How Kansas officials are responding to destructive tornadoes

AccuWeather

Devan Tucking, with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, joins AccuWeather to discuss how the state is responding in the aftermath of deadly storms.

Transcript

00:00 It has already been a wild week of severe weather and deadly weather with

00:05 tornadoes in several US states including Kansas. A tornado in Westmoreland led to

00:10 one death and several injuries. The severe weather really picked up last

00:14 Friday and that's when we spoke to Devon Tucking with Kansas Division of

00:18 Emergency Management. We checked back in with her earlier today for an update on

00:23 how the state's emergency management teams are doing after a difficult week.

00:28 Where was the most significant damage in Kansas and how are teams continuing to

00:34 help in recovery? We had sporadic damages across multiple counties in the state

00:39 but our main focus of damage was in Pottawatomie County specifically in

00:44 Westmoreland and right now locals are focusing on cleanup and helping those

00:48 individuals that were impacted with chainsaw crews, with cleanup crews, heavy

00:53 equipment and trying to get debris off roadways and helping homeowners clean up

00:57 their impacted homes. Devon, when we look statewide how do the emergency

01:02 management teams coordinate their response during this outbreak? In Kansas

01:08 if a county needs additional resources they're able to call a state division of

01:11 emergency management and request those resources and then we can work to fill

01:16 those. In Westmoreland they're very fortunate to have a lot of mutual aid

01:19 agreements and local neighbors that are willing to help so a lot of that

01:23 assistance for that event has actually been coordinated locally. We do have

01:28 staff on the ground there to assist as needed and we're also going to be

01:31 supporting them with damage assessments for potential federal assistance to the

01:35 Small Business Administration next week. All right we are in the heart of the

01:39 tornado season and the tornado season certainly isn't done. Now what are some

01:43 tips to keep residents prepared and vigilant in the weeks ahead? Now is the

01:49 time to talk with your household about what you will do during severe weather.

01:52 We've noticed lately some of our warnings it hasn't been a lot of

01:57 advanced notification so talk ahead so when you get that warning you know where

02:01 are we going to seek shelter. Think about where you'll seek shelter in your home,

02:05 where you'll seek shelter at work, and where you'll seek shelter if you're

02:08 caught in between when you're traveling and talk to your family so that there's

02:14 there's no delay when you're trying to figure out I hear sirens or my weather

02:17 radio or my phone just went off where do we go. Have that ready and go ahead and

02:21 have your disaster kit or any specific items you need in that location so you

02:25 don't have any delay getting to safety. Devon I love that yeah you don't want

02:30 any delay as these storms can hit really quickly. Devon talking with the Kansas

02:33 Division of Emergency Management we appreciate all you do. Thank you so much.

Category

Transcript

Recommended