A taste of spring storms over the weekend came just before Severe Weather Awareness Week. Through March 3rd, the National Weather Service and emergency agencies across the state will work to raise awareness of severe weather.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director Patrick Sheehan says while severe weather can occur at any time in the state, the clash of the seasons in the spring often bring thunderstorms. Flash flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are the focus of this week's awareness and knowing what to do if a weather alert is issued. He says this is a good time to review the various weather hazards and for families to prepare an action plan for when severe weather strikes their area.

Sheehan also recommended families have an emergency kit with food, water, medical kits, and flashlights. For more information on Severe Weather Awareness Week, we have a link on our website at WGNSRadio.com.

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Murfreesboro is not immune to severe weather. In fact, Rutherford County has one of the highest tornado touchdown numbers in the state. One of the largest occurred on Good Friday, 2009. That's when an EF-4 tornado, with maximum estimated winds of 170 miles an hour, tore a path of just over 23-miles through the city. A 30-year old woman and her nine-week old daughter were killed and nearly 60 injured. There were nearly 850 homes damaged and 117 of those destroyed, leaving more than five-thousand tons of debris.