Macon-Bibb EMA urges residents to prepare for severe weather

Devastating tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods and other severe weather events can strike with little to no warning.

Several weeks ago, Macon-Bibb County received record levels of rain causing the Ocmulgee River to flood some of our favorite places. Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which runs from Monday through Friday, is the perfect time for people to prepare for disasters, according to a news release.

"This year we are focusing on your shelter-in-place plan," Spencer Hawkins, director of Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency, said in the release. "This is a safe and secure location in your home or business that will provide you with protection during a violent storm. Having and using a shelter-in-place plan can mean the difference between becoming a disaster survivor or a disaster victim."

Severe Weather Preparedness Week begins with Family Preparedness Day on Monday, when Macon households are encouraged to program their weather radios with the Macon-Bibb Specific Area Message Encoding Code 013021. Each day will focus on a different severe weather threat faced by local residents. Preparedness information and materials for download will be available on the EMA Facebook page.

The week breaks down like this:

Monday -- Family Preparedness/NOAA Weather Radio Day;

Tuesday -- Thunderstorm Safety;

Wednesday -- Tornado Safety;

Thursday -- Lightning Safety;

Friday -- Flood Safety.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb EMA urges residents to prepare for severe weather ."