Every year at this time, homeowners and businesses are encouraged to prepare and review their severe weather emergency plans; and in light of last year’s tornado at Vermeer, Marion County Emergency Management Director Jeff Anderson says people are listening.

Anderson tells KNIA/KRLS News the tornado demonstrated just how destructive one of these storms can be, and how effective emergency plans are when they’re carried out…so severe weather preparations are being taken more seriously than usual.

“We’ve noticed just through conversations here in the office over the winter, essentially since July 19th of last year, that things are different now. It’s no longer the ‘what if?’ — it has happened, we’ve had a major employer take a direct hit from a tornado. And it’s changed the way people prepare, it’s changed the way people perceive, the threat of tornadoes and severe weather,” Anderson says.

There have been seven tornado touchdowns in the county during his time on the job, and Anderson notes three of the seven have struck buildings or populated areas. So his office has always been aware of the potential threat.