What to do and where to seek shelter when there’s a threat of severe weather in Erath County.
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Tornado season in Texas can be frightening.
The Lone Star State is hit with an average of 132 tornadoes each year with about 25 of those happening in North Texas.
In 2019, North Texans experienced an unsettling severe weather pattern when 52 twisters were recorded.
Erath County is no stranger to severe weather either.
An EF1 tornado tore through the area in 2016, leaving behind a large swath of damage but, thankfully, no injuries.
With the arrival of tornado season coming soon, I spoke with Erath County emergency management coordinator Chris Brooks about designated safe places where residents can take shelter when severe weather strikes.
WHERE TO GO/WHAT TO DO
The Stephenville Public Library is the city’s primary tornado shelter and will open if the need arises, Brooks said.
If seeking shelter away from your home or work isn’t an option, residents should retreat into an interior room of the home away from windows.
“If time permits, a mattress on top of you is always a good idea,” Brooks told Beneath the Surface News.
“It’s just important to get into a centrally-located room and protect yourself from debris.”
Residents should also sign up to receive Nixle alerts on their phones by going to the city’s website at stephenvilletx.gov or texting 76401 to 888777.
If Stephenville is under the threat of any kind of severe weather, Nixle will issue an alert.
A new feature on the Erath County website includes a fire and flood map.
(Click “Community” at the top of the page and scroll down to “Erath County Fires and Flood Map.”)
“We highlight areas that are affected by flash flooding and road closures,” Brooks said.
The site also registers where controlled burns are happening across the county.
The city’s storm sirens will also alert people who are outdoors when the threat of severe weather strikes.
