Opinion: Signs of spring abound; 'mean season' nearing

The official end of winter is weeks away, but signs of spring are everywhere as February turns to March.

As much as March has been known for unusual weather, conventional wisdom has it that if Old Man Winter doesn't hit hard by mid-month, the reality of springtime is at hand.

You might not consider it as such, but disaster officials look at springtime as "the mean season." Some of the worst isolated damage from thunderstorms and tornadoes has occurred during March, April and May.

During springtime months, the atmosphere is in transition from cold to warm. Air masses often times interact, resulting in turbulent weather conditions. Each year hundreds of communities and lives are shattered as a result of such weather disasters.

To ensure readiness in the spring and all year (and the January tornado in Bamberg is proof that readiness must be year 'round), the S.C. Emergency Management Division annually designates South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week in early March.

A highlight will be the annual statewide tornado drill, which is conducted in coordination with the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. The state superintendent of education encourages schools statewide to participate.

South Carolina receives a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission to use the Tornado Warning product on NOAA tone-alert weather radio when the drill is conducted. During the drill, the National Weather Service uses a real-event code, TOR. The "TOR" code activates tone-alert weather radios that are set to receive tornado warnings, and those radios broadcast the exercise message.

The statewide tornado drill will be conducted March 6 at 9 a.m. Public schools, state and local Emergency Management and others will participate in the annual event. The purpose is to test communication systems, safety procedures and mitigation processes.

During the drill:

At home - Get indoors to a predesignated shelter area such as a basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.

In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper - Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building - away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head.

At school - Follow the drill! Go to the interior hall or windowless room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

No emergency plan is any better than its implementation. That's why, on March 6, ahead of the "mean season," state emergency personnel will put the system to a test. People are advised to take notice and be informed, both of the dangers and what to do in an emergency.

This column was originally published by the Times and Democrat on Feb. 29.