State Rep. Warren Petryk

April 8-12 is Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week. During this week Wisconsin Emergency Management and the National Weather Service are partnering to raise awareness of the need to be prepared for severe weather. They will also conduct drills, ensuring individuals, businesses, and schools are equipped to handle emergencies. With Wisconsin experiencing an average of 23 tornadoes annually, including the recent one in Evansville this February, and with a number in Pepin and Dunn counties in 2022, it's clear that severe weather can strike anytime and anywhere.

But a little preparation beforehand can make a big difference before a storms strike. That is why there will be a mock statewide Tornado Drill on Thursday, April 11, at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. These drills provide you an opportunity to discuss and rehearse your "take shelter" plan with your family, whether you're at home, work, or school, and what you would do during a real emergency.

Your take shelter strategy is your road map to safety. Knowing what to do and where to go to keep yourself and your loved ones safe is key. This includes how to pick the best room for safety and what supplies to keep on hand. For information on how to create a plan, visit Wisconsin Emergency Management's website at https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/ .

Also, knowing when the weather is coming is key. That is why it is best to have multiple alerts set up. First, look up your local government to see if they have local alerts set up. Second, you can enable notifications for severe weather via the emergency alert settings that are incorporated into many cell phones. For further information on configuring these notifications, see the settings on your phone or get in touch with your service provider.

It is also a good time to review and understand the meanings of the various alert types. When there is a tornado warning, it indicates that a tornado is either approaching or has already formed. When there is a watch, there is a good chance that a tornado may form. In a similar vein, a thunderstorm watch denotes the possibility of severe storms, whereas a severe thunderstorm warning signifies an urgent threat.

Throughout my time in the legislature, I've been a strong advocate for emergency preparedness. I've co-authored bills from mandating safety drills in Wisconsin schools to emphasizing tornado preparedness. Additionally, I've pushed for funding for emergency responder equipment to enhance our readiness for any scenario. And as Chairman of the Assembly Workforce Development Committee, I’ve been working to address our local Fire and EMS shortage that our rural communities are facing. This is critical to address because we need to make sure they have the resources and manpower to respond when you call and need help.