As we continue on with Severe Weather Awareness Week, today’s topic is family preparedness.

Dallas County Emergency Management Coordinator Barry Halling says having a family plan in case of an emergency situation is vital in keeping all family members safe.

“One of my favorite sayings is ‘The first 72 (hours) is on you.’ So if you have a bad situation whether it’s severe weather, tornadoes, floods, ice storms and you’re without power or have to move or have to be moved to another facility, do you have those kinds of things to keep your family safe and together.”

The National Weather Service suggests having a kit with food and water, making a family emergency plan for all situations and utilizing different resources to stay informed.

One way you will always be informed about severe weather is with Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team. Anytime there’s severe weather in Dallas, Greene and Guthrie counties, we will bring you live coverage of the storm until it either drops below severe levels or moves out of our primary coverage area.