March 8-14 is Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week in South Carolina. The week, designated by Gov. Henry McMaster, will focus on raising awareness of the dangers associated with severe storms, tornadoes and flash flooding.
Beginning Sunday, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the state's Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will highlight topics related to the different weather events and what residents can do to stay safe.
Those topics include:
Sunday, March 8: Understanding severe weather hazards
Monday, March 9: Watches, warnings and what they mean
Tuesday, March 10: Staying informed and connected
Wednesday, March 11: Tornado safety
Thursday, March 12: Flood risks across South Carolina
Friday, March 13: Turn around, don't drown and home safety tips
Saturday, March 4: Storm and flood recovery, insurance readiness
Also next week, schools, businesses and others across the state are encouraged to take part in the annual statewide tornado drill on Wednesday at 9 a.m. At that time, the NWS will activate tone alerts on NOAA Weather Radio utilizing the Required Weekly Test code, or RWT. The drill is designed to evaluate communication systems, safety procedures and preparedness measures statewide.
Additional information about Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week, plus important tips and resources can be found here. South Carolinians are also encouraged to download the free SC Emergency Manager App in the App Store or Google Play.