Officials urge preparation before severe weather strikes

JACKSON, Tenn. — With the threat of severe weather overnight and into Thursday officials are already making preparations.

Emergency officials said some of this big issues they expect to see with this storm are flooding and the possibility of an isolated tornado. With a majority of the storms happening overnight officials are urging residents to have a plan in keeping you safe…

“People need to make that preparation,” Jackson-Madison County EMA Director Marty Clements said. “If you’ve been flooded before there’s a good chance you’re going to get flooded again so go ahead and get ready for that.”

Officials said they are prepping for a major event after the all the rain we had earlier this month.

“The ditches still have water in them and the low lying areas that farmers are using are still flooded,” Clements said. “There’s also a lot of debris down in those storm drains.”

Besides the rain, hail and even tornadoes are possible so officials are urging residents to have a plan to stay alert.

“If they’re not going to be having a weather radio on they need to have someone calling them to make sure they’re safe,” Clements said.

Having charged radios, flashlights and the right gear are a must because storms may still be strong at night.

“You can’t see it as well at night and if it’s rain wrapped that can make it even that much worse,” Clements said.

When a warning goes out sirens will sound across the county preparing everyone for what is to come.

“If someone’s driving and they go by a siren and they don’t hear it that would be bad,” Clements said. “So we sound it everywhere in the county so they don’t drive into a tornado or other damage.”

Emergency officials said always have a ‘go bag’ handy in your home, stocked with everything from extra batteries, snacks, and of course boots and a hat if you get caught in any severe weather.