EMA promotes weather safety and awareness

By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Time
Alabama is observing Severe Weather Awareness Week this week, and Franklin County's Emergency Management Agency has held special programs to education the community about weather safety.
The EMA hosted a weather workshop Tuesday night in which meteorologists from WAFF 48 news talked about weather safety at the Russellville High School.
"About 200 people showed up for the event, and it was so successful that we have several appointments to talk to businesses about how to prepare for severe weather," Deputy EMA Director for Franklin County Roy Gober said.
The EMA gave out about 250 pamphlets on severe weather safety.
In addition to the workshop, Franklin County is scheduled to participate in a tornado drill today. Tornado sirens across the state will sound today so that residents can go over their tornado plans.
"The weather was gloomy Wednesday so the drill was rescheduled to today," Gober said.
The main message the EMA wants to send out is that every individual should be prepared to sustain themselves for up to three days in the event of an emergency, Alabama EMA Deputy Director John James said.
"A lot of people don't realize how important it is for them to be prepared," James said. "We are going to help but it might take time to get the help where it is needed and that's where individual responsibility comes in," James said.