KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Quick tips for dealing with floods, tornadoes, winter storms

(KATV, Source: U of A System Division of Agriculture) Little Rock - Anytime cold air meets warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, Arkansans need to be ready for the possibility of severe weather.

Gov. Beebe has declared this week, Feb. 20-24, as Severe Weather Awareness Week.

"Spring and fall used to be considered prime time for destructive weather, especially tornadoes, but as we've seen this year, even January can mean damaging twisters," said Deborah Tootle," associate professor-Community and Economic Development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. "On Jan. 22 alone, Arkansas saw seven tornadoes."

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service has quick read tip sheets available to help Arkansans be ready when the forecast calls for severe weather, she said.

The "Be Aware and Prepare" tip sheets are downloadable from the extension website at www.uaex.edu/news/pressroom/storm_recovery. On the same page are dozens of other PDFs to provide disaster recovery help such as whether flooded electrical appliances are usable or how to plan food supplies after a disaster.

A "Be Aware and Prepare" tip sheet is also available for earthquake preparation.

During Severe Weather Awareness Week, the National Weather Service is also offering daily disaster prep tips. These can be found at www.nws.noaa.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=AR&prodtype=public#PNSLZK.

For more information about disaster preparation. contact your county extension office, or visit www.uaex.edu.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Fast Facts:

Quick tip sheets for disaster prep at www.uaex.edu/news/pressroom/storm_recovery

Disaster recovery info available at www.uaex.edu/news/pressroom/storm_recovery