Spring Weather Dangers

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – When spring ushers in rising temperatures, weather conditions can quickly become volatile and difficult to predict. 

Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Jadwin discussed some of the ways his department prepares for and reacts to severe weather conditions that can occur each and every spring.

“We’re getting very concerned with the amount of rain we’re getting,” Jadwin said. “We had a lot of roads in the county blocked yesterday. State routes, county roads, township roads that were under water. Some with water flowing across, some with standing water and it started to recede during the night but this rain that we’re getting this morning is going to put those roads even further underwater and additional roads. So.”

The EMA constantly coordinates with multiple federal, state and local agencies to monitor flooding as well as other threatening weather conditions to determine the best ways to protect the public and mitigate property damages.

“They’re calling for more severe weather today,” Jadwin said. “Which is going to include hail, straight line winds, high winds, maybe up to 75-80 miles per-hour and we’re under a very high rating for tornadoes today. And everything we’re getting from the National Weather Service says that if they do start, they’ll stay on the ground for quite a while. So we need people to be prepared. So.”

Jadwin recommends constantly monitoring weather conditions as well as keeping a to-go bag ready with vital necessities such as prescription medications and cash.