Weather Response Team Director gives safety tips for severe storms

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (KBSI)- Well known in the Southeast Missouri area for spotting storms and keeping the public informed.

Craig Meador is the Director for the Poplar Bluff Weather Response Team; he’s had decades of knowledge when it comes to storm safety.

His number one tip for safety, early alerts.

He says, “App on your phone and the NOOA Weather Alert Radio are the two best ways. Also, you know, watching the evening news, make sure you’re aware of an impending storm, because generally when there is a bad storm coming, you’ll hear about it.”

Meador says that making sure to always have a safety plan in place with your household is the biggest key to survival in a severe storm warning.

He says there are several things in place that the community needs to stay storm ready, “You need to establish a twenty-four-hour warning point, and EOC, or an emergency operation center, have redundant communication systems, to receive weather forecasts and warnings, and be able to alert the public, create a system that monitors local weather conditions, promote the importance of public readiness, through community seminars, and develop a formal hazardous weather plan.”