As chances for severe weather persist through this week, Washington County residents should brush up on their knowledge of these events and prepare for any safety threats.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen hopes that last August’s derecho storm drove home the point that severe thunderstorms can be dangerous, “The actual definition of a severe thunderstorm is a storm that’s capable of producing hail that is an inch or larger and wind gusts over 58 miles per hour. So wind gusts that high can break off branches, knock over trees and cause some structural damage and hail over an inch can cause property damage and hurt your vehicles and your plants and all that stuff.”

Reisen encourages residents to sign up for the county’s alert system to receive text and email messages for when any weather watch or warning is issued. A severe thunderstorm watch is issued for several hours at a time across multiple counties for when severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. If a watch is issued, Reisen says residents should monitor the weather and be prepared to shelter in a safe place or take other actions to protect loved ones and outdoor belongings. If a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued, it means that severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property, and those in the warned area should take shelter in a substantial building. The KCII Severe Weather Action Team provides live coverage of severe weather whenever a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for Washington County.