OTTUMWA – The Wapello County Emergency Management Agency, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD), National Weather Service (NWS), and Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) have joined together to promote Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa. The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) is joining Severe Weather Awareness Week sponsors to highlight the importance of flood insurance and to encourage Iowans to learn what is and is not covered by their property insurance policies.

Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 23-27, is an opportunity to highlight the importance of being aware of, and prepared for, severe weather.

For each day during Severe Weather Awareness Week, a different subject will be featured:

• Monday – Severe thunderstorms
• Tuesday – Weather warnings
• Wednesday – Tornadoes
• Thursday – Family preparedness
• Friday – Flash floods

For more information on severe weather preparedness, visit www.beready.iowa.gov or www.wapelloready.org . Information on flood insurance is available through the Iowa Insurance Division’s website at https://iid.iowa.gov/other-types-of-insurance.

Wapello County residents can sign up for the Wapello Ready Alerts program by texting “Wapello Ready Alerts” to 69310. Register the physical addresses you would like severe weather and civil alerts for. The program is free and you may register multiple addresses for home, relatives, work or your business.