The author is a Broadcast Meteorologist and TV personality at The Weather Channel

Editor’s Note: The views expressed by Jim Cantore do not necessarily represent the official views of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA does not endorse any non-government organizations, entities, or services.

After last year’s historic year for devastating tornadoes, we all recall the scenes that played out in places like Joplin and Tuscaloosa. But it’s important to note that severe weather occurs year-round.

During the first National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, everybody needs to realize what disasters they are prone to, depending on where they live, and most importantly be prepared for them. After tracking storms for twenty-five years, I’ve learned a few things, both from the storms and from people who survive them.

You can’t prevent severe weather, but everyone can be better prepared. I’ve got my kit set to go at all times, stocked with food, water, a flashlight, batteries, chargers, and plastic bags for important papers. I have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, because it’s my job, but we should all have a kit and a plan in case we ever need to evacuate quickly. Even my two kids are ready in case there is a disaster. The basement is always set to go with food, water and other key items including helmets to prevent head injuries. If you’re taking shelter from a tornado, put on a baseball helmet to prevent head injuries. You also might not think to bring shoes. Putting shoes in your basement, shelter or kit will protect your feet in case you have to climb out over debris after a storm.

And don’t forget that not only you should be prepped, but you should prepare your home for disaster potential as well. If you’re building or fortifying your home, and you live in an area that’s prone to wildfires, think about options like fireproofing your roof. If your area is prone to hurricanes, tornadoes or windstorms, consider wind resistant roofs.

Severe weather doesn’t always allow us time to get ready – so you should already have a plan. Even tornadoes that tear buildings off their foundations may start as small funnels, and grow within minutes. Have a plan for what you would do if you need to evacuate or take shelter. Remember that people with disabilities, access or functional needs probably need additional time. Plan for this and also for additional items you may need like chargers for electrical equipment, or medications to last several days.

Part of your plan should be communication, too. I wish I could have used Twitter in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina to tweet out that I was safe, because most methods of communication were down. Now, I use Twitter and Facebook a lot as a part of my severe weather arsenal. Technology has come a long way, and there are many ways to be warned of pending doom. So, like most people, you probably have multiple ways of receiving warnings.

Sometimes warnings come from friends or family but can also come from our local TV or radio stations, social media, local sirens, or from NOAA Weather Radios. These radios save lives. I’ve seen it. Just make sure that you seek help if you need it for programming your NOAA Weather Radio. You may want to only receive certain warnings, such as a tornado warning, so that you don’t become desensitized. We know from studies that when people are warned of severe weather, they tend to seek out reassurance of that warning. Please take these warnings seriously, and follow instructions. It’s worth it because we’ve all seen how quickly severe weather can move in.

When I’m tracking a storm, the main thing I’m thinking about is getting people out of harm’s way. I’m wondering, are people getting the warnings and are they heeding them. Even though I’m on the coast, Hurricanes impact areas well inland. An example of that occurred last summer in my home state, Vermont, with devastating flooding from Irene.

Even if it seems unlikely to you that a hurricane will come inland, you should heed those warnings. We have countless examples of this occurring, such as flooding from Irene in Vermont last summer, and Hurricane Katrina.

With every disaster I’m amazed at how survivors and fellow Americans rise to the challenge of supporting the recovery process. One recent story stood out to me from Thurman, Iowa. They experienced an EF2 tornado with winds up to 125 mph. They were fortunate that there were no casualties, but the tornado left much destruction in its path. Within hours, the little town of 238 swelled to 900 with volunteers from neighboring towns and states to help with the clean-up effort. Being weather ready means being ready to help your neighbor as well.

Be a Force of Nature in your own communities. Just like in Thurman, your whole community needs you. Pledge to prepare at The Weather Channel Million Preparedness Pledge, and be an example to others.

Want to learn more? Here are some more of my picks for preparedness links: Ready.gov, Flash.org and DisasterSafety.org.

Editor’s Note: The views expressed by Rusty Surette do not necessarily represent the official views of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA does not endorse any non-government organizations, entities, or services.

After preaching to the public the importance of disaster preparedness for more than a year now, I found myself last month practicing what we preach.

Dangerous and potentially deadly tornadoes were forecasted to move into Oklahoma during the weekend of April 13. While spring storms with tornadoes are nothing new for Oklahomans, sometimes we get that warning from forecasters that the ‘big one’ may be right around the corner. We were warned this wave of severe weather may qualify to be the ‘big one’.

Immediately, we began reviewing our safety tips and shared them with the media and our partner organizations. We urged families across the state to make a plan, get a kit and be informed.

We were doing the same for ourselves. Many of us at the Red Cross office split the week at work and at home preparing for the worst.

In my own apartment, I reviewed a safety plan with my roommates. We gathered pots and pans that could be used to protect our heads in case a tornado took aim on our neighborhood. We purchased batteries for our weather radio, stocked our first aid kits and made paper copies of our emergency contacts.

Back at the office, our volunteers and staff were working to make sure the vehicles were gassed up, our warehouse was stocked with extra food and work and emergency kits were ready to go. Carla Young, Disaster Action Team volunteer, was in charge of making sure our storm shelter had flashlights, food and other essential items in place.



Thankfully, we didn’t have to use any of this here in Oklahoma City.

Sadly, however, our neighbors to the northwest were not so lucky. A large tornado hit Woodward, Okla., shortly after midnight.

Immediately following that storm, the American Red Cross team in Woodward was on the ground and responding to the needs of those who were hurt and displaced. We had relief supplies, people and plans ready to go because we trained and prepared for this kind of event.

Back in Oklahoma City, we were also working around the clock to get our resources and volunteers to Woodward.

Hope and help were immediately available to those hit hard and that’s the lesson all families should take from this -- being prepared builds confidence and confidence can turn tragedy into triumph.

Take it from us here in tornado alley: Get a kit, make a plan and be informed. It makes a world of difference when facing a disaster.

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is a reminder to appreciate the days of beautiful weather, check emergency kits, and recognize community leaders.

Preparing, reviewing, connecting with neighbors and leading by example are all part of a community approach that is blowing across the State of Hawaii like the trade winds after stifling heat. In communities throughout the state, individuals with a disability are taking the lead in emergency preparedness using the Feeling Safe Being Safe Training Curriculum.

When asked about this training Kathleen Tabata simply said, “It showed me how to do it right.”

I have been watching this tropical storm of change brewing in Hawaii for the last two years. As more and more individuals with disabilities and other access and functional needs become personally prepared for an emergency, many go on to train others and they seem to ‘get it’.

Feeling Safe Being Safe is a ‘train-the-trainer’ approach for sharing personal preparedness information. All of the trainers are individuals with a disability. To become a trainer, each person must themselves be prepared, and then learn how to share the preparedness materials with others.

If you are wondering why people become trainers, Kathy Chang will tell you, “It feels good; training other people and telling them about Feeling Safe, Being Safe.”

These winds of change began to blow in California with the help of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the California Department of Developmental Services. Here in Hawaii they have reached gale force speed thanks to funding from the Federal Administration for Developmental Disabilities, and Department of Health -Developmental Disability Division. We’ve also received encouragement from FEMA, state and county agencies and local service providers.

As the principle investigator of the Emergency Preparedness System of Support, I have enjoyed sitting in on these trainings and watching as individuals with disabilities change the way whole communities think about preparedness. The Feeling Safe Being Safe trainers break down all the barriers with an attitude of “I can, and so can you” and an enthusiasm that comes from knowing how it feels to be safe and feel safe.

Bathey Fong, a trainer on Oahu said, “People are shocked when they find out that I am their trainer. They didn’t know that we, the self advocates teach them. They thought it was ‘normal people’ and that we couldn’t do it, but they see us training them and realize we can do it and we are like them.”

The Feeling Safe Being Safe trainers are systematically teaching members of our communities to be assets and not liabilities, in community preparedness. When community capacity is built by strengthening all members, a truly resilient community begins to emerge. When community preparedness is approached from a perspective of empowerment rather than fear, the winds of change can reach hurricane force.

Feeling Safe Being Safe trainers have gone on to serve on community councils, present at conferences, host webinars and teach first responders about their needs. One of these trainers is Nicole Kelley and she summarized her job saying, “We helped our team, each other. We trained the Easter Seals O’hana (family) group and our classmates, we trained the people in Washington D.C. and they came up and said ‘good job!’”

To the Feeling Safe Being Safe Trainers, DHS, FEMA, ADD and local partner agencies who all support them – in a true community effort – ‘good job’ and Mahalo!