was particularly active. We are almost halfway through 2024 and have already surpassed the number of tornado warnings issued in 2022 and 2023 combined.

Decision making in the event of a storm can be a matter of life and death. It’s important to have a plan in place in advance, whether you implement it or not. This is true whether you’re at home, at work, or in between.

“There was a lot going on in Joplin that day, there were high school graduations, there were a lot of different things going on that Sunday. So people were busy going from one place to another, whether it was from home to school, to school, back home, going out to eat with the family, whatever,” said Darren White, deputy director of emergency management of Greene County.

While the Department of Emergency Management operates the sirens, the National Weather Service determines when and where the warnings are issued.

“When it comes to storms, it’s not a matter of whether they happen. It’s about when they hit you. And there may be situations where you just get away by a few miles, or there may be situations where the storm weakens,” said Kelsey Angle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield.

The weather is constantly changing, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. There are many factors to consider when issuing a warning and it’s not as simple as flipping a switch.

“Alerts are issued on a radar basis, also based on information we received from observers on the ground, as well as information from our partners. And also information that we have from a scientific perspective about what the atmosphere is like now and how that atmosphere will change in the coming minutes and hours,” Angle said.

Angle says this is especially important when fast storms move into the area. Sometimes they can be faster than 50 mph.

More strong storms are possible over the holiday weekend, so you’ll need to consider how your outdoor plans might change. The bottom line is that everyone should consider storm risks on a case-by-case basis. Don’t let a bad weather forecast determine how you respond to a warned storm.

While it can be frustrating, it’s better to be prepared and safe than unprepared and at risk.

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