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