It's Springtime...keep an eye on those clouds!

May is truly one of the prettiest months to live in the Ozarks. Winter is typically in the rear view mirror (minus a couple hiccups) and the flowers are blooming. The faint sounds of lawnmowers throughout the neighborhood and birds on the lawn renew a sense of awakening and excitement in many of us.

In addition to beauty, May is also known in the Ozarks for severe weather as the warm, moist air kicks away the cold and often stirs up storms. May was the month of two of the most costly and deadly tornadoes in Missouri history. On May 4th, 2003 a deadly outbreak of F-3 tornadoes littered several areas of the Ozarks most notably striking Stockton, Pierce City and Battlefield. This outbreak took the lives of 25 people. A little over a decade later, on May 22, 2011, an unthinkable F-5 tornado struck a large, metropolitan area within Joplin, Missouri. Some 161 people were killed in this tragedy.

We all have a responsibility to be ready for this challenging month in our own ways. Take some time today to be prepared to seek shelter in the event of a tornado warning, and pay attention to all weather watches and warnings. Consider now where you will seek cover rather than doing so in the storm. Always have an emergency plan for your family and keep an emergency kit on hand that will last you 3 days until help will be readily available. For more information on emergency planning, click here. If you would like help in these areas or do not have the means or ability to do so, please see our contact info on our homepage or contact us on Facebook and we would be delighted to help in any way possible. :)

References:

https://www.weather.gov/sgf/events_2003may4

http://www.joplinmo.org/DocumentCenter/View/1985/Joplin_Tornado_factsheet

https://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/

https://www.weather.gov/sgf/events_2003may4