Mason, Ohio

... This week is severe weather preparedness week in Indiana...
... Severe weather awareness month continues in Kentucky... .

Long before any warnings are issued... the National Weather
Service provides long range notice of potential for severe
weather. Likewise our partners... the media... public officials and
response agencies... begin preparations long before storms cause
damage.

Here is a list of what we all do at the outlook stage.

The National Weather Service climate prediction center provides
hazard threat outlooks up to 14 days in advance. The Storm
Prediction Center provides outlooks on severe thunderstorm
potential up to eight days in advance. Local weather offices issue
a hazardous weather outlook each day identifying weather risks in
the coming week.

Weather hazard outlooks provide everyone with a time frame to plan ahead
and to check resources.

Local TV meteorologists begin broadcasting concerns for any severe weather
threat up to a week in advance. The meteorologists keep their news
staff informed of storms that may become headline stories later in
the week. The news staff then develops staffing plans for field news
crews.

Homeland security... emergency management and Highway departments
monitor National Weather Service outlooks to determine the need
for hazard preparations. Should severe weather be a threat later
in the week... staffing and supplies are checked for adequacy.

The American Red Cross monitors National Weather Service outlooks
to determine a need for hazard preparations. Should severe
weather become a possibility... staffing and supply levels are
checked.

Schools..law enforcement and fire departments monitor National Weather
Service outlooks to determine their need for preparations. Staffing
and supplies are again checked for adequacy.

Your job is to monitor National Weather Service outlooks to
determine your need for hazard preparations. Should severe
weather be a threat later in the week... make sure you have
checked that you have all the supplies you would need for an
emergency. Review your safety evacuations plans to make sure you
have a safe location to go to should severe weather occur.

Again at the outlook stage for severe weather... it is a time frame
to begin reviewing your plans and to begin paying closer
attention to daily weather forecasts and the severe weather
threat in particular.