This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa and Jasper County Emergency Management Director Jamey Robinson encourages people to pay attention to all the information provided this week from the National Weather Service, the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and local public safety officials. 

“One of the hardest parts of this job is trying to convince people to be better prepared for the emergencies of tomorrow. Unless something happens, everyone kind of blows it off.”

During Severe Weather Awareness Week, a different weather topic is addressed each day: today is lightning safety, Tuesday is tornado safety, Wednesday is preparedness, Thursday is hail and wind safety, and Friday is flood safety. The annual statewide tornado drill will also occur this week, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. KNIA/KRLS will also have special programming about severe weather at that time.