Severe Weather! Be prepared!!!

Well today is another day, fantastic day at work. We laughed until we cried!. We currently have a tornado watch until 4:00 a.m. Severe weather is creeping up on us.  This evening, I would like to start a series on severe weather. Now please keep in mind I am not a meteorologist, storm chaser nor do I have a degree in anything relating. I am just an ex-deputy sheriff who worked the morgue for several days after a major F5 tornado that wiped out half of out community just over five years ago. that killed 161 people. There were many hero's out of this tragedy. There were also many lessons learned. Thank god for the federal government coming in to help. It was chaos. It was one of the worst possible nightmares you could live through. I will attach a link in the blog for reputable information from people who lived it. I was one of them.....

The purpose here is to raise awareness for safety. Do you know how many stories I have heard where people where standing outside watching the weather? I have done it too. Multiple time. However, I am a little more prepared now because none of us were. Now keep in mind the casualties were in cars, buildings, they  sought shelter and yes quite a few were standing outside watching the storm.  As a member of the sheriffs office who worked the front lines for several days, we got a bad rap. The media came down and was just awful to the deputies and we received multiple death threats. The sheriff had a job to do. Which was to get those people home to their families. The only way to do that was an extensive investigation with DNA testing, artificial limb replacements and dental testing. That took time. If you think for one second we enjoyed having semi-trailers full of bodies, you are nuts!. It was horrible beyond words. The Sheriff did a great job. Even though we had a falling out and went out separate was, I still will always thank him for keeping us safe. Thank you Sheriff Dunn!

Now back to weather safety.... Please be prepared for inclement weather. There are multiple sources for information from experts that can help you for free on preparation. Please take the time to store some water, a little extra food,  batteries and a few other items. Make a plan, have a meeting place in the event something does happen. Make a code word with your kids. Have your pets chipped. Please...don't forget the fur babies!!!. Know where to go in your home for a tornado, have an escape route for a fire. Practice. It makes a fun educational night for the family. This is not stupid or fear mongering. Just ask the families of 161 people in our community. Please be prepared! Don't become a statistic!  Please, read the article from the Joplin Globe and do a little research. Its very important to be safe and educated. In the next day or so, I will do a more detailed in depth blog of the tornado. So please, check back.

 http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/gallery-storm-descends-on-joplin/article_680cd050-c19c-5309-bf83-a830d6141891.html


http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/be-red-cross-ready


Love,

Melissa
XOXOXO

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