State and local preps continue for Saturday weather
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – With severe weather on the way, the preps continue to stay ahead of the weather.
“We have done a lot of pre-planning activities with state agency partners as well as participated with the national weather service forecast offices,” said Jonathan York, the response and recovery bureau director for the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
York says with the Kansas Governor declaring a state of disaster emergency early Friday afternoon, the state agency partners were activated for the anticipated severe weather threat.
Utility companies preparing for potential severe weather
“And what that does is that activates the response and recover portions of the Kansas response plan which is triggered by our state emergency operations center being activated,” said York. “And also that gives us the ability to coordinate state agency assistance to support those local jurisdictions as needed that are impacted by severe weather.”
While the State of Kansas makes plans to be ready, activities continue across Kansas on Saturday.
“We will still be having the two events here at Century II. Women’s fair and Wichita grand operas Candide,” said Century II marketing manager Emily Larkin. “As far as we know, we’ll still monitor the situation. And throughout the weekend, if we see that there is a pattern of extreme weather, we will make sure to accommodate for that.”
Larkin points out that the contingencies could allow for people to take shelter in the basement of Century II if needed.
In Derby, school leaders announced they will still have their prom, but it is being moved to Derby High School.
“Over the last few days, school and district administration have been closely collaborating with the National Weather Service to monitor the weekend’s weather events,” the statement from the school said, in part.
Sedgwick County Zoo, Tanganyika preparing for severe weather
It went on to say they decided to move the prom back to Derby High School, where they can use FEMA-rated shelters if severe weather happens.
And as local leaders plan their events with an eye on the weather, the state continues plans to be prepared.
“Our state emergency operations center is physically staffed. It’s physically staffed right now. And then we will see what the severe weather threat plays out,” said York.
There remain a lot of outdoor and indoor activities for Saturday so be sure you are weather-aware. You can download our free Storm Track 3 app from the app store and get alerts from our team of meteorologists.
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