The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published March 13, 2019

Free guide can help lake area residents with disasters

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – Spring is right around the corner and that means a higher potential for tornadoes and strong storms. Are you ready if disaster hits?

In 2015 a funnel cloud was spotted over Pier 31 road and went right over the city of Linn Creek. A smaller funnel cloud was spotted over Osage Beach not long after.

On March 6 of 2017, a tornado touched down in Macks Creek and in Morgan County. Many will also remember the severe damage sustained in southern Camden County when a tornado touched down over 12 years ago.

Be prepared in case of an emergency; it could save your life and the lives of your family.

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) has released an educational guide designed to help consumers manage natural disasters and emergencies and understand the impact that those disasters could have on utility services.

“Consumers and Catastrophes: Understanding the Impact to You, Your Family, and Your Utilities”, was prepared by NARUC’s Committee on Consumers and the Public Interest.

Missouri Public Service Commissioner Maida Coleman is chair of that NARUC committee.

“This guide empowers consumers by providing them with information to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and other disasters before they happen, while they are occurring, and in the aftermath,” said Coleman. “In addition, local governments and agencies assisting consumers with disaster preparation can use the guide to remind the public of the importance of disaster preparation. The guide is organized by disaster type and has nine appendices that can be used to highlight critical tips when they are needed. For example, tornado prone regions can highlight that particular section of the guide during tornado season and use the various appendices throughout the year to keep emergency preparation on consumers’ minds.”

According to NARUC, the guide also provides detailed information on how to develop emergency plans, food safety and how to assemble emergency kits.

This NARUC publication can be downloaded from the Missouri Public Service Commission website (www.psc.mo.gov).

Founded in 1889, NARUC is a non-profit organization whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

NARUC’s member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy and water utilities.

Commissioner Coleman was appointed to the Missouri Public Service Commission in August 2015 by Governor Jay Nixon.

All content is Copyright 2019 by Reporter Publishing, L.L.C. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited without written permission.