Severe Weather Preparedness Week runs February 6 through 10

Devastating tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods and other severe weather events can strike with little to no warning. Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which runs from February 6 to 10, is the ideal time for residents and their families to prepare for the possibility of a disaster. The Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is encouraging all residents to dedicate time to practicing emergency response procedures and learning how to deal with each potential disaster.

“Severe weather can be extremely dangerous, but by taking small steps to prepare, you can help ensure that you and your family stay safe in the wake of a disaster,” said EMA Director and Fire Chief Danny Bowman. “I encourage our residents to implement safety measures at home and at work so they will be ready when severe weather strikes.”

On Friday, February 10, Forsyth County will take part in a statewide tornado drill as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week. At 9:10 a.m. the county’s 17 outdoor severe weather sirens will sound. Please note the tornado drill will only be conducted in the event of good weather, so as to avoid any confusion. For a list of siren locations, visit the EMA web page at forsythco.com.

Residents may elect to receive time-sensitive emergency and weather alerts from Forsyth County via email, telephone call and/or text message. There is no cost for residents to sign up to receive these alerts, but phone usage or text charges may apply. To sign up, click on the ‘Emergency & Weather Alerts’ icon at forsythco.com or text SWIFT911 to 99538 to download the free Swift 911 mobile app. Another valuable tool for residents is the Ready Georgia mobile app. This free app provides mobile access to a variety of emergency preparedness tools. For more information about Severe Weather Preparedness Week and emergency preparedness, contact the EMA at EMA@forsythco.com or call (770) 205-5674.

About Ready Georgia
Ready Georgia is a statewide campaign designed to educate and empower Georgians to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, potential terrorist attacks and other large-scale emergencies. The campaign is a project of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) and provides a local dimension to Ready America, a broader national campaign. Ready Georgia aims to prepare citizens for maintaining self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours following an emergency, and uses an interactive website, free mobile app, broadcast and print advertising and public awareness media messaging to reach its audiences.