Planning Ahead

September is National Preparedness Month

When you hear the title Tornado Alley, what comes to mind? The Plains? Kansas? Dorothy and Toto? While we often think of it as an area that is firmly to our west, what if I told you the area’s activity has shifted—and it’s moving to our backyard?

A report published a few years ago says that the traditional Tornado Alley has seen a decrease in activity, with more tornadoes taking place across southeastern states that stretch from the Gulf to the Ohio Valley. I’m not a meteorologist, so I won’t attempt to explain the science behind it, but it’s a reality that we’re all seeing firsthand.

From the December 2021 tornadoes that devastated communities like Mayfield to those that ripped through London and Somerset last year, Kentucky has seen an uptick in tornadoes and severe weather, especially at night. These storms can often move quick or develop with very little warning, giving you and your family a small window of time to prepare. That’s why it’s critically import-ant to have a plan in place beforehand, and National Emergency Preparedness Month is a great time to do it.

Here at Salt River Electric, we know what to do when severe weather hits. It starts months before with training. Our lineworkers are the ones out in the field, so it’s important that we make sure they know how to safely restore power and clear obstacles from power lines. We also work throughout the year to maintain our inventory of materials, making sure we have all the supplies needed to restore outages. And we work each month to communicate helpful information about the restoration process, how you can report outages and outage safety tips through social media and right here in Kentucky Living magazine.

Salt River also provides information on how you and your family can prepare for severe weather. Visit our website, www.srelectric.com/outage-information, where you’ll find information ranging from generator safety, preparation steps for oxygen users and even how to create an emergency kit.

Severe weather happens, and the data shows that our region is seeing more and more of it each year. Be proactive and take the necessary steps to prepare.