February 19-25 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas
District Reminds Families to be Prepared

(Feb. 20, 2012) – During Severe Weather Awareness Week 2012, Katy ISD is focusing on checking appropriate tools and plans should severe weather strike the Katy area.  Additionally, the district is reminding families that being prepared is the best way to stay safe with what can sometimes be unpredictable weather at this time of the year.

Southeast Texas, in particular the Katy Prairie area, is prone to severe weather including flooding and tornadoes, which often occur with little or no warning.  As such, Katy ISD participates in numerous emergency drills throughout the school year -- such as evacuation and lockdown drills. However, Severe Weather Awareness Week allows students and staff to focus on preparation for various severe weather threats including flash flooding, tornadoes, hail, high winds, and lightning.

Each campus is equipped with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio (NWR), providing school officials with a continuous broadcast of the latest weather information directly from the National Weather Service offices.

“These radios are critical for our school officials as the radios provide them with critical and potential life-saving messages; and provide quick notification about approaching threats, which allows our schools to act in a timely manner,” said John Bremer, Katy ISD Emergency Management Coordinator.

Katy ISD also encourages students to work with their families to develop an emergency plan for their home that includes family strategies, evacuation routes, sheltering locations, checklists and special consideration for pets.

“We have already seen our fair share of unpredictable weather in just these first few weeks of 2012,” said John Bremer, Katy ISD Emergency Management Coordinator.  “This is why we encourage families to be prepared by creating and reviewing emergency plans for their household.”

As part of Katy ISD’s commitment to student safety, campuses are required to develop an emergency operations plan which outlines specific procedures to follow when hurricanes, storms, or excessive cold or heat is expected. These plans are designed and tested at least semi-annually so that students anywhere on the school grounds can be quickly alerted and follow their present plan of action to safety.

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