Be Prepared When Severe Weather Season Hits Minnesota

I know it is only the beginning of April, but severe weather season will be on top of us before you know it. Be prepared before the storms hit.

Here at our studios, Jim Maurice is compiling our severe weather watcher list to prepare us for any severe weather heading our way this summer. People always ask me how we are able to have an eye on the weather 24/7. Well, the answer is simple.

Our team of meteorologists are constantly monitoring the weather. When they see a threat heading our way, they start ringing our phones whether it is in the middle of the night, on the weekend or even on a holiday. Once we get the calls, we go into action.

We are here at the studios getting the latest information out to you via our radio stations, Charter Channel 20 or through our websites, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for the severe weather season.

First of all, you need to make sure your family is safe no matter what. Work out your plan for where to go that is safe inside your home and communicate that with everyone in the house. Even if your kids are 2 years old, they will understand more than you think. Designate the basement, storm shelter or interior room on the lowest level of your home as the safe spot and make sure everyone knows where it is.

I recommend having some snacks and water on hand near your safe spot that you can access in the event you are hunkered down for an extended amount of time. Some Clif Bars and bottles of water will go a long way when you have to spend a few hours in the safe spot.

Kids are notorious for getting bored easily when they have to stay in one spot too long. I would recommend you have something on hand that will entertain them and keep their spirits up while the storm passes.

One of the most important things you can do is to stay informed through the storm. We do our best to keep you updated with the latest information on watches, warnings and storm tracks. Make sure you are sky aware on your own. If you hear thunder, see lightening, see the dark clouds moving in and you aren't near a weather source, assume there is a nasty storm hiding behind it and get to shelter. Don't be the one trying to take video of the big event - there are people out there that do that for a living and they know where the storm is better than you ever will.

Staying storm aware includes having plenty of batteries for flashlights and radios on hand. When the power goes out, you don't want to be left in the dark or without the latest information.

If the power goes out and you don't have a portable radio, you can still get the latest storm information. I suggest you download the Radiopup App for your smart device now and be able to tune us in where ever you may be. The app is free and works on Android and iPhones, plus the iPod Touch and iPad devices.

The best thing to keep in mind during severe weather is to remain as calm as possible if a storm is coming through. Being frantic or panicked will not allow you to think clearly in the situation and could put you in harms way.

These are just a few ways to be prepared for severe weather, for more information, please visit ready.gov and get your plan ready now!