SMYRNA, DE: February 28th to March 4th is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Delaware. Severe Weather Week Proclamation 2022. From significant flooding to tornadoes and snowstorms, the past several years have seen active weather events across Delaware and throughout the region. Knowing about the weather hazards and how to prepare can make a life-saving difference.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is collaborating with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Mount Holly, New Jersey, the Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (CEMA) at the University of Delaware, and Delaware Sea Grant to raise awareness. Flooding, coastal hazards, thunderstorms, tornados, and lightning are among the weather threats to Delaware. Links to information on these examples that could impact people in Delaware, sometimes without advance warning, can be found on a special “Severe Weather Awareness Week” National Weather Service webpage weather.gov/phi/demaseverewxweek.
The webpage also contains links to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Weather-Ready Nation website. Information on how to make a family plan and how to make a preparedness kit can also be found on the page with a link to preparede.org. Follow along on social media as we cover a different weather hazard each day, providing historical context and tips for how to stay safe.
Severe Weather Awareness Week this year roughly coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Storm of ’62. The devastating Ash Wednesday Storm in 1962 destroyed 1,932 houses along Delaware’s coast. Capping off Severe Weather Awareness Week, Delaware Sea Grant, the Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency will be presenting, “Are You Storm Ready? Insights from the Storm of ’62 and Other Extreme Weather Events in Delaware” on March 3, 2022 at 7:00pm. This 90-minute virtual workshop will provide an overview of the Storm of ’62 in the context of more recent weather events, will discuss how to build storm readiness and resilience, and will provide emergency preparedness tips as well as a question-and-answer session with the experts. The session is free of charge, but advanced registration is required. To register for the free event, follow this link: https://www.deseagrant.org/events-all/2022/3/4/storm-of-62
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Contact: Jeff Sands, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, 302-659-2211.