Spencer, IA (KICD)– The fourth day of Severe Weather Awareness Week is focusing on preparing for severe weather so everyone in your family knows what to do in the event of an emergency.

One of the first steps in getting prepared for any kind of a disaster whether it be caused by weather or some other hazard is to have a plan in place and that should start with determining where emergency information can be obtained.

Kenzie Krocek is a researcher at the University of Oklahoma specifically looking at the social science side of meteorology. She tells KICD News the next major step in being prepared for severe weather is knowing how long it is going to take to react even when a disaster hits at a time when everyday life tries to get in the way.

Being that a situation can be very different from one person or family to the next, Krocek suggests those communicating information also try to give several options that can be put into play in the event something like a primary shelter area is not available.