Time to prepare for severe weather; sign up for emergency alert system

The State of Nebraska’s Severe Weather Awareness Week is this week, March 21-25. As in past years, the Perkins County Communication Center, located at the Sheriff’s Office, will take part in the State’s National Weather Service’s tornado warning alert, to be on Wednesday, March 23, at 9 a.m. MT.
Along with reviewing policies and procedures relating to severe spring and summer weather, communication personnel will practice utilizing the fire departments’ paging systems as well as sounding the alert sirens in Elsie, Grant, Madrid and Venango, said Sheriff Jim Brueggeman, who also serves as the county’s emergency manager.
Also at 9 a.m. on March 23, the NWS will send the test warning as a routine weekly test on NOAA Weather Radios, on social media and on NWS Chat. The NWS urges everyone to take an opportunity this week to practice their sheltering plan as if this were an actual warning.
CodeRED Alert System
The CodeRED Alert System continues to be available to citizens in the county, and Brueggeman encourages citizens to sign up for the service. The system provides weather and emergency alerts to both land line and cell phones. Land lines in the county have automatically been added to the system for emergency calls only, but not for weather alerts. To receive weather alerts on both cell and land line phones, people need to register through the CodeRED web site at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFB7CC4C6C0A, by texting PERKINSCODERED to 99411, or by visiting or calling the sheriff ’s office at 308-352-7501.
Tornadoes in Nebraska
Down in 2021
Tornadoes reported across Nebraska in 2021 were down slightly from the 30-year average of 51, according to the NWS. Of the 44 tornadoes occurring in the state last year, over half these occurred on either May 26 or Dec. 15.
A tornado outbreak occurred on May 26, 2021 across extreme southwestern Nebraska and northwestern Kansas. According to the NWS, over the course of the afternoon, ten tornadoes formed within the Goodland County warning area. Of the ten tornadoes to develop, five occurred in Dundy County, Nebraska.
On Dec. 15, 2021, a powerful, fast moving weather system deposited a near catastrophic array of tornadoes, wildfires, high winds, hail and even some winter weather across south central Nebraska and north central Kansas.
According to the NWS, given the widespread nature of the event, thankfully no injuries or direct fatalities occurred, despite the midday timing of tornadoes and high winds impacting schools and commerce, and the almost uncontrollable fires destroying some homes and several thousand acres just south of the Nebraska/Kansas border
Be Prepared
Historically, the most active time of day for tornadoes in the state runs from 2-8 p.m.
The NWS makes a clear distinction between a watch and a warning, whether it be for tornadoes, thunderstorms or flooding.
A watch means that conditions are favorable for a weather event in the coming hours.
A warning means severe weather in the area is imminent and advises people to seek shelter.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operates a nationwide weather radio system (NWR) NWR that broadcasts official weather service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24/7. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the VHF signal.
There are broadcast transmitters in North Platte and Trenton that cover this region. Information can also be obtained on the NWS’s social media sites and their website at https://www.weather.gov/lbf/
Tornado Safety Tips
from nws
At home—Go to the basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time allows.
At work or school—Follow tornado drill procedure. Get to the designated tornado shelter location. Stay away from windows and avoid large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
Outside—Seek shelter inside a sturdy, safe building immediately. Sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes or tents are not safe.
In a vehicle:—Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in the car and cover your head, or abandon the car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
Lightning
Outdoors—There is NO safe place outdoors when thunderstorms are in the area. Avoid open fields and elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks. Stay away from tall and isolated objects. If camping in an open area, head for a valley, ravine or other low area. Tents offer NO protection. Immediately get out of and away from water and wet items. Stay away from any object that conducts electricity such as wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.
Indoors—Avoid anything that puts you in direct contact with electricity (plugged into a wall). Avoid plumbing.
Do not wash your hands, bathe or wash dishes. Stay away from windows and doors and stay off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls. Protect your pets—dog houses are not safe. Don’t leave pets chained up outside.
Flooding
Get to higher ground—Get out of areas that are subject to flooding and move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood waters. If told to evacuate, do so immediately! DO NOT drive into flooded roadways or around a barricade, as 12-18 inches of water can carry away most vehicles. The depth of the water may not be obvious and the roadway may no longer be intact. If your vehicle stalls, leave it and move to higher ground before water sweeps you and your vehicle away. DO NOT walk, swim, or play in flood water.
As little as six inches of water moving swiftly can take out your feet. Remember water is an electrical conductor. If there are power lines down, there is a threat of electrocution. Do not go into flooded basements as structures may be compromised.