This past Monday at the Carroll County Board of Supervisors meeting at the Vaiden courthouse during my time on the agenda, I mentioned severe weather. Gov. Tate Reeves has proclaimed this week beginning October 6 through October 11 as Fall Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Over the years through my work in disaster recovery on both the municipal and county level, I have learned that preparedness is very important in minimizing damage. Being prepared can save lives. Here on the local level, it is important to be in a constant state of preparedness.
“Mississippi has experienced significant severe weather during the fall months,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “The key to being prepared for these storms is taking proactive steps. I encourage all Mississippians to spend some time this week learning how to better prepare for severe weather.”
As local governments partner with state agencies this week in promoting awareness of severe weather, it is important for those partnerships to be in place when disaster strikes. Throughout my time serving during storm recovery those relationships have made the difference. Here in Carroll County, we have an excellent working relationship with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. There have been countless times that I have called on them in our efforts here. I remember back in June 2021 when we had excessive rain that resulted in flooding and the Gee Lake damn breaching, we were in constant contact with these agencies. It makes the difference in having a coordinated effort. Then there was the tornado of March 24, 2023 that hit this area, and there were many agencies that we worked with throughout the state.
Since 2019, for example, there has been declarations of emergency on the local level ranging from flooding to severe storms, tornadoes, and winter storms. It is important to learn from these disasters, because preparedness must be a continuing exercise.
This week, in observance of Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week, the statewide tornado drill was set for Wednesday as each day there is a focus on specific types of severe weather to highlight and ways to prepare ahead of the upcoming secondary severe weather season.
I look forward to continuing our efforts from providing literature, programs, and other measures. Planning is essential to safety and saving lives, for more information on severe weather awareness I urge you to contact your local emergency management agency.
Ken Strachan serves as the mayor of North Carrollton, is a member of the Mississippi Municipal League board of directors, and serves as president of North Central Mayors Association
