POTSDAM – As the National Weather Service is warning of severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes or flash floods in St. Lawrence County tonight, the American Red Cross is urging residents to take steps to stay safe.

View the tornado watch at http://www.intellicast.com/National/Radar/Current.aspx?region=bgm . For current forecasts for your community, visit the NorthCountryNow.com Weather Page at http://northcountrynow.com/weather . To view the current radar map from Intellicast.com, visit http://www.intellicast.com/National/Radar/Current.aspx?region=bgm

As of 4:22 p.m., the tornado watch was in effect until 9 p.m.; the flood watch until midnight.

“By preparing together for severe thunderstorms, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” said Olga Grant, Interim Red Cross Emergency Services Manager for Northern New York.

“We can help you and your family create a disaster preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened by high winds, hail, lightning and excessive rainfall.”

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life and death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for severe thunderstorms by:

• making a home disaster plan: Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail. Protect your animals by ensuring that any outside buildings that house them are protected in the same way as your home. Remove animals from vulnerable dog houses and similar small structures

• creating an emergency preparedness kit: Pack a first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries

• heeding storm warnings: A severe storm watch means severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. People in a watch area should keep informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued. A severe storm warning means severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. Seek shelter immediately. The National Weather Service recommends staying inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap

• preparing for high ainds: If you have time, secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind.

For more information on severe thunderstorm preparedness, contact the Northern New York Potsdam Chapter of the American Red Cross at 268-0102, visit www.redcross.org, or call 1-800 RED CROSS.