The events of the past few days have highlighted the need for people in our area to be prepared to react to potential problems from severe weather.

The storms hitting the area Monday, coupled by the extended threat for even worse storms Tuesday night, should be a warning to residents that we are now in our severe weather period.

Our friends along the Gulf Coast may have hurricanes, but we are more susceptible to the ravages of tornados, which are known to strike with little or no warning and cause extensive damage to property and injuries to residents caught in the middle.

Mississippi’s tornado season, like its neighboring states in the six-state tornado alley called the “Dixie Alley” by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, began Nov. 1 and will end after December.

According to NOAA, Mississippi has averaged 43 tornadoes a year between 1991 and 2010; its peak period for storms is between October and November and most storms hit the area between 2 and 9 p.m.

So far this year, according to the website U.S. Tornadoes.com, 39 tornadoes have hit the state.

And if people need to be reminded of how serious this season can be, the 2015-16 tornado season resulted in 13 dead and 66 injured, with the majority of the deaths and injuries occurring in storms that hit before Christmas.

What does that mean for residents in Vicksburg and Warren County?

It means people need to be prepared to seek safety when severe storms approach.

It means having vehicles with full gas tanks in case they have to evacuate. It means having supplies like water and non-perishable foods, flashlights, a transistor radio and a weather radio with a battery backup to stay informed of watches and warnings in their areas.

It means knowing where the nearest shelters are and having emergency numbers for first responders.

Severe weather can strike at any time, and it’s important that people know what’s going on with the weather and when and how to react. Listen to watch and warning statements and be prepared to seek shelter if necessary.

Learn what to do and be prepared. Severe weather is nothing to ignore, and can be very deadly, as the statistics show.

Take steps now to be safe and not be a statistic.