By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Feb. 16, 2001
Lauderdale County's application to the National Weather Service to be considered as a "StormReady Community" couldn't come at a more appropriate time.
Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove along with National Weather Service and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials has proclaimed Feb. 19-23 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Mississippi.
Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency Director Eddie Ivy presented a schedule of planned discussions and events to Lauderdale County Supervisors at a work session Thursday.
He said word-of-mouth information about next week's activities has been well-received by residents. He said many have called him interested in educational awareness activities for staffs and community clubs.
Planned topics to be discussed around 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day through public information statements by the National Weather Service in Jackson and recordings on NOAA weather radio are severe thunderstorms on Monday, flash flooding on Tuesday, tornadoes on Wednesday, lightning on Thursday and a wrap-up discussion on Friday.
A statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday and will be rescheduled for Thursday or Friday if there is inclement weather Wednesday.
For more information contact Jim Butch, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Jackson, at 601-936-2189, or LEMA officials at 482-9852.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.