Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

This community needs no reminder of the impact severe weather can have.

Not when there are still trees down and other clear reminders of tornadoes that impacted our area on Jan. 12.

But this is Severe Weather Preparedness week in both Georgia and Alabama, a good time to get ready for the Spring season, when the worst of our weather tends to hit.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has spent this week reminding everyone of important information, such as the difference in a watch and a warning. A watch is when severe weather is possible, meaning be on the lookout. A warning is when severe weather is imminent, meaning you should be in a safe place until the storm passes.

You also need to have a dependable way to get weather information. By dependable, we mean that it’ll wake you up in the middle of the night if a storm hits Troup County. Whether that’s an app (there are a million options), a weather radio, etc. — that’s up to you. But you don’t want to be left in the dark.

While the outdoor sirens are helpful, they are not really meant to alert people inside.

But finding out about the weather is only part of the planning process.

You also need to know where the safest room in your home is, away from doors and windows, and plan to go there when a severe storm strikes. Make sure everyone knows where they are going, just in case you get an unexpected wake-up from Mother Nature.

It’s also important to just keep up with the weather in general. In almost all cases, forecasts are pretty clear on whether or not there’s a chance for tornadoes, hail or heavy winds. On those days and nights, keep an eye on the sky and keep your phone or weather radio turned up.

Severe weather will strike again in Troup County at some point. Make sure you’re ready when it happens.