MANHATTAN, Kan. – Devastating tornadoes that swept through Kansas and other Midwestern states in late February served as a grim reminder that everyone should have a safety plan and be aware of warnings.

To help raise awareness about severe weather and resources available to Kansans, the National Weather Service office in Topeka declared March 12-16 as 2012 Kansas Severe Weather Awareness Week. See the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office.

“Take time during Severe Weather Awareness Week to prepare,” said Mary Knapp, director of the Kansas Weather Data Library, based at Kansas State University. “Listen for weather alerts, have a safety plan and heed the warnings when issued. During the state-wide drill on March 13^th at 1:30 p.m., take a moment and review your safety plans.”

Kansas had 68 tornadoes last year, which was below the 10-year average of 112. The earliest tornado in 2011 was reported on Feb. 27 in Cowley County and the latest on Oct. 8 in Haskell County, said Knapp, who serves as the state climatologist for Kansas and is one of K-State’s delegates to the Extension Disaster Education Network.

Three fatalities in Kansas were linked to tornadoes last year, one on May 21 and two on May 24.

Information about Kansas weather is available on the Weather Data Library website. “Weather Wonders” audio reports are available on the K-State Research and Extension News Media Services website.

-30-

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by: Mary Lou Peter
mlpeter@ksu.edu
K-State Research & Extension News

Mary Knapp is at 785-532-7019