Carroll County emergency officials are participating in the annual statewide observance of severe weather awareness week, designed to educate Georgians about weather related topics, including family preparedness, NOAA weather radios, thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning and floods.

Carroll County EMA Director, Tim Padgett says today’s topic of awareness is thunderstorm safety. “So many people enjoy the outdoor activities; they’re out playing golf, playing baseball and they’re not being ‘aware,’” says Padgett. “If you hear thunder in the distance you need to be ready to seek shelter for protection.”

Up to five people are killed by lightening strikes annually in Georgia according to Padgett. “If you’ll notice, on some of the radars, they track the lightening strikes now and you’ll see a lot more positive lightening strikes than we’ve had in the past,” he says. “The positive lightening strikes are the one’s that cause the damage.”

Part of severe weather awareness week on Wednesday, emergency officials statewide are conducting a tornado drill at 9:00 am. Area residents are reminded that-that siren will be only a test.