It’s National Severe Weather Prepardness Week [AUDIO]

There's nothing like a good old fashion weekend nor'easter to serve as a reminder that natural disasters can and do happen in the Garden State.

Believe it or not, the storm that tore up the eastern seaboard, ushered in the very first National Severe Weather Preparedness Week launched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) is partnering with those agencies to commemorate the week. NJOEM Spokewoman Mary Goepfert says as part o fthe week, they want you to know that they're hoping to text, friend or follow you on any social media platform during a weather disaster.

"So if it looks like there is an event about to happen, I'll give you an example, the coastal storm, right away we start to put messages out on Facebook and Twitter about how to be prepared."

Goepfert says they're also hoping that you use NJ Alert, a free emergency alerting system that allows NJOEM to send e-mails or text messages, NIXLE to receive text messages. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or traditional media sources like radio, tv or newspapers to stay informed.

Goepfert says there are really three things that they want to get across to you this week. She says first, that it's really important that you stay informed during and impending emergency. Secondly, they want you to prepare and emergency kit and a family emergency plan. Thirdly, they're hoping that you share any information that you get on social media with people who aren't accessing the technology.

They also refer you to credible websites where you can get information.

National Severe Weather Preparedness Week began Sunday April 22nd runs through Saturday, April 28th.