No matter what kind of weather spring decides to throw central Nebraska's way, emergency managers say Severe Weather Awareness week is a good time to get prepared.
"It's a great opportunity for homes and businesses to review their own emergency operations plan for severe weather like tornadoes or other summer storms, and practice that plan," says Grand Island - Hall County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund.
Rosenlund says people should have emergency kits ready, a designated shelter and plan, and have a way to receive and monitor watches and warnings.
Officials say Nebraskans can also learn more about recognizing and reporting severe weather during the National Weather Service's training classes.
"Most people think the radar sees everything, and it does not," says Steve Eddy, Meteorologist in Charge at NWS Hastings. "It's just a tool, without a trained set of eyes telling us what's going on actually underneath the storm we're really making an educated guess."
Besides helping them put out better warnings Eddy says people can learn how to recognize weather dangers.
"Personal safety is the biggest thing and a person identifying potential severe weather and knowing that that's a risk can then move to a shelter and protect their family and their property," he says.
Officials say now is the time to plan, and Wednesday morning's state-wide tornado drill is a chance to test that plan.
"Spend this week working through some of the details, talk with your employees, and make sure everyone feels comfortable with what you're going to do," says Rosenlund. "Practice it Wednesday morning, you'll probably find some things you need to fix, maybe see some obstacles you didn't anticipate. That's why we practice our plan."
Rosenlund also asks citizens to remember to only call 911 during severe weather to report and emergency, damage, or hazard -- not to get weather-related information.
Rosenlund also says that Hall County is changing their policy on when they will activate outdoor warning sirens. Sirens will still be sounded during tornadoes, but also for straight line winds, tennis ball or larger sized hail, and large scale hazardous material spills.
