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Sunday, June 21, is the official start of summer. The State Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have designated the week of June 21 to 27 for their Summer Severe Weather campaign.

This campaign focuses on heat, lightning, flood safety and weather radio information to keep people safe during the peak vacation and outdoor recreation season.

“Informing our citizens about the dangers involved with summer weather is critical. In 2008, 34 citizens died from heat-related illnesses, and 17 citizens were injured in lightning strikes,” SEMA Director Paul D. Parmenter said. “There is always the potential for summer flooding in the severe weather mix. Our goal is to give citizens the tools they need to be safe this summer.”

Information in the campaign includes the warning signs of heat illness and the importance of drinking adequate amounts of water, as well as, the increased risk of lightning strikes to camps and outdoor recreation.

“A weather radio gives citizens advanced severe weather warning,” Parmenter said. “For families that enjoy outdoor activities or camping trips, a portable weather radio could give people enough time to seek safe shelter.”

For more information, visit the SEMA Web site, http://sema.dps.mo.gov, then click on “Heat Awareness Campaign” in the main section.

Additional information is available from the following Web sites:

- St. Louis NWS: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=summerweathersafetyweek

- Pleasant Hill NWS: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/heat_wave.shtml

- Springfield NWS: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/heatwave.pdf

- Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/heat/index.shtm

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