By: Katie Davila
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — Arkansas has seen a record amount of rainfall and flooding this year, according to the National Weather Service the state had an estimated 6.7 trillion gallons of rainfall in the month of February alone.
While this has become a normal occurrence for people, many are unaware of how to protect themselves when in a severe weather situation.
UAPD Emergency Manager Captain Matthew Mills said, “The biggest danger is that people tend to think they can do more than they can when these storms pull up.”
When it comes to safety in the rain, it may only be a light down fall but the roads are still very slick and puddles may form. Slow down, never use cruise control, and pay attention to road closures.
Severe weather does not just include heavy rain, Mills said, “One of the biggest misconceptions is that we’ll never get hit by a tornado, Joplin thought the very same thing until an EF5 tornado hit their city so we really have a complacency mindset when it comes to tornados in Northwest Arkansas.”
As tornado season begins to hit the area, it is important to know the facts and what precautions to take.
Like knowing the difference between a tornado watch and warning. A tornado watch means there is a potential for the development of a storm or tornado, while a warning means that one is forming or has been spotted and you should take immediate action. Stay away from windows, get to the basement or center most room in the building, and bring supplies with you like food and blankets.